Top bureaucrats vie for post of power commission Chairman

Lobbying for the vacant post of the Chairman of the HP Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) has begun. There are 12 contenders, including serving and retired bureaucrats, in the race for the post.

The select committee will interview applicants in Shimla on September 14 to shortlist names for the final appointment of the commission’s Chairman. The committee is headed by a retired High Court judge while the Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is its member.

The post of Chairman fell vacant after DK Sharma, who was given the assignment in September 2020, completed his term. The HPERC has a Chairman and two members.

The three top senior bureaucrats, who are vying for the post, are Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Chief Minister’s Chief Adviser Ram Subhag Singh and Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay Gupta is at present posted as the Chief Managing Director of the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB). Other bureaucrats, who are learnt to be also in the race, are Pankaj Rai, at present serving as Deputy Director at the PGI, Chandigarh.

Besides these three bureaucrats, Shashi Kant Joshi, who is already a member in the HPERC, has also applied for the top post. Sources say that most of the other applicants are engineers from various backgrounds.

Though the Chief Secretary is also a member of the select committee, since he is an applicant for the post, he will remain disassociated with the selection process. Saxena, who was due to retire on March 31 and was given a six-month extension, has also applied for the top post of the power commission.

The possibility of Saxena getting another extension cannot be ruled out. As such, it remains to be seen whether he will continue as Chief Secretary or will be happy getting a post retirement posting. If Saxena finds favour, the race for the post of Chief Secretary will also hot up.

Ram Subhag, a 1987 batch IAS officer, is a former Chief Secretary who on his retirement on July 31, 2023, was appointed Adviser to the Chief Minister. He is still continuing on the post after getting an extension. Sanjay Gupta, a 1988 IAS officer, who was superseded in the appointment of Chief Secretary, is also keen to get the post. Gupta is due to retire in May next year.

Chief Secretary, CM’s Adviser in race

• Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Chief Minister’s Chief Adviser Ram Subhag Singh and Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, who is at present posted as the Chief Managing Director of the HPSEB are vying for the top post