Vivek Joshi Takes Charge as Haryana's New Chief Secretary

In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Haryana government has appointed Vivek Joshi as its new Chief Secretary, marking a homecoming for the senior bureaucrat who was previously serving at the Centre. The appointment, announced on Thursday, follows the retirement of outgoing Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad. 

Joshi, who belongs to the 1989 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), returns to his parent cadre after serving as Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Public Grievances and Pensions. His repatriation was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) on October 26, following a crucial meeting between Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 

The new Chief Secretary will oversee multiple key departments including general administration, personnel and training, parliamentary affairs, and plan coordination. This appointment is particularly noteworthy as it adheres to the BJP government's commitment to maintaining the 'seniority principle' in high-level administrative appointments. 

During the transition period, Anurag Rastogi, who serves as Additional Chief Secretary for Finance and Home, has been temporarily assigned the responsibilities of Chief Secretary until Joshi assumes office. 

"This appointment represents a strategic move in Haryana's administrative leadership," a senior government official told The Haryana Story. "Joshi's extensive experience at both state and central levels will be invaluable in steering the state's administrative machinery." 

The selection process gained particular attention due to existing seniority considerations among 1990 batch IAS officers, making the appointment of the senior-most 1989 batch officer a calculated decision by the state government.