The CM's decision has sparked mixed reactions within the bureaucracy as the reasoning behind it seems more unusual than effectively addressing the imbalance between seniority and opportunities in governance vis-a-vis civil servants.
🎀The Himachal Pradesh government has decided not to accept any new IAS or IPS officers from the 2025 batch into its state cadre. In response to a letter from the Centre, the state government has duly communicated its decision to limit the strength of the IAS and IPS officers to “streamline” governance and cut down unnecessary administrative burdens.
🌸Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has gone on record saying "with a population of around 70 lakh, (the government) currently employs 153 officers, a number deemed sufficient for its administrative needs”. Furthermore, the CM also wants to cut down the number of IPS and Indian Forest Services (IFS) officers.
ཧHis decision has sparked mixed reactions within the bureaucracy as the reasoning behind it seems more unusual than effectively addressing the imbalance between seniority and opportunities in governance vis-a-vis civil servants.
🤡There has been only one such instance in the state before when the state government had imposed a similar restriction on the centre by not allotting a new batch of IAS officers back in 1990-91. During this time, former CM Shanta Kumar had decided against accepting more IAS officers for Himachal Pradesh.
🔜The decision, however, was reversed after it was discovered that an IAS officer allotted to its cadre— Jagdish Sharma, belonged to the home state, that too from the tribal belt of Pangi, which was at the time a landlocked valley.
꧙Since then, none of the successive governments chose to deny the induction of new batches, some of which have outstanding civil servants gracing key positions in the state and centre.
🐭The problem began when the Centre started assigning a larger number of direct IAS officers, ranging from five to seven in a single cadre. Later, when senior Himachal Administrative Service (HAS) officers were also inducted into the All India Services, the size of these batches grew significantly, causing an imbalance at the heart among them in postings as DCs, HoDs and MDs of key instruments of governance.
⛦Insiders say the government's move against accepting new batches also has come as a response to grievances expressed by some young IAS officers, especially from the 2013-2016 batches. While the 2017 batch officers are inching close to being posted as DCs, many of their immediate seniors have expressed dissatisfaction over not having had the opportunity to serve in coveted posts like that of Deputy Commissioners.
🌟“We told the government that it has not used due diligence in the postings, denied equal opportunities and overlooked seniority for key roles. The promoted IAS, who could not become DCs, also conveyed their disappointments” revealed a young IAS officer.
ꦡThe government feels by limiting the induction of new officers, a serving Deputy Commissioner may be able to provide a more level playing field for those already in the system, ensuring equitable chances for career growth and leadership roles.
꧙“Himachal Pradesh, known for its mountainous terrain and relatively small population, is reportedly functioning well with the existing pool of officers” the young IAS officer further adds.
⛦However, the move has already stirred a debate within the bureaucratic circles with some former IAS officers questioning the long-term impact on governance, efficiency and managing middle-rank positions.
🌱The rejection of new IAS and IPS officers may also hinder the recruitment (induction)of fresh talent to address emerging governance challenges in the field, which could further affect morale within the service.
꧑Principal Secretary (Personnel) M Sudha Devi says that the decision, taken at the highest level, was after considering all pros and cons and it’s related to just the current year i.e. 2025.
🐼“We are soon getting two more new IAS officers of the 2021 batch, apart from what we already have from successive cadre allocations,” she said.
🍰Analysts, however, disapprove of the idea of reducing the intake of the IAS officers as that could create problems in the successive years to post direct IAS officers as SDMs, ADCs, and also to perform roles to strike a balance between state services officers and direct All India Services, which otherwise would result in an imbalance.
🌄Until a few years ago, the state government complained about the shortage of IAS officers and sent requests to the central government for relief officers on deputation. However, the situation seems to have switched now with the state government grappling with a problem of plenty in half a dozen batches.
💞For instance, several IAS officers from the 2014 batch have faced significant delays in securing postings as District Collectors (DCs), with many waiting as long as eight to nine years. Similarly, the 2015 and 2016 batches—both direct recruits and those promoted—have found themselves in difficult positions, which has resulted in many being unable to attain key roles such as DCs or Heads of Departments (HoDs).
ꦿThose currently serving as DCs from these batches, including some in second districts, such as Abid Hussain Sadiq (Bilaspur), Hemraj Bhirva (Kangra), Aproov Devgan (Mandi), Sumit Khimta (Sirmaur) and Torul S. Raveesh (Kullu), might consider themselves fortunate when compared to their peers from the same batches.
𓃲For Chief Minister Sukhu, the cadre strength of 153 is proportionally on the higher side for a state with a 70 lakh population, especially when compared to Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana.
🌠In Uttarakhand, while the population stands at 1.23 crore, the strength of IAS officers remains 76. Whereas, in Jammu and Kashmir, it is 137 IAS officers for a population of 1.25 crore.
꧂Nevertheless, some Himachal Cadre officers have risen to high positions such as Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. A recent example is Sanjay Murthy, a 1989-batch officer, the new CAG.
Tarun Kapoor, a 1987-batch officer serving as an advisor in the PMO; IPS officer late Ashwani Kumar—who served as CBI director and Governor.
B B Tandon, retired IAS, who served as 14th Chief Election Commissioner of India; Ajay Mittal, former secretary ministry of I&B; Ajay Taygi,1984-batch a former SEBI 🗹chairman, and Tarun Shridhar, 1984-batch who retired as secretary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and later become member Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).