The Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has remained headless for over five months, with the state government yet to notify the appointment of its chairperson and members despite the selection process having concluded.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court, taking serious note of the prolonged delay, has directed the state government to submit an affidavit explaining the reasons for withholding the recommendations of the selection committee.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma on May 9 ordered, “Keeping in view the larger public interest, if the appointment has not been notified, affidavit be filed as to why it has not been done and what is the specific reason that the state has withheld the recommendations of the selection committee.” The government has been asked to respond by May 15.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Atul Sharma challenging the extension granted to Prabodh Saxena as Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh. The petition contended that the extension violated the Central Services Rules and guidelines of the Department of Personnel and Training, further arguing that vigilance clearance should not have been granted to an officer facing corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Saxena, a 1990 batch IAS officer, was considered a leading contender for the RERA chairperson position, which has been vacant since December 2024 following the retirement of Shrikant Baldi. Sources indicate that the RERA selection committee—headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court and including the secretaries of urban development and law—opposed Saxena’s candidature due to his pending criminal case.
Saxena has been chargesheeted in the high-profile INX Media case, where former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti are also accused. Saxena, during his tenure as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs between 2008 and 2010, oversaw matters related to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, which approved Foreign Direct Investment proposals. The case remains under judicial consideration.
Despite the controversy, Saxena was appointed as Chief Secretary of the state on January 1, 2023. His administrative career spans various important assignments, including postings as Sub-Divisional Officer in Bilaspur, Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, roles at the Union Finance Ministry, and as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank in Manila between 2013 and 2016.
Recently, Saxena attracted criticism over a ₹1.22 lakh bill for a gathering organised at the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s Holiday Home on March 14. The event, attended by about 75 people, including over 20 IAS officers and their families, led to the bill being sent to the General Administration Department for payment. A copy of the bill circulated on social media triggered backlash from the opposition.
BJP MLA Bikram Singh condemned the move, saying, “It is clear that this is a gross violation of democratic spirit, ethical conduct, and administrative decorum. When the state is in debt of ₹1 lakh crore, such events reflect the insensitivity of the government and bureaucracy towards the plight of common citizens.”
The matter now awaits further hearing as the state government prepares its affidavit in response to the court’s directive.
