Himachal Bureaucrat Hosts Rs 1.2 Lakh Party, Faces Backlash Over Pending Salaries

Rapid Summary

• Himachal pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena hosted a Holi party in March for IAS officers adn their families, costing Rs 1.2 lakhs.
• The event took place at Holiday Home,a Himachal Tourism hotel in Shimla,with per plate charges of Rs 1,000 for officers and families,Rs 585 for drivers; transport costs added Rs 11,800; the total bill was Rs 1,22,020 including GST.
• The bill was forwarded from the chief secretary’s office to the General Governance department of the state government.
• Public backlash emerged as pictures of the bill circulated on social media amidst concerns over Himachal Pradesh’s financial struggles-including debt exceeding ₹1 lakh crore-and delayed salaries and pensions for government employees.
• Netizens criticized saxena as well as the Congress-led state government for extravagant spending during financial hardship; opposition BJP also joined in condemning this expenditure.

Indian opinion Analysis
This controversy reflects deeper frustrations regarding governance priorities in Himachal Pradesh during a time of notable economic distress. While hosting official gatherings is part of administrative culture globally, both timing and optics matter-especially when public servants face salary delays and pension suspensions due to fiscal deficits exceeding ₹1 lakh crore. Such expenses can invite criticism even if procedurally legitimate because they symbolize disconnection between leadership actions and public sentiment.

The incident also highlights how social media amplifies accountability by giving citizens access to issues traditionally confined within bureaucratic circles; openness alone may not be sufficient without proportional judgment about discretionary spending amidst systemic crises.

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