The Haryana government has approached the Centre seeking a second one-year extension in service for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi (IAS:1990:HY), a move that, if approved, could effectively bring to a close the long-running seniority controversy surrounding the appointment of the state’s top bureaucrat.
Rastogi’s current extended tenure is scheduled to end on June 30, 2026. According to sources, the state government has sought another year’s extension. If approved by the Centre, he will continue as Chief Secretary till June 2027.
The extension request assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of a prolonged seniority dispute among 1990-batch IAS officers of the Haryana cadre. When Rastogi was appointed Chief Secretary in February 2025, he superseded Sudhir Rajpal and Sumita Misra, both his batchmates, who were placed above him in the Haryana IAS Officers’ Gradation List.
Rastogi had first served briefly as Chief Secretary on an interim basis from October 31, 2024, before Dr Vivek Joshi returned from Central deputation. He was appointed to the post again in February 2025 after Dr Vivek Joshi was appointed Election Commissioner. Although Rastogi attained the age of superannuation on June 30, 2025, he was granted a one-year extension in service, enabling him to continue as Chief Secretary till June 30, 2026.
The controversy dates back to February 2024, when Rastogi, along with his batchmates Ankur Gupta (since retired) and Raja Sekhar Vundru, submitted a representation seeking revision of the Haryana IAS seniority list. They contended that Rajpal and Misra, who had been allocated to the Haryana cadre from other states, should not rank above officers belonging to the original Haryana cadre. While the representation remained undecided, the government proceeded to appoint Rastogi as Chief Secretary over Rajpal and Misra.
If the Centre approves the state’s proposal, Rajpal, who is due to retire on November 30, 2026, and Misra, who is scheduled to retire on January 31, 2027, would both superannuate before the Chief Secretary’s post falls vacant again. Consequently, the long-running controversy over their supersession in favour of Rastogi may effectively come to an end without the seniority dispute ever being formally resolved.
Get Latest Updates
