In fact, the government has been in search of a new incumbent after the state High Court intervened on a PIL to stay the re-appointment of Kanwar Shamsher Singh, a retired chief secretary, as HPSEB chairman for two years.

The PIL had questioned the manner in which Kanwar was offered this post on a platter even before the end of his earlier tenure as chairman.

The Congress government, which had favoured Kanwar, also filed an appeal in the Apex court against the High Court order, but had to cut a sorry figure following the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the orders.

On return of the BJP government, search had started for a new chairman, a charge held by Chief Secretary Ravi Dhingra. S.K. Sood later came as a stop-gap arrangement and it is Mittal who has now secured the post.

Mittal earlier had also remained principal secretary to chief minister during Dhumal’s earlier tenure as chief minister.In other transfers,