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Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs

Finance secretary’s car records the highest monthly bills; chief secretary’s staff vehicle often costs more than his own

4 min readChandigarhDec 14, 2025 10:17 PM IST

In most months, the highest fuel bill was for the vehicle allotted to the then finance secretary. Another recurring trend was that the chief secretary’s staff car frequently recorded fuel expenses that were nearly double that of the chief secretary’s own vehicle. (File Photo)

Senior IAS officers posted in Chandigarh spent close to Rs 30 lakh on fuel for their official vehicles over a two-year period, according to information obtained under the Right to Information Act by The Indian Express.

The RTI sought details of fuel expenses for vehicles allotted to the chief secretary and officers of the rank of secretary and principal secretary who report directly to the chief secretary. The data pertains to 2022-23 and 2023-24 and shows a total expenditure of about Rs 29 lakh over 24 months.

The monthly figures reveal a consistent pattern. In most months, the highest fuel bill was for the vehicle allotted to the then finance secretary. Another recurring trend was that the chief secretary’s staff car frequently recorded fuel expenses that were nearly double that of the chief secretary’s own vehicle.

In April 2022, around Rs 1.55 lakh was spent on fuel for about 10 senior IAS officers’ vehicles. The finance secretary’s car topped the list with a bill of about Rs 21,000 for just over 200 litres of fuel. The home secretary and special secretary, personnel followed with expenses of around Rs 18,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. In contrast, the chief secretary’s own vehicle consumed fuel worth less than Rs 4,000 that month, while his staff car used fuel worth over Rs 7,500.

A similar trend continued in May 2022. While the chief secretary spent under Rs 4,000 on fuel, his staff car recorded a bill of over Rs 9,000. The finance secretary again had the highest expense at just over Rs 20,000, followed by the home secretary at around Rs 12,000.

In June 2022, the total fuel expenditure for senior officers stood at about Rs 1.41 lakh. The finance secretary’s vehicle accounted for nearly Rs 14,000, while the home secretary’s was close to Rs 13,000. The chief secretary’s car used fuel worth about Rs 4,300, compared to more than Rs 7,500 for his staff vehicle.

The pattern persisted through the year. In August and November 2022, the finance secretary’s vehicle continued to record fuel bills close to Rs 19,000 to Rs 20,000 each month, with consumption nearing 200 litres. During these months, the chief secretary’s own fuel expenses remained below Rs 4,000, while his staff car again cost almost twice as much.

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In January 2023, when total monthly fuel spending crossed Rs 1.27 lakh, the finance secretary’s vehicle alone accounted for nearly Rs 20,000, consuming over 200 litres of fuel. The chief secretary’s vehicle again recorded a modest expense of under Rs 4,000, with his staff car spending over Rs 7,000.

By April 2023, the total expenditure stood at about Rs 1.22 lakh for the month. The finance secretary’s fuel bill was the highest at over Rs 17,000, while the chief secretary’s own expense was below Rs 3,000. In August 2023, total monthly fuel spending rose to about Rs 1.36 lakh, with the finance secretary’s vehicle again topping the list at over Rs 22,000.

Residents’ groups have questioned the scale of fuel consumption in a compact union Territory like Chandigarh, which has a geographical area of just 114 square kilometres. Vinod Vashisht, convener of the City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations, said there should be a clear cap on fuel expenses for different ranks of bureaucrats. Audits should also examine possible misuse of government vehicles for non-official purposes, and errant officials must be reprimanded. The administration, he added, should seriously consider transitioning staff vehicles to electric vehicles.
Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman of the Federation of Sectors Welfare Associations of Chandigarh, said fuel expenses incurred at taxpayers’ cost should be placed in the public domain every month. “At times, officers do not even know and the staff keeps burning fuel. Some of them even spend on touring and add it to common fuel expenses. This should be made public,” Bittu said.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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