JAMMU, October 7, 2026 – In one of the most extensive administrative reshuffles in recent months, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday ordered the transfer and posting of 49 civil services officers, including senior IAS and JKAS officers, with immediate effect. The major shake-up, ordered by the Lieutenant Governor via Government Order No. 1612-JK(GAD) of 2026, impacts key top-level secretariat positions, divisional administration, civic bodies, and several district deputy commissioners across the Union Territory.
In a pivotal shift within the divisional administration, Vikas Kundal, IAS, currently Chairman of the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB), has been transferred and posted as the new Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. He will also take on the additional charge of Additional CEO, Jammu Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (JMRDA). Kundal takes over from Ramesh Kumar, IAS, who has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, while holding the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Culture Department, and continuing as Resident Commissioner, J&K Government, New Delhi.
The order also brings widespread changes to district administration and municipal corporations:
- Jammu & Udhampur: Minga Sherpa, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, has been posted as the new Deputy Commissioner of Jammu. Outgoing Jammu DC Rakesh Minhas, IAS, has been appointed CEO of the State Health Agency, J&K, with additional charge of MD, Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDHM). Ananth Dwivedi, IAS, takes over as Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur.
- Rajouri, Samba & Kupwara: Dr. Devansh Yadav, IAS, Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, while incumbent Rajouri DC Abhishek Sharma, IAS, has been moved as Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara. Dr. Rupesh Kumar, IAS, Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority (JDA), has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Samba.
- Civic Bodies: Ms. Ayushi Sudan, IAS, DC Samba, replaces Dr. Devansh Yadav as Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), with additional charge of CEO, SPV Jammu City, and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). Basharat Qayoom, IAS, DC Pulwama, has been appointed Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), replacing Faz Lul Haseeb, IAS, who has been posted as Additional Secretary, Agriculture Production Department.
- Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama & Shopian: Jatin Kishore, IAS, DC Ganderbal, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, while Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, IAS, is shifted from DC Budgam to Managing Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K. Ms. Shreya Singhal, IAS, MD JKTDC, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal. Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, JKAS, is posted as Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, while Charandeep Singh, JKAS, takes over as Deputy Commissioner, Shopian.
Significant changes were also made across recruitment bodies, corporations, and administrative secretariats:
- JKSSB & Key Secretariats: Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, IAS, DC Kupwara, has been appointed the new Chairman of the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB). Saugat Biswas, IAS, has been posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, relieving M. Raju, IAS, who retains GAD and takes additional charge of Hospitality & Protocol and DMRRR.
- Transport & Tourism: Ms. R Alice Vaz, IAS, has been posted as Commissioner/Secretary, Transport Department, with additional charges of Civil Aviation and Information. Ms. Avny Lavasa, IAS, has been appointed Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department, retaining Tribal Affairs. Ms. Akriti Sagar, IAS, has been posted as Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), alongside CEO, J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).
- Information & JDA: Ms. Mamta Yadav, IAS, has been posted as Director, Information, J&K. Vidhu Shekhar, IAS, ADC Jammu, has been appointed Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority (JDA), while Ms. Ishita Rathi, IAS, replaces him as ADC Jammu.
The exhaustive reshuffle aims to streamline administrative efficiency, accelerate civic project execution, and address vacancies across key development and regulatory departments throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
Published by True Roots Media Network