The resignation of former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Preneet S. Sachdev from the post of Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) Chairman has stirred a kind of race among former bureaucrats, as this post holds a special charm for them.
But, as per discussions in the power corridors, Sachdev’s resignation, accepted on October 30, was secured to pave the way for former IAS officer Arun Kumar Gupta (IAS:1992:HY) to be appointed to the post. Gupta, known for his closeness with the current political dispensation in the state, retired from the lead role as the Principal Secretary to state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on September 30.
Gupta has the prior experience suited to the role, as he headed the Town and Country Planning Department as its Director General and Administrative Secretary for a long time. The state govt is said to be keen on appointing Gupta as the new HRERA Chairman.
The post of HRERA chief is considered crucial, as it is the statutory body regulating real estate and the construction sector in the state.
Though there is another contender in the race in form of senior IAS officer Sudhir Rajpal (IAS:1990:HY).
Currently posted as Additional Chief Secretary looking after multiple departments like Finance and Planning, Home, Environment and Forest, among others, Rajpal is retiring on November 30, 2026.
It is also believed in the bureaucratic circles that Rajpal may be appointed as Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) Chairman. The reason is that despite being the senior-most IAS officer in the state, he was not appointed as the Chief Secretary, so the state government is believed to be thinking of compensating it.
Though Gupta is also reported to have applied for this post, Rajpal is considered the strongest contender.
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