The Union government has clarified before the Himachal Pradesh High Court that the service extension of a government officer cannot exceed six months under the rules. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S D Sanjay submitted that no further extension is permissible beyond this cap.
The submission came before a division bench of Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma, which is hearing a challenge to the March 28 order granting Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena (IAS:1990:HP) a six-month extension. The court will next hear the matter on September 22.
The PIL, filed by Atul Sharma, seeks quashing of the extension on the ground that vigilance clearance cannot be issued to an officer facing a corruption case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Saxena has been chargesheeted in the INX Media scam and previously secured exemption from personal appearance.
Saxena, who was due to retire on March 31, was granted a six-month extension just three days earlier. His tenure now runs until September 30, 2025.
Appearing for the Centre, ASG Sanjay told the bench that CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had requested a one-year extension, citing Saxena’s role in executing major public-interest projects. However, the competent authority sanctioned only six months under Rule 16(1) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958.
During an earlier hearing on August 13, the High Court had summoned the full records relating to the extension from both the Centre and the State. These documents were produced on September 4 in a sealed cover and are currently retained by the court.
Also Read: Himachal Pradesh: CS Prabodh Saxena gets six months extension
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