Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena is at the center of a controversy following reports that he hosted a Holi lunch party for bureaucrats and their families, subsequently billing the state government ₹1.22 lakh for the event. The gathering, held on March 14 at the government-run Hotel Holiday Home in Shimla,was attended by approximately 75 individuals, including IAS, IPS, and IFS officers, along with their families and 22 drivers.

The expense of hosting the event comprised lunch that cost ₹1,000 per plate for officers and their family members, ₹585 per plate for the taxi drivers, taxi charges of ₹11,800, and other miscellaneous expenses and taxes of ₹22,350. The bill was submitted to the General Administration Department (GAD) to pay, which raised controversies regarding the usage of public funds in hosting such an event.

Political Backlash and Ethical Issues

The act has been criticized by the opposition Bhartiya Janata Party as a "blatant negation of democratic values, ethical behavior, and administrative propriety." BJP MLA Bikram Thakur attacked the spending, especially when the state was burdened with such a huge debt and called for a proper inquiry into the matter.

The incident has also raised ire of the public, and the majority of the people condemned it on social media. Opponents raised the reason for the state's financial crisis, citing that there was no necessity for such an expenditure. One user said, "Himachal Pradesh is indebted by more than ₹1 lakh crore and pensions have been delayed. And yet the Chief Secretary hosts a very expensive Holi party. when people are in trouble."

Justification and Defence by Chief Secretary

Chief Secretary Saxena justified the event when it was under fire, stating that it has been a tradition for top officers, including the Governor and Chief Minister, to hold events at the expense of the state. He went on to clarify that the event was not a party but an official event for officials, stating that there was nothing wrong with the government footing the bill for the event.

Demands for Accountability and Transparency

The scandal has brought back into the spotlight the issue of the moral obligation of public administrators and transparency in government expenditure. While the state battles budget deficits, the incident underlines the importance of judicious fiscal planning and accountability in public administration.