Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Feb 06 (KINS): Cadre-controlling authorities in the central government have provided the list of AGMUT cadre officers, eligible for deputation to serve in the Government of Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Top sources privy to the list disclosed to news agency KINS that several AGMUT cadre IAS Officers are likely to be deputed to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union territories.
The Centre recently merged Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS, IPS and IFS officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), also called the Union Territory cadre, through an ordinance.
The move was amid to allow officers posted in these states and UTs to work in J&K and Ladakh.
“Some IAS officers will be brought from states of AGMUT in the next few weeks,” sources disclosed.
Interestingly, the Appointments Comm`ittee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for inter cadre deputation for a period of three years of five young IAS officers to Jammu & Kashmir. Officers are: Akshay Labroo, Athar Aamir Khan, Basharat Qayoom, Krittika Jyotsna and Rahul Pandey.
Sources said that there are officers from Assam Meghalaya cadre, IRS officers whose deputation to be cleared soon.
Sources said that around seven to ten officers from Defence Services and other allied services have also shown willingness to serve in J&K.
However sources said that all these officers have to take approval from the MHA before the deputation. “Shift of officers would happen only after cadre-controlling authorities consent/no objection, vigilance clearance of the officers,” sources told KINS.
Sources said that from last few weeks the Centre is working on various inter-ministerial proposals to resolve civilian manpower shortage in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including getting back officers deputed to the Centre. “Shortage of officers apart, it is strongly felt that we need more experienced hands and senior officials at the helm to lead key governmental initiatives. Many on deputation come with better skill sets and also larger all-India vision,” said one of the top officials in the central government.
Sources said that some officers who are on central deputation may also return to serve in the Union territory. “There are high chances that Shantmanu, a 1991 batch senior IAS officer of JK cadre may return to the Jammu and Kashmir Union territory,” sources claimed.
Sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently has written letters to all cadre-controlling authorities, directing them to immediately send IAS, IPS and other all-India service officers on deputation to the union territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh amid an “acute shortage”.
In an Office Memorandum, addressed to all cadre-controlling authorities, the MHA “requested that the willingness of Central Civil Services Officers, selected through Central Civil Exams conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) may please be obtained” for a stint in the two UTs.
Sources said that the communication, was sent to the Railway Board chairman, Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG), secretaries of the ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Corporate Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting, chairpersons of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and the Departments of Commerce, Telecommunications and Posts.
The Government of India have cited dearth of All India Service (AIS) in Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory as the reason for merging J&K cadre of IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of “The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (amendment) Bill-2021” moved in Rajya Sabha, the merger of J&K cadre with AGMUT happened due to severe shortage of All India Service officers in the UT.
“There is a huge deficiency of the officers of All India Services in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The developmental schemes, centrally sponsored schemes and other allied activities suffer due to non-availability of All India Officers in the existing cadres of the Jammu and Kashmir as such there is a requirement of merging it with Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Union territories cadre so that the officers in this cadre can be posted in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to meet out any deficiency to some extent,” reads the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.
It further reads that the move will provide uniformity in the governance of all the Union territories and further enhance efficiency in their administration.
The bill was brought in the Parliament to replace the ordinance brought on January 7 for merger of J&K cadre of coveted services with AGMUT cadre. (KINS)
Centre contemplates to post several AGMUT cadre IAS officers to JK, Ladakh UTs
‘Some officers on central deputation including Shantmanu, a 1991 batch IAS officer may also return’
