Administrative overhaul in Kashmir

In a major administrative overhaul, the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet Monday ordered promotions and transfers of top IAS and IPS officers in the state.

The cabinet which met here with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the chair approved promotion of six Indian Police Service (IPS) officers - Avtar Singh Bali, Sham Lal Sharma, Jagjit Kumar, Shafqat Ali Watali and Mubarik Ahmed Ganie - as inspectors general of police (IGPs) with effect from Jan 1 as well as J.P Singh.

The cabinet also ordered the posting of senior Indian Administrative Service officer Khurshid Ahmad Ganie as financial commissioner, industries and commerce. He had recently returned back to the state from central deputation.

Basharat Saleem has been posted as registrar, cooperatives while M.S. Chowdhary of the state administrative cadre has been posted as director, social welfare in Jammu province.

The cabinet also ordered transfers of four IGPs, four deputy inspectors general of police and some senior superintendents of police.

The cabinet had approved one year extension in the service of Dr. Rafiq Ahmad Pampori as principal, government medical college, Srinagar beyond his date of retirement.