Shimla, September 18: The Himachal Pradesh government’s senior bureaucracy is set to be away on a series of overseas assignments through the latter half of September, making a Cabinet meeting this month unlikely, according to a report published by Divya Himachal.
Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar has travelled to Brazil along with a team of Urban Development Department officials. During his absence, the additional charge of Finance, Public Works Department and Animal Husbandry has been assigned to Principal Secretary M Sudha Devi, according to the report. The state government’s official civil list currently shows Devesh Kumar holding the Finance, Planning, Economics and Statistics portfolio along with additional responsibility for PWD and Animal Husbandry.
The overseas engagements are expected to continue with Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant and Additional Chief Secretary RD Nazeem scheduled to travel to China later this month. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Abhishek Jain, who had travelled to Japan, is reportedly scheduled to proceed to Manila.
The movement of senior officers comes against the backdrop of a Cabinet meeting that was not held as planned earlier in September. With several key officials away, the next meeting is now expected to be considered after their return, potentially in the first week of October, the report said.
Within the state, Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Chander Prakash Verma is also scheduled to travel to Leh on an official visit. Their absence is expected to require additional charge arrangements across departments.
The government’s immediate schedule is also expected to become clearer following Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s return to Shimla.
The current portfolio allocation confirms Devesh Kumar as Principal Secretary for Finance, Planning, Economics and Statistics, with additional charge of PWD and Animal Husbandry.
