Who’ll pay the bill? Himachal chief secretary runs up Rs 1.22 lakh bill for Holi bash for IAS officers, their kin; asks govt to pay

Saxena, a 1991-batch IAS officer, received a six-month extension on the day of his retirement on March 31. He had organised a gathering at Hotel Holiday Home (HHH), a Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) property, on March 14, which was attended by around 75 people, including over 20 IAS officers, their spouses and children, and 22 drivers, who were also served lunch, according to a report.

The HPTDC forwarded the bill of Rs 1.22 lakh to the GAD for payment, but the payment was stuck as questions were raised about whether the state exchequer should pay the bill.

The bill, meanwhile, surfaced on social media Wednesday. The cost of officers and their families’ food was Rs 1,000 per plate, including snacks and lunch, totalling Rs 75,000, while Rs 22,350 was charged as GST. For the 22 drivers, lunch was served for Rs 585 per plate, amounting to Rs 12,870.

A senior officer of the Tourism Department said, “The bill is still pending with the GAD. No payment has been made.”

An HPTDC source said that after the High Court took serious note of the poor financial performance of HPTDC-run hotels last year, the department cannot afford to overlook unpaid bills. The matter was discussed at the senior level and the bill was forwarded to GAD, which is yet to decide on whether to pay the bill or not, he said.

In November last, the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered the shutting of almost two dozen hotels of the HPTDC, which were running at a loss, and “later vacated the order as the corporation assured the court that sincere efforts will be made to make these properties profitable,” he said.

Saxena told The Indian Express, “The programme was within the rules. I didn’t go beyond the rules and regulations applied to government servants. There were no personal friends of mine. The matter is with the GAD.”

GAD Secretary Rakesh Sharma refused to comment on the matter.

Sources said the issue has divided the bureaucracy with some officers believing “the host should pay the bill” while others backing the Chief Secretary, claiming that he is “entitled to organise such events at government expense, as long as the gathering does not include personal guests”.

An IAS officer told The Indian Express, “We have to study the rules, but ideally, such programmes and celebrations on festivals usually are contributory where all participants contribute to the total expenditure.”

On Holi, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had also organised a get-together at his official residence Oak Over, where eatables, refreshments, etc., were served by the state tourism corporation.

BJP Jaswan-Pragpur MLA and former minister Bikram Thakur attacked the state government over the matter, terming it “a blatant violation of democratic values, ethical conduct and administrative decorum”.

“At a time when the state is reeling under a debt of Rs 1 lakh crore, such events clearly indicate the government and bureaucracy’s indifference to the problems faced by the common people,” Thakur said in a statement.

The MLA said, “The Holi party was a disregard for responsibility and fiscal discipline, and also a violation of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which mandate integrity, honesty and impartiality from government officers.”

“Under the Constitution, the state government has to ensure social welfare and transparency in public life. Unfortunately, the very officers who have been entrusted with the duty to serve the public are misusing public funds for personal enjoyment,” the MLA alleged.

“At a time when freedom of expression is under increasing pressure in Himachal Pradesh, it is essential that the person who brought the matter to the fore is protected so they can continue their professional responsibilities without fear,” he added.