KARGIL: Administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and District Police Kargil bid farewell to Ladakh’s first Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal on his Superannuation on Wednesday by organising a special farewell dinner.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, attended the farewell ceremony to honour the outgoing Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, on the occasion of his superannuation, in Kargil.
The event was organised jointly by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, District Administration Kargil, and District Police Kargil.
The farewell dinner was a special tribute to Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, whose journey with the Ladakh Administration commenced on 12 April 2021, when he joined as Principal Secretary, shouldering critical responsibilities across key departments such as Planning, Development & Monitoring; Health & Medical Education; Forest, Ecology & Environment; and Revenue.
His visionary leadership and proactive, reform-oriented strategies were instrumental in the triumphant execution of numerous landmark initiatives spanning these vital sectors.
Progressing further, he assumed the pivotal role of Advisor to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor on 9 June 2023. In a significant milestone, on 12 February 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, formally redesignated the post of Advisor to Lieutenant Governor as Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, thereby appointing Dr. Kotwal as the very first Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Addressing the distinguished gathering, the Lt Governor extended profound praise for Dr. Pawan Kotwal’s exemplary service, exceptional leadership qualities, and sharp administrative acumen. He underscored Dr Kotwal’s indispensable role of seamless teamwork in driving inclusive and sustainable development across the rugged terrains of Ladakh.
Kavinder Gupta elaborated that Dr. Kotwal’s tenure stood out for its hallmark of effective governance, deep empathy towards the people, and a truly people-centric administrative approach, which played a pivotal role in fortifying the administrative frameworks throughout the Union Territory.
He further illuminated how the tangible and visible progress witnessed in Ladakh today stems directly from the coordinated synergy between the Central Government, the UT Administration, and dedicated district-level officers.
Chairman, CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, congratulated Dr. Pawan Kotwal on his superannuation, recalling their long association from Jammu & Kashmir days. He praised Dr. Kotwal’s impartial treatment of Leh and Kargil, structural reforms, and the historic 2024 creation of five new districts (Drass, Zanskar, Sham, Nubra, Changthang), terming his legacy a “golden chapter.”
Member of Parliament, Ladakh, Mohmad Hanifa Jan, highlighted Dr. Kotwal’s pivotal foundational role in Health, Revenue, Planning, and Ecology & Environment, stating his contributions to Ladakh’s development would be remembered for decades.
In his poignant farewell address, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal conveyed his deepest gratitude to LAHDC Kargil, the District Administration, and District Police Kargil for orchestrating such a memorable ceremony.
As one of the founding pillars of the UT Administration, he shared profound reflections on the extraordinary transformation in developmental activities since Ladakh’s elevation to Union Territory status. Acknowledging the myriad challenges surmounted, he observed that UT Ladakh has now attained a robust, stable footing to deliver efficient, truly citizen-centric governance.
Dr. Kotwal applauded the proactive dynamism of district officers from both Leh and Kargil, spotlighting the near-completion of land records digitisation—a transformative step that will empower citizens to effortlessly access precise digital land records.
He further celebrated the enactment of the Domicile Law and the 95 per cent reservation policy as epoch-making achievements, especially empowering the youth of Ladakh.
Concluding with emotion, he remarked that the boundless love and respect showered upon him by every stratum of Ladakhi society would endure as a treasured lifelong memory.
The occasion was graced by an august assembly, including Hon’ble Executive Councillors and Councillors of LAHDC Kargil; Shri Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS, Principal Secretary; Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Shri Rakesh Kumar, IAS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kargil, Shri Nitin Yadav, IPS; heads of prominent religious and social organisations; senior district officers; and a host of other distinguished guests, including family members of Dr Pawan Kotwal.
