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Transfer cases of government officers and employees are often discussed in Himachal Pradesh. Many times when MLA’s DO notes were transferred, the High Court canceled them. Now the Him Urja officer posted in Dharamshala has been transferred from the CM office. Because he had sent notices to a contractor. However, now the court has canceled the transfer.
Shimla. In Himachal Pradesh, the Sukhu government transferred the senior project officer posted in the Snow Energy Department on the recommendation of the contractor. Now the High Court has canceled this transfer. The High Court also made strict comments in its order.
According to the information, Himurja’s senior project officer Ramesh Kumar Thakur was posted in Dharamshala. During this time he was suddenly transferred to Chamba. The court of High Court judge Sadip Sharma clearly said that a government employee cannot be transferred on the recommendation of a person who has nothing to do with departmental work. While delivering the verdict, the single bench of Justice Sandeep Sharma said that the transfer of the petitioner was done on the basis of a letter written by a private contractor to the Chief Minister, which is completely unfair.
Petitioner Ramesh Kumar Thakur was transferred to Chamba on 15 November 2025. The petitioner alleged that this transfer was done under the pressure of a private contractor, because he had sent notices to the concerned contractor for not completing the solar power projects on time. Making a strong comment, the High Court said that the contractor concerned is neither a constitutional officer, nor a public representative, nor an officer associated with the department, yet being transferred on his recommendation is a serious matter.
Tradition of transfer on the basis of political interference
Calling it an example of political or external interference, the court remarked that transfer can be done only due to administrative necessity or in public interest. Citing the old decisions of the Supreme Court and the High Court related to such cases, the court said in its decision that the tradition of transfer on the basis of external pressure, recommendation or political interference has already been rejected. While canceling the transfer order of 15.November 2025, the High Court has given the freedom to the state government that if needed in future, the transfer should be done only as per law and administrative rules.
The contractor has contracts related to the project at three places.
According to the copy of the High Court orders, the private contractor is M/s Himalayan Techno and was entrusted with the design, supply and commissioning of solar power projects of 500 kW capacity at three locations in Hamirpur, Kangra and Bilaspur. The contractor did not complete the projects on time and was sent several reminders. Angered by this, the contractor used his political contacts to get the petitioner transferred. The petitioner presented the documents obtained through RTI in the court, in which the letter which was written to the Chief Minister was also revealed. In this, the contractor had demanded transfer of the petitioner to Chamba.
