Shimla, May 26 -- The appointment of senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta as the regular Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday triggered sharp political reactions, with the BJP and CPI(M) accusing the state government of protecting tainted officials and compromising administrative integrity.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur alleged that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had become "completely compromised" before corrupt officials and was functioning like a "puppet in the hands of bureaucrats."

In a statement issued from Mandi, Thakur questioned the government's decision to regularise Sanjay Gupta's appointment despite the matter being under judicial scrutiny in the Himachal Pradesh High Court through a public interest litigat...