New Delhi/Srinagar: In two notable administrative developments, the Central and Jammu & Kashmir governments have issued orders pertaining to senior IAS officers’ postings and extensions.
P Hemalatha Gets 6-Month Extension as Secretary, Spices Board
Senior IAS officer P Hemalatha (2000 batch, Karnataka cadre), currently serving as Development Commissioner at Cochin Special Economic Zone (SEZ), will continue to hold additional charge as Secretary (Joint Secretary level), Spices Board, for another six months.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on June 4, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the Department of Commerce’s proposal to extend her additional charge from April 24, 2025 to October 23, 2025, or until a regular appointment is made, whichever is earlier.
Hemalatha has been overseeing the operations of Spices Board, a key body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that promotes Indian spice exports, alongside her primary role at Cochin SEZ.
IAS Rakesh Kumar Relieved from J&K for Posting in Ladakh
In another order, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has relieved Rakesh Kumar, a 2021-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, to enable him to join his new assignment in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The General Administration Department (GAD) issued the relieving order with immediate effect from June 2, 2025 (A.N.), stating:
“Consequent upon the transfer of Mrs. Rakesh Kumar, IAS, (AGMUT:2021) to Union Territory of Ladakh, the officer is hereby relieved from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect…”
This transfer is part of the routine cadre management process for AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh – Goa – Mizoram – Union Territories) officers, ensuring optimal administrative deployment across union territories.
