Post regular Resident Commissioner, fill vacancies, Pangi residents urge CM

Residents of remote Pangi subdivision in Chamba district have requested Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to immediately fill the post of Resident Commissioner, a key administrative officer, and other vacancies in various departments.

The Pangwal Ekta Manch, a forum of Pangi people, has submitted a memorandum and urged the government to ensure regular postings to strengthen governance in the remote tribal valley. Since 1986, Pangi has been governed by a single-line administration under an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving as Resident Commissioner, who oversees the development of the valley and addresses the welfare of the tribal population. This officer also manages the Tribal Area Development and Non-Development Budget, running into hundreds of crores annually, while handling administrative matters and resolving public grievances.

Chairman of the Pangwal Ekta Manch Trilok Thakur said that the post fell vacant in August 2024 after the then Resident Commissioner was transferred. “The SDM, Pangi, held the additional charge of the post for nearly eight months, impacting administrative functioning and the implementation of public welfare schemes,” he added.

On April 7, 2025, the government ordered the posting of 2018-batch IAS officer Manesh Kumar as the Regional Commissioner to Pangi but he assumed office on September 12, after a delay of five months. “After joining duty, the officer left Pangi the very next day and did not return, resulting in administrative gaps, hampering developmental activities in the tribal area,” alleged Thakur.

The position of Resident Commissioner holds much significance in Pangi, as it is vested with powers of the heads of all departments under the single-line administration system and the absence of the officer is a matter of concern, as public faces many difficulties.

Thakur said that there were several long-pending vacancies in various departments. He added that the post of Block Medical Officer (BMO) had been vacant since December 2024 and a surgeon, who is the only specialist doctor in the valley, had been holding the charge. He was already overburdened with work, as he also executes administrative tasks.

Similarly, the posts of Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD); Tehsil Welfare Officer and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) were vacant and junior officials were handling the responsibilities. The posts of Range Forest Officer (RFO) in Purthi and Sach ranges were also lying vacant and their charge had been assigned to Deputy Rangers. Besides, around 200 posts of various low-rung staff were vacant in the valley.

Thakur said, “These key vacancies have hindered the smooth delivery of government services and welfare projects in the valley. We urge the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to post a regular Resident Commissioner and also fill other vacant posts.”