Hours after retirement, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena appointed Chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd

To make way for Saxena, the government transferred incumbent HPSEBL chairman Sanjay Gupta, 1988 batch IAS officer, to the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board. Gupta too will function under the administrative control of the Chief Minister and will hold the status and rank of Chief Secretary.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena was accorded a warm farewell by the Secretariat Administration department on his retirement at the State Secretariat in Shimla on Tuesday. In his address, Saxena said that Himachal Pradesh has made remarkable progress since its formation, due to the collective efforts of its people, leadership, officers, and employees. He lauded the dedication of state employees who, despite adverse weather conditions, consistently delivered exemplary services.

Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant praised the exemplary services of Prabodh Saxena and felicitated him on the occasion, while wishing him a long and healthy life. Secretariat Administration Secretary Rakesh Kanwar welcomed the Chief Secretary.

The officer hit headlines for the Rs 1-lakh worth holy bash he organised at Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC)-run Hotel Holiday Home.

On the last day of his service, 1990-batch IAS officer Saxena, the only chief secretary in the state to get a six-month extension two days before his scheduled retirement in March this year, spoke with The Indian Express at his office.

Did you seek an extension in March?

I never applied for an extension. The political leadership decided that I should continue for the time being. Hence, I was given a six-month extension in March.

Would you like to comment on the case about your extension in the High Court and the INX Media Corruption case?

The INX Media corruption case has been ongoing for six years. I received an extension as per the rules. I didn’t influence anyone. The issue regarding my extension is under consideration in court.

What are your post-retirement plans? Your name is doing rounds for the post of Commissioner of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission?

I would not like to comment on public perceptions. I want to pursue academics. My PhD on the subject ‘Line of Credit’ from OP Jindal Global University will be completed shortly. In the ‘Line of Credit,’ I examined how India borrows from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other international organisations, while also providing loans to numerous developing countries. My PhD is focused on both manners. I bought a piece of land in Himachal, and my wife has at least two years of service in the education sector left, but I don’t think I will be settling in Himachal. Both my children are out of Himachal. My son is in Switzerland, and my daughter is studying outside Himachal.

Are you satisfied with your performance? During your tenure as Chief Secretary, the Opposition always attacked the state government, accusing the bureaucracy of misleading the state.

I am fully satisfied with my service in Himachal Pradesh. An ideal bureaucrat always toes the line of righteousness instead of considering what others say about him. I have had many valuable experiences, from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the current Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Oppositions and politicians are free to speak; we are not.