Shimla, May 26 -- The Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta as the regular Chief Secretary of the state, just five days before his scheduled retirement, triggering fresh political and administrative debate amid ongoing judicial scrutiny over his appointment.

The Personnel Department issued the notification appointing Gupta, a 1988-batch IAS officer, as the state's Chief Secretary with immediate effect, stating that the decision had been taken "in public interest".

Gupta had been serving as Acting Chief Secretary since October 2025 while simultaneously holding the charge of Additional Chief Secretary (Town and Country Planning and Housing). He is the senior-most IAS officer of the Himachal Prade...