In a significant administrative move aimed at strengthening leadership and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of public services, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the placement of eight in-charge Superintending Engineers as in-charge Chief Engineers in the Jal Shakti Department.

The decision, taken under exceptional circumstances by the department led by Jal Shakti Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana, is part of a broader strategy to reinforce managerial oversight and operational efficiency across key infrastructural sectors under the department’s purview.

The move comes in light of pressing administrative exigencies and the need to ensure continuity in the functioning of critical divisions within the Jal Shakti Department and its allied organizations.

The placements have been made to provide leadership support at the Chief Engineer level in view of existing vacancies, without allowing any disruption in project execution or departmental operations.

As per Government Order issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department Shaleen Kabra, eight officers namely Er. Mohd Hanief, Er. Showkat Hussain, Er. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Er. Jugal Kishore Nagotra, Er. Naseeb Chand, Er. Dev Raj Bhagat, Er. Zakir Hussain and Er. Muneer Hussain have been temporary placed as In-charge Chief Engineers.

Subsequently, after placement, the officers were posted in various wings of Jal Shakti department. Er. Mohd Hanief has been posted as in-charge Chief Engineer, PHE Jammu; Er. Showkat Hussain as in-charge Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Kashmir; Er. Rakesh Kumar Gupta as in-charge Chief Engineer, PHE Kashmir; Er. Jugal Kishore Nagotra as in-charge Chief Engineer, UEED, J&K whereas Er. Naseeb Chand, Er. Dev Raj Bhagat, Er. Zakir Hussain, and Er. Muneer Hussain have been placed at the disposal of JKPDC for further assignment.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Omar Abdullah-led Government to transparency, meritocracy and institutional integrity, Minister Javed Rana emphasized that all personnel decisions have been taken in line with the principles of responsive governance and public accountability.

“The department remains committed to aligning its human resource strategy with the evolving needs of the sector and the public interest. This move reflects our continued effort to strengthen leadership across all levels of the engineering cadre,” he said.