Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday organised a farewell ceremony for outgoing Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo following his superannuation on October 31, bringing his tenure as the Union Territory’s senior-most bureaucrat to a close.
The ceremony, organised by IAS officers in Srinagar, was attended by Administrative Secretaries, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments and other senior officials.
During the event, officers recalled Dulloo’s contribution to governance, administrative coordination, public service delivery and the implementation of development programmes across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officers Recall His Focus on Coordination and Governance
Senior officers highlighted Dulloo’s efforts to strengthen coordination among government departments and district administrations during his tenure.
They recalled his emphasis on teamwork, accountability and collective responsibility, as well as his role in addressing administrative challenges and improving the functioning of government institutions.
Officers also described him as an accessible administrator who encouraged communication and cooperation across departments.
In his farewell address, Dulloo thanked colleagues and officials across Jammu and Kashmir for their support during his tenure. He said that the achievements made during this period were the result of collective efforts by officers and employees working at different levels of the administration.
He expressed confidence that the administration would continue working towards development, institutional improvement and effective governance.
Who Is Atal Dulloo?
Atal Dulloo is a 1989-batch IAS officer who originally belonged to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre, which was subsequently merged into the AGMUT cadre following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
Born on October 24, 1966, Dulloo holds a Bachelor of Technology degree. He assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir on December 1, 2023.
From District Administration to Senior Government Positions
Over the course of his career, Dulloo held several administrative positions in Jammu and Kashmir and at the Centre.
His earlier assignments included:
- Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur
- Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri
- Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla
- Administrative Secretary in departments including Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control, Forests, Tourism, Public Works and Health and Medical Education.
- Joint Secretary-cum-Mission Director, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, during his central deputation.
He served on central deputation from November 2013 to September 2018. Following his return to Jammu and Kashmir, he was appointed Principal Secretary in the Health and Medical Education Department.
In May 2019, he was elevated to the level of Financial Commissioner and subsequently served as Additional Chief Secretary in the department.
Before becoming Chief Secretary, he held senior responsibilities in the Finance Department.
Served as J&K Chief Secretary from December 2023
Dulloo took over as Chief Secretary on December 1, 2023, succeeding Arun Kumar Mehta.
During his tenure, he worked with administrative departments and district-level officials on governance and development-related initiatives. At the farewell ceremony, officers particularly recalled his emphasis on interdepartmental coordination and collective responsibility.
His retirement on October 31 marked the end of his service in the Indian Administrative Service.
Sajjan Singh Yadav Appointed as Successor
The Centre had appointed Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the next Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs order, Yadav’s appointment takes effect from November 1, 2026, or the date he joins, whichever is later.
Yadav is set to succeed Dulloo as the administrative head of the Union Territory.
