The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the premature repatriation of Odisha-cadre IAS officer Gavali Parag Harshad to his parent cadre.
Prior to this order, Harshad was serving as the Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
According to the official Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order dated October 7, 2026, the 2013-batch officer has been relieved of his central duties with immediate effect, with the provision of an extended cooling-off period. The order, however, does not specify any official reasons for his early return.
A Look Back at Central Assignments
Harshad’s central deputation began in July 2024, during which he initially served as the Private Secretary to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram. His tenure in that role was later curtailed in February 2025, following which he transitioned to his position as Deputy Secretary in MoHUA.
His stint as Minister Oram’s private secretary had previously garnered public attention when the minister requested a replacement and wrote a formal letter to the Odisha Chief Secretary alleging unauthorised absence from duty and seeking disciplinary action. Despite past friction, no official link has been established by authorities between that 2025 episode and his current repatriation.
Prior Administrative Experience in Odisha
Before moving to central deputation, Harshad built a diverse administrative profile across Odisha. He notably served as the Collector and District Magistrate of Sundargarh, as well as the Project Director for the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Malkangiri, alongside various other key district and state assignments.
With his current central deputation officially brought to a close, the bureaucrat is slated to report back to his parent cadre in Odisha for his next assignment.
