Satish Chandra (Retd IAS 1986: AP), a retired bureaucrat, was named Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Real Estate Regulatory Authority (J&K RERA) by the Centre on Tuesday. Chandra just finished his term as Chairman of the J&K Public Service Commission, which started in June 2021. Since September 2022, the crucial position has been vacant after the first RERA Chairperson, Parimal Rai (Retd IAS: 1985: UT), resigned (from his office within fifty days of his appointment).

In response to Chandra’s appointment, a section of senior bureaucrats believes that being an outsider sometimes adds to an administrator’s efficacy, and thus Chandra’s appointment in J&K first as Chairman, State PCS, and then as RERA Chairperson demonstrates the Centre’s acumen in handling the administration of a sensitive state like J&K.