SRINAGAR: A fortnight after assuming power in the State, Mufti Sayeed-led PDP-BJP government ordered a major overhaul in police and civil administration on Sunday and snatched additional charge from the official, who had issued controversial circular on display of State flags.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chaired the cabinet meeting at Civil Secretariat, Jammu today. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Dr Nirmal Singh and other cabinet ministers.
After threadbare discussions, the cabinet, which had also met on March 11 and 12, decided to go for major overhaul in the civil and police administration and ordered transfers of 18 top Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 14 Indian Police Service (IPS) and 21 Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers besides other officers.
The cabinet relieved Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari of charge of Director General, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development. He had issued recent controversial order making it obligatory on constitutional authorities in the State to hoist J&K flag in their buildings and vehicles. The order was withdrawn within 24 hours after opposition from BJP and government has decided to act against the official saying the circular was not approved by the competent authority.
The charge of Director General, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development was handed over to Suresh Kumar, who was Principal Secretary Home.
B R Sharma has been given the additional charge of Principal Secretary Home besides being Principal Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department.
The cabinet changed divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu regional. Syed Gazanfar Hussain is new Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir while Pawan Kotwal has replaced Shantamanu as Divisional Commissioner of Jammu.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of advocate Reyaz Ahmad Jan as new Advocate General of the State. Lateef-ul-Zaman Deva was appointed as the chairman of the State Public Service Commission, the topmost recruitment body in the state.
The cabinet also changed Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Kashmir and Jammu zone. S J M Gillani, who was IGP Crime, has been appointed as the new IGP Kashmir zone replacing Abdul Ghani Mir, who has been transferred and posted as IGP CID.
Danish Rana is new IGP Jammu zone, replacing Rajesh Kumar, who has been transferred and posted as Director Police Academy Udhampur.
Cabinet also transferred some bureaucrats without assigning them any posts. They have been ordered to report to General Administration Department and await further orders.