Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Apr 28: A day after creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) for the new administrative units to ensure immediate commencement of official work.
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With the latest decision, Ladakh now has seven districts, including the existing Leh and Kargil. The five newly created districts notified by the Lieutenant Governor on Monday are Changthang, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham and Drass.
As per a statement issued by the office of LG Ladakh, Nitish Rajora has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner for the newly created district of Changthang and Syed Zaheer Abbas Jafari as its Superintendent of Police (SP).
Rajora is currently holding the charge of Commissioner State Taxes & Commissioner Excise, Director Housing & Urban Local Bodies, with the look after charge of Director Accounts & Treasuries.
He has been directed to continue holding the charge of Commissioner, State Taxes and Commissioner, Excise till May 31, 2026 followed by which DC Leh Romil Singh Donk will assume the charge.
Similarly, Mukul Beniwal has been posted as DC and Stanzin Losal as SP for Nubra district.
While Omkar Rajendra Gundage has been appointed as DC, Rigzen Sandup has been appointed as SP for Zanskar district.
For Sham district, Kunzes Angmo has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner and Aijaz Malik as Superintendent of Police, while Imteeaz Kacho has been posted as DC and Ishtyaq Ahmad as SP for Drass district.
The statement further said the appointment of five DCs and an equal number of SPs is aimed at immediate operationalisation of the governance structure, strengthening law and order and bringing administration closer to the people, particularly those living in remote and far-flung areas.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the newly appointed officers to assume charge of their respective districts without delay and work with full vigour and dedication to fulfill aspirations of the people.
He called for focused efforts towards inclusive development of the newly created districts.
Saxena said the remaining posts of subordinate officials will also be filled on priority basis and logistical requirements would be addressed to ensure smooth and effective functioning of the new districts.
He added that a strong administrative framework is being put in place to support long-term governance and development goals so that the vision behind creation of new districts translates into tangible benefits for the people.
The Lieutenant Governor said decentralised governance would significantly improve service delivery, enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen law and order at the grassroot level.
Further, consequent upon the appointment of new DCs and SPs in the newly created administrative units, the LG administration has also ordered the transfer and posting of four other officers.
As per the order, Romil Singh Donk, DC Leh has been asked to hold the additional charge of Director, Housing & Urban Local Bodies besides holding the charge of Commissioner, State Taxes and Commissioner, Excise with effect from June 1, 2026.
The order further said that Sajjad Qadri, Director, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj shall hold the additional charge of Director School Education.
Additionally, Zahida Bano, Secretary LSSSSB, has been transferred and posted as Director, Social and Tribal Welfare and Kaneez Fatima, Joint Director Finance, has been given the additional charge of Director, Accounts & Treasuries.
Meanwhile, the existing district administrations of Leh and Kargil will continue to function with their present officials while coordinating with the newly created districts during the transition phase, the order said.
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