Himachal woman officer, popular on social media, transferred without posting

A 32-year-old Himachal Administrative Services (HAS) officer, Oshin Sharma, has found herself at the centre of social media attention after being transferred without a designated posting.
The abrupt transfer, which sparked widespread discussion online, remains unexplained by senior Himachal Pradesh government officials, fuelling further public speculation.
Despite growing outrage on social platforms, the administration is yet to clarify why Sharma was transferred and why no new posting has been assigned to her.
Sources close to the Mandi Deputy Commissioner’s office suggest that Sharma was transferred on administrative grounds, with claims that her work performance was unsatisfactory. However, no official statements have been issued.
The young officer has been very active on various social media platforms. She has over 8.8 lakh followers on multiple platforms, including 1.9 lakh followers on X, 3.5 lakh followers on Instagram, 2.96 lakh followers on Facebook, and over 1.28 lakh members of Facebook groups named Oshin Sharma public groups.
On X, her farewell post to the people of Sandhol, Mandi, where she served as Tehsildar, read, “Time to say goodbye to Sandhol. The memories created here are lifelong. Thanks for your honor and love”.
However, her influential online persona may have contributed to her current predicament. Allegedly, local politicians and senior officials were not pleased with her growing social media presence, accusing her of prioritising social media activities over her official duties.
Reports suggest that Sharma received a show-cause notice due to her failure to perform her duties effectively. These reports claim that her social media activities hampered public services, leading to delays in essential administrative work.
Yet, many in the region continue to regard her as one of Himachal’s most hardworking officers, citing her commendable work in executing welfare schemes related to social welfare, environment, and Panchayati Yojana.
Locals from Mandi and Kangra districts, where Sharma previously worked, express admiration for her dedication, particularly towards Self Help Groups and Panchayat-related welfare initiatives. Some question whether the allegations against her are driven by jealousy rather than legitimate concerns.
Oshin Sharma, who is from a Brahmin family in the Bharmour tribal area of Chamba district, was previously married to Vishal Nehria, a former BJP lawmaker. The former couple, who were college acquaintances, were in a relationship before their wedding in April 2021.
However, their union proved to be troubled, as Sharma alleges that her ex-husband subjected her to both physical and mental abuse.
Oshin Sharma was in the news in June 2021 when she accused her husband, who was then Dharamshala MLA, of mental and physical torture within two months of their marriage.
She had released an 11-minute video accusing Nehria of slapping her in front of his family and detailed allegations of long-standing abuse, even before their wedding.
Oshin Sharma is not the only Himachal officer who has been active on social media. Another Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HPAS) officer, Jyoti Rana, a former model, has over 22,000 followers on Facebook.
Even Himachal Pradesh Police Inspector Priyanka Negi has 92,200 followers on Facebook. State Public Relations Department employee and folk singer Karnal Rana has 68,500 followers on YouTube.
Earlier this year, the Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police issued a circular advising officers to refrain from showcasing their uniforms and official duties on social media. This came after complaints that many officers were ‘modeling’ in uniform, which raised questions about the appropriateness of such actions.
However, the circular clarified that the officials were free to exhibit their talent after duty hours.
Interestingly, Oshin Sharma was not the only officer transferred on September 13. Three other HAS officers, including Ashray Sharma, Shikha, and Mohit Ratan, were also transferred but, like Sharma, have not yet been assigned new postings. While these transfers went largely unnoticed, Sharma’s case has become a lightning rod for online discourse.
The developments have ignited a divided reaction from netizens. Some have labelled her a “social media-hungry officer” and called for her resignation, while others view her as a victim of systemic jealousy and an attempt to stifle her rising influence.