Jammu & Kashmir Implements Large‑Scale Bureaucratic Shuffle
The Jammu and Kashmir administration carried out a massive bureaucratic reshuffle on October 7, relocating 49 senior IAS and JKAS officers across a spectrum of departments. The orders, issued by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, are effective immediately and cover revenue, agriculture, health, tourism, information technology, rural development and municipal administration.
IAS officer Shaleen Kabra, already Finance Commissioner in the Water Power Department, now holds the additional charge of Administrative Secretary of the Revenue Department. His former counterpart, Kumar Rajiv Ranjan, has been relieved from this post, while Kabra continues his existing duties.
Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma transitions from heading Tourism to become Finance Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of the Agriculture Production Department.
Development Kundal, chairperson of the Service Selection Board, is appointed Divisional Commissioner of the Jammu Division and also takes on the role of Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Jammu Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.
Saogat Biswas is named Commissioner/Secretary of Health and Medical Education, inheriting the portfolio previously managed by M. Raju, who now oversees Hospitality and Protocol as well as Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction as additional charges.
Ramesh Kumar, the outgoing Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, becomes Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, adding the Culture Department to his responsibilities while remaining the Resident Commissioner of J&K in New Delhi.
Avni Lavasha is promoted to Secretary of Tourism, retaining her charge of Tribal Affairs. Anjali Seharawat steps in as Secretary of the Public Grievances Department.
Rahul Yadav is appointed Administrative Secretary of Information Technology and continues as Managing Director of the Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation.
Ozair Ahmad takes up the post of Administrative Secretary of Planning, Development and Monitoring, also serving as Director of Skill Development.
At the district level, Dr. Devansh Yadav is appointed Sub‑Divisional Magistrate of Rajouri. Rakesh Kumar, Jatin Kishore, Shreya Singhal and Anant Dwivedi have been assigned as Sub‑Divisional Magistrates of Samba, Budgam, Gandarbal and Udham Singh Nagar respectively.
Shri Kanta Balasaheb Sushe has been installed as Chairman of the Service Selection Board. Basharat Kayyum becomes the Administrator of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, and Ayushi Sudhan is named Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
JKAS cadre movements include Kuldeep Krishna Siddha as Sub‑Divisional Magistrate of Pulwama and Chandradeep Singh as Sub‑Divisional Magistrate of Shopian, with additional duties given to Rakesh Kumar, Sachin Jamwal, Sushil Kesar and Irfan Bahadur.