Chief Secretary hosted Holi party for officials, sent bill to state government!

Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has found himself at the center of a controversy following reports that he organized a Holi party for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and their families, and subsequently forwarded the expenses to be paid from the state treasury.

Despite being scheduled to retire from the post of Chief Secretary on March 31, Prabodh Saxena was granted a six-month extension. On March 14, he organized a Holi celebration at the government-run Hotel Holiday Home in Shimla. Sources indicate that a bill amounting to ₹1.22 lakh was submitted to the Department of General Administration for payment.

The bill reportedly includes ₹1,000 per person for meals provided to 77 IAS officers and their family members, and ₹585 each for 22 drivers. Additionally, ₹11,800 was charged under taxi expenses and ₹22,350 was listed under taxes and other charges, bringing the total to ₹1.22 lakh.

When asked whether this was an official government event or a private party, Secretary of the Department of General Administration Rajesh Sharma responded that only the Chief Secretary could provide a proper explanation. Regarding who would be responsible for the payment, he stated, “Payments will be made as per final orders. You must ask the Chief Secretary.”

The incident has drawn strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has demanded an impartial investigation. Former minister and BJP MLA Bikram Thakur on Thursday alleged, “This is a blatant violation of democratic values, ethical standards, and administrative propriety.”

He further stated that the state is already burdened with debt exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, and at such a critical time, it is appalling that the government and bureaucracy are indulging in extravagance, ignoring the struggles of ordinary citizens. He called for an unbiased probe into the incident and demanded disciplinary action against those responsible.