In a significant administrative reshuffling, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the transfer and posting of 49 officers across various departments and districts within the Union Territory. The extensive reshuffle involves 42 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and seven Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, signaling a broad realignment of key positions.
Among the prominent changes, Vikas Kundal, an IAS officer from the 2013 batch and formerly the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB), has been appointed as the Divisional Commissioner for Jammu. He will also assume the additional responsibility of Additional CEO for the Jammu Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (JMRDA). Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that this move aims to streamline administrative functions in the Jammu division.
Ramesh Kumar, who previously held the position of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, has been transferred to serve as the Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department. In addition to this new role, he will concurrently hold the charge of Administrative Secretary for the Culture Department, while continuing his existing responsibilities as the Resident Commissioner for the Jammu and Kashmir Government in New Delhi. This multifaceted appointment underscores the administration’s focus on rural development and cultural preservation.
At the district level, Ayushi Sudan, who was serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Samba, has been appointed as the Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). Minga Sherpa, the former Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, is now posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu. Rupesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Samba, and Ananth Dwivedi will take over as the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur. Dr. Devansh Yadav, who held the position of Commissioner, JMC, along with additional charges as CEO of SPV Jammu City and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), has been transferred and posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri. These district-level changes are expected to bring fresh perspectives and drive to local governance.
Rakesh Minhas, the outgoing Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, has been assigned the role of Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Agency, J&K. He will also hold the additional charge of Managing Director for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, J&K. Meanwhile, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the JKSSB, a crucial body responsible for recruitment in the Union Territory. This appointment is seen as vital for ensuring efficient and transparent selection processes.
Further adjustments in district leadership include Jatin Kishore, who has been moved from Ganderbal to assume the role of Deputy Commissioner, Budgam. Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan has been shifted from Budgam to take up the position of Managing Director for the National Health Mission, J&K. In Ganderbal, Shreya Singhal has been posted as the Deputy Commissioner, replacing Jatin Kishore. Kuldeep Krishan Sidha has been appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama, succeeding Basharat Qayoom, who has been transferred to serve as the Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Charandeep Singh has been posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Shopian, completing the series of district-level appointments.
At the secretariat level, Shaleen Kabra, who serves as the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of the Jal Shakti Department, has been given the additional charge of Administrative Secretary for the Revenue Department. This responsibility was previously held by Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, who has now been relieved of it. Kabra will continue to hold his existing additional charge of the Estates Department. Ashish Chandra Verma, the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of the Tourism Department, has been transferred and posted as the Financial Commissioner (ACS) for the Agriculture Production Department. M. Raju, Commissioner/Secretary of the General Administration Department, has been relieved of the additional charge of the Health and Medical Education Department. However, he will retain his additional responsibilities as Administrative Secretary for the Hospitality and Protocol Department, in addition to holding charge of the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department. These secretariat-level changes reflect a strategic redistribution of responsibilities within the administrative hierarchy.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.