Shimla, May 24 -- The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) has strongly opposed the Himachal Pradesh Government's reported move to grant service extension and appoint senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta as the regular Chief Secretary of the state, citing pending vigilance and corruption-related cases against him.

In a statement issued on Saturday, CPI(M) Himachal Pradesh State Secretary Sanjay Chauhan alleged that the proposed appointment raises serious questions over the government's commitment to its "zero tolerance against corruption" policy.

"The post of Chief Secretary is the highest administrative office in the state and should be occupied only by an officer with unquestionable integrity, impartiality and high moral standards," C...