Citing shortage of officers in newly made Union Territories ‘J&K and Ladakh’, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written letters to all cadre-controlling authorities. It has directing them to immediately send IAS, IPS and other all-India service officers on deputation.
“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”, the ministry said in the letter on 26thOctober. The ministry also asked to give the names of efficient officers who are eligible for the deputation and willing to serve in the UTs.
The ministry sent the letters 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. Let it be noted that J&K has a strength of 137 IAS and 147 IPS officers. However, only 58 IAS and 66 IPS are currently serving in the cadre. After the revocation of special status of Jammu & Kashmir provided under the Article 370 of the constitution, J&K and Ladakh were categorised as UTs. Previously, the J&K cadre served Ladakh as well.
