Leh, Aug 25: In a decisive administrative move ahead of the forthcoming Hill Council elections, the Union Territory of Ladakh has appointed Rahul Sharma, IAS (AGMUT: 2013), as the new Chief Electoral Officer with immediate effect. The announcement was made today through a formal order issued by the General Administration Department, UT Ladakh, acting under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor (Administrator).
The appointment, notified in pursuance of directions from the Election Commission of India dated August 7, 2025, entrusts Rahul Sharma, currently serving as Administrative Secretary in the Ladakh Administration, with the responsibility of steering the electoral machinery of the Union Territory. His mandate includes overseeing the preparation of electoral rolls, enforcing the Model Code of Conduct, and ensuring the impartial conduct of the democratic process in Ladakh.
The order, endorsed by Administrative Secretary Michael M. D’Souza, IAS, and countersigned by Under Secretary Sandeep Singh, JKAS, underscores the urgency of institutional readiness as Ladakh prepares for a critical electoral exercise later this year. Copies of the directive have been circulated to all Administrative Secretaries of the UT Secretariat, the Director General of Police, the Deputy Commissioners and CEOs of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Kargil and Leh, as well as to senior officials including the Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor.
This administrative development marks the activation of the election apparatus in Ladakh at a pivotal juncture. With Leh and Kargil set to witness heightened political activity in the run-up to the Hill Council polls, the newly appointed Chief Electoral Officer assumes charge at a time when public confidence in transparent governance will be tested. The responsibility now rests on the office of Rahul Sharma to ensure that every stage of the electoral process is carried out in strict conformity with constitutional provisions and the directives of the Election Commission of India.
Rahul Sharma appointed Chief Electoral Officer of Ladakh ahead of Hill Council Polls
