In a dramatic turn of event, order of appointment of 1988 batch former IAS officer Rajesh Khullar as chief principal secretary to Haryana CM was reinstated after it was put on abeyance hours after issuing of order on October 17, 2024.
However, he has not been given the status of cabinet rank in the new order. Sources said that politicians and BJP leaders had objected to granting Khullar status of cabinet rank, which politicians find it hard to get even after years of toil.
The tenure of Khullar will be coterminous with chief minister or until further orders whichever is earlier.
The reinstatement of appointment comes on the day when chief minister Nayab Singh Saini returned from Delhi trip where he met party president Jagat Prakash Nadda and coincharge of Haryana Biplav Kumar Deb.
Rajesh Khullar, a close confidante of former chief minister and union minister of housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, was principal secretary to former Khattar.
After superannuation, Khullar, who was serving as additional chief secretary disaster management, made chief principal secretary of Khattar.
Khullar had continued to be on the same position even after Khattar was removed and Nayab Singh Saini was made the chief minister.
Khullar, a 1988 batch IAS, had a stint in the World Bank as executive director in September 2020 for three years. Prior to this international assignment, he was principal secretary (to CM) for five years.
New chief secretary and principal secretary to CM to be appointed
The Haryana government will have to appoint new chief secretary as the incumbent chief secretary TVSN Prasad is retiring on October 31, 2024. Similarly, the current principal secretary to CM V Umashankar will be going on central deputation as secretary road transport tomorrow on Wednesday.
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