The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday ordered transfer of four IAS and IPS officers from Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory to Ladakh Union Territory, taking the strength of officers from both the elite services to 11 in the cold desert.
The MHA’s Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh division Tuesday ordered transfer of Ajeet Sahu (commissioner secretary, Jal Shakti department), Ravinder Kumar(deputy commissioner
Bandipora), Bhim Sen Tuti(DIG Jammu-Kathua--Samba range) and Rajiv Omparkash Pande (SSP, Udhampur) from J&K to Ladakh which are functioning as separate UTs from October 31, 2019.
Interestingly, Ravinder Kumar was only posted as DC Bandipora 12 days ago, raising questions on Jammu and Kashmir government was in loop over the transfers.
The MHA also ordered transfer of Sargun Shakula(SSP Leh) from Ladakh to J&K UT. According to the order, these transfers have been effected after approval of the competent authority till further orders or till final allocation of the officers of J&K cadre between the two UTs.
Under the Re-organisation Act, the Centre will decide on final allocation of J&K cadre IAS, IPS and IFS between the two UTs after consulting both LGs. With this development, the number of IAS and IPS officers in Ladakh UT will reach to 11. Of them, seven are IAS and four are IPS. Umang Narula, a Financial Commissioner rank officer of J&K cadre, is functioning as advisor to LG Ladakh from October 31.
Rigzin Samphel, an IAS officer of UP cadre who is on inter-state cadre deputation to J&K and Saugat Biswas are functioning as administrative secretary, holding more than 15 departments each. Biswas is also saddled with responsibility of divisional commissioner Leh.
Sachin Kumar(DC Leh) and Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary(DC Kargil) are both IAS officer. With today’s reshuffle, the strength of IPS officers in the region will be four. Already SS Khandare(IGP Ladakh) and Vinod Kumar(SSP Kargil) are posted there. Under the Re-organisation law, all India Service officers to be posted to Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir or Union territory of Ladakh shall be borne on the Arunachal Goa Mizoram Union Territory cadre. The Joint Cadre Authority (JCA) decides on the transfers of IAS and IPS officers of AGMUT cadre.