Paving way for making newly carved out Ladakh division fully functional, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday approved creation of staff for it with equal distribution of key slots between Leh and Kargil districts.
Addressing a news conference here, the government spokesmanand Principal Secretary Planning Development and Monitoring Department, RohitKansal, announced that State Administrative Council, which met here today underthe chairmanship of the J&K Governor, approved the creation of 495 posts ofvarious categories in different departments to make the newly establisheddivision fully functional. “This is important and historic decision taken bythe SAC,” he said while giving details about creation of manpower for Ladakh division.
Kansal, who was flanked by senior bureaucrats Manoj Dwivediand Rigzin Samphel, said, “As many as 24 posts of divisional level officershave been created, of whom 12 each will be headquartered in Leh and Kargildistricts. With this historic decision, we will have Divisional Commissionerand Inspector General of Police and as many as 24 divisional-level officers,including Directors and Head of Departments in the newly created division.”
He said the SAC has approved creation of 12 Directors, fourChief Engineers, four Joint Directors, Chief Conservator of forests, RegionalWildlife Officer and 470 posts of supporting staff for these officers. “The SAChas also directed that Directors and Head of Departments (HODs) of Ladakhdivision to conduct regular tour of both the districts so that no area of thenew division is ignored,” he said.
Kansal, who was heading committee constituted by thegovernment to work out modalities for making the Ladakh division functional,said that “the panel has decided that they (officers) will spend equal amountof time in both Leh and Kargil districts. However, the offices of DivisionalCommissioner and IGP will simultaneously function from Leh and Kargildistrict.”
It may be recalled that vide government order No. 230 – GAD of2019 dated 15 February 2019 a committee was constituted by the GeneralAdministration Department to finalisethe periodicity of the Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Policesitting at Leh and Kargil, viz. weekly, fortnightly, etc; Identify the posts of divisional level headsof various departments that may be required for the new Ladakh division, theirequitable location at Kargil and Leh, roles and responsibilities and staffingpatterns; and any other measures, as may be necessary for operationalisation ofthe division.
In pursuance of its mandate the committee visited Leh on 18February 2019 and Kargil on 23 February 2019. During the visit, the committeemet the CECs and Council members of the respective LAHDCs and otherstakeholders of both the districts. Based on the feedback and discussions withthe above mentioned LAHDC representatives and other stakeholders of Leh andKargil districts the committee submitted its report and recommendations.
Pertinently, LAHDC Act was amended in 2018. The amended Actprovides for further empowering the Development Councils of Leh and Kargil toexercise administrative and financial powers in order to address the concerns,requirements and aspirations of the people living in the Ladakh region. Vide SRO-120the state Government ordered the establishment of new Ladakh Division withheadquarters at Leh and Kargil. A Divisional Commissioner stands posted inLadakh Division and has been functioning there ever since.