MHA to extend stay of AIS officers posted in J&K, Ladakh by 3 months initially

In a significant decision, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to extend deputation of All India Services (AIS) officers to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, who were sent to the two Union Territories in view of shortage of the officers, by at least three more months which could be further extendable, if necessitated, while three senior IAS officers have applied for the Central deputation and two of them have been given clearance.

Official sources told the Excelsior that two IAS officers, posted as Deputy Commissioners in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, whose deputation of two years has ended, have been given three months extension. However, as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are yet to come out of shortage of officers, a decision has been taken that all AIS officers posted in the two Union Territories will be granted minimum extension of three months followed by another three months, if necessitated.

However, the AIS officers, who want to return to the Centre or States, where they were posted before proceeding on deputation to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, will be allowed to leave the Union Territories, they said, adding the MHA is ready with a list of AIS officers who could be deputed to the two UTs following return of officers from the deputation as shortage of IAS officers still exists.

Meanwhile, three senior IAS officers posted in Jammu and Kashmir have applied for Central deputation. They include two Administrative Secretaries, one of them a woman.

“The Jammu and Kashmir Government has given NOC to both the senior officers and their deputations will now be cleared by the Department of Personnel and Trainings (DoPT) and Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before they formally proceed to the Centre,” sources said.

Both of them are tipped to get prestigious postings in New Delhi, sources said, adding deputation of one of them will be for a period of two years and five years for the second one. Both the IAS officers have held several prestigious postings in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said another senior IAS officer has also applied for the Central deputation but he is yet to get NOC from the Government.

Few days back, the Central Government had posted senior IAS officer of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre (now AGMUT) Dr Mandeep K Bhandari to Jammu and Kashmir from the Central deputation.

Sources said the MHA is ready with a list of six AIS officers who could be posted in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to overcome shortage of officers.

A number of officers from different All India Services are presently on deputation to Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, after Jammu and Kashmir cadre was abolished and the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh were made part of AGMUT cadre, several AGMUT cadre officers were also deputed to the twin UTs.

In addition, several IAS officers, who were earlier posted in Jammu and Kashmir, have also been transferred to Ladakh. Besides, the officers of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) and Jammu and Kashmir Police Services (JKPS) have also been posted on deputation to the Union Territory of Ladakh in view of shortage of officers there.

They added that the Union Home Ministry and DoPT are holding regular reviews of the performance of AGMUT cadre officers posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2021, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had invited requisitions from the AIS officers for posting in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

A number of officers including natives of the two Union Territories, who were posted in other States and UTs, had responded to the requisition and opted for the postings here.

“Both the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are short of IAS and IPS officers due to different reasons but it has gradually been overcome with posting of AGMUT cadre and other IAS and IPS officers.

“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. (Daily Excelsior)