Seeks bifurcation of J&K, Ladakh for separate bureaucrats
Dr Jitendra hails LG’s Admn for undertaking exercise
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 14: After more than 15 years, Jammu and Kashmir has conducted the Cadre Review of Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers to increase sanctioned strength in the Union Territory as large number of All India Services (AIS) officers are on deputation to J&K and Ladakh.
However, after the Cadre Review, the J&K Government has urged the Central Government to bifurcate the cadre of J&K and Ladakh as presently officers/officials from J&K are feeding Ladakh after their bifurcation into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
Presently, Jammu and Kashmir has sanctioned strength of 137 IAS officers but against them only 58 are in place including few who are on Central deputation besides those posted in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Official sources confirmed to the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir has completed its Cadre Review which was pending for last more than 15 years after a series of meetings within the Union Territory as well as consultations with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
“The Cadre Review will increase sanction strength of IAS officers in Jammu and Kashmir which will be of great help to the UT as it was reeling under shortage of the officers which prompted the Central Government to depute number of AIS officers from Centre as well as different States to J&K and Ladakh,” sources said.
Soon after taking over as Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Incharge DoPT, Dr Jitendra Singh had started dashing communications to the Jammu and Kashmir Government to conduct the Cadre Review to overcome shortage of IAS officers in the erstwhile State.
However, the then political Governments, initially the National Conference-Congress headed by Omar Abdullah and then PDP-BJP led by Muftis paid no heed to the communiqués and didn’t go for Cadre Review as they wanted their “favourite officers” to be given major postings.
“It was under the Lieutenant Governor’s Rule that a go ahead was given for the Cadre Review and completed successfully after series of meetings,” the sources said.
Lauding the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for conducting the Cadre Review, which was not done in Jammu and Kashmir for last over 15 years, Dr Jitendra Singh said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and his administration deserved praise for undertaking the exercise which was avoided by the previous dispensations without any reason.
“Now, when such a major exercise has been completed, the DoPT will ensure increase in the number of IAS officers to Jammu and Kashmir through AGMUT cadre,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
He added that the step will also lead to implementation of the Central Government guidelines under which certain posts are specifically reserved for the IAS officers.
While completing the Cadre Review, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has written to the Central Government for bifurcation of J&K and Ladakh cadres as both the Union Territories are part of AGMUT cadre as the move will clear strength of the officers of two UTs.
“Presently, a number of IAS/IPS and JKAS/JKPS besides other officers/officials from Jammu and Kashmir have been posted in the Union Territory of Ladakh to run the affairs there. This has also resulted into shortage of officers in Jammu and Kashmir,” sources pointed out.
The bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will lead to posting of separate officers in the UT of Ladakh and those on deputation there from J&K will be entitled to return which will also reduce shortage of officers in the UT,’’ sources said.
Jammu and Kashmir at present has sanctioned strength of 137 IAS officers which will go up significantly (well beyond 150) once the Cadre Review is implemented, they added.
It may be mentioned here that after abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh, the Central Government has posted a number of AIS officers into J&K and Ladakh to overcome shortage of the officers. Many of them are holding important postings in J&K. The Centre had also merged the cadre of Jammu and Kashmir into AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh Goa Mizoram Union Territories).
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