New Delhi/Srinagar: The Centre has transferred two senior AGMUT-cadre IAS officers, Ashwani Kumar and Dr Ashish Chandra Verma, from Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi, following the appointment of Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav as the Union Territory’s new Chief Secretary on October 24, 2026.
According to the transfer details, Ashwani Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer, and Dr Ashish Chandra Verma, a 1994-batch officer, were transferred to Delhi on October 27.
The latest movement comes three days after Dr Yadav, a 1995-batch AGMUT-cadre officer, was appointed Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. The transfers are being viewed as part of an administrative realignment following the appointment.
The possibility of further changes in the Union Territory’s bureaucracy is also being discussed, with additional reshuffles expected as the administration adjusts responsibilities following the appointment of the new Chief Secretary.
Sajjan Singh Yadav Supersedes Several Senior Officers
Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav’s appointment as Chief Secretary has drawn attention because he has superseded more than a dozen IAS officers, including several officers senior to him in the AGMUT cadre.
Among the senior officers who were overlooked are Vipul Pathak, a 1992-batch IAS officer currently serving as a Secretary in the Government of India, and Navin Choudhary, a 1994-batch officer who is also on central deputation.
Dr Yadav’s batchmate Rohit Kansal, a 1995-batch AGMUT officer, is likewise serving as a Secretary to the Government of India.
The appointment has also placed the spotlight on senior officers who were serving in important administrative positions in Jammu and Kashmir and were considered potential contenders for the top bureaucratic post.
Shaleen Kabra and Dheeraj Gupta Among Officers Overlooked
Shaleen Kabra, a 1992-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, was among the senior officers whose names featured in discussions around the Chief Secretary appointment. He is serving as Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti, and also holds additional responsibilities relating to Finance Commission matters, Revenue, and the Revenue and Estates administration, according to the details provided.
Another senior officer, Dheeraj Gupta, a 1993-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, is serving as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Both officers were among those regarded as potential contenders for the Chief Secretary position before Dr Yadav’s appointment.
Other Senior IAS Officers Holding Key Positions
Several other 1995-batch AGMUT-cadre officers continue to hold important portfolios in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shailendra Kumar is serving as Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, while Anil Kumar Singh is serving as Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings).
The latest transfers have renewed attention on the seniority and posting arrangements of AGMUT-cadre officers serving in the Union Territory, particularly after an officer from the 1995 batch was appointed to the top administrative position.
More Administrative Reshuffles Possible
The transfer of Ashwani Kumar and Dr Ashish Chandra Verma to Delhi is being seen as an early administrative adjustment following Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav’s appointment as Chief Secretary.
With several senior officers having been superseded and others continuing on central deputation or in key Jammu and Kashmir assignments, further changes in postings and responsibilities may follow.
Any additional reshuffle will depend on decisions taken by the competent authorities as the administration settles into the new leadership arrangement.
