Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi Retains Charge During Health Leave; IAS Officers Ensure Administrative Continuity After Bypass Surgery
New Delhi/Chandigarh: The Haryana government has officially confirmed that Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi (IAS: 1990 batch) will continue to hold charge of the state’s top administrative post despite being on medical leave following a recent bypass surgery. The announcement puts to rest speculation about a temporary replacement for the senior bureaucrat, ensuring continuity at the highest level of governance.
Rastogi’s Health Condition and Medical Leave
On the night of January 8, Rastogi, aged 60, suffered a heart attack. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a 100% blockage in one artery and 92% in another, necessitating urgent bypass surgery, which was successfully performed on January 9 at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.
Rastogi, who also holds the additional charge of the Finance Department, has been granted medical leave until January 22. During this period, Chief Minister Nayab Saini will directly handle files where the CM is the competent authority, while other matters requiring the Chief Secretary’s oversight will be managed by designated IAS officers.
Administration Without Direct Supervision
For the first time in Haryana, the state administration has been functioning for over a week without the direct supervision of the Chief Secretary. This unusual situation initially triggered speculation that another senior IAS officer might be given additional charge. However, an official communication issued on Friday clarified that Rastogi will continue to hold the post, thereby ending uncertainty within the bureaucracy.
Delegation of Responsibilities
To ensure smooth functioning, Rastogi’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) has issued detailed instructions to five IAS officers posted in the Chief Secretary’s office. The directives include:
All matters where the Chief Minister is the competent authority must be submitted directly to the CM.
Cases where the Chief Secretary is the competent authority will be handled by respective officers at their departmental levels starting January 16.
A daily list of pending matters must be sent to the OSD by 5 PM each day.
Officers are prohibited from taking leave during this period; in unavoidable cases, prior permission from the Chief Minister is mandatory.
Key Officers Assigned Roles
The division of responsibilities among the five IAS officers is as follows:
PC Meena (IAS: 2004:HY) – Commissioner and Secretary, Human Resources (HR) and General Administration Department (GAD)
Pankaj (IAS: 2009:HY) – Secretary (Personnel), overseeing Personnel, Training, and Parliamentary Affairs
Varsha Khangwal (IAS-HCS) – Vigilance matters
Samwartak Singh (IAS-HCS) – Secretariat establishment matters
Priyanka Soni (IAS: 2012:HY) – Monitoring and coordination work
This arrangement ensures continuity in decision-making and is expected to be extended to the Finance and Planning Departments, which also fall under Rastogi’s charge.
Background and Service Record
Anurag Rastogi was appointed as Haryana’s Chief Secretary in February 2025 and was subsequently granted a one‑year service extension. He is scheduled to retire on June 30, 2026. His tenure has been marked by proactive administration, and the current directives highlight the government’s commitment to maintaining stability during his temporary absence.
