Leh, Feb 27: The Union Territory of Ladakh has set in motion a series of administrative reforms aimed at refining recruitment procedures across departments, with Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra chairing a meeting of the Empowered Committee to deliberate on amendments to Recruitment Rules and related proposals.
The meeting focused on service matters affecting multiple departments of the UT Administration. At the outset, Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Michael Dsouza, presented a detailed overview of the agenda, outlining proposals from the School Education Department and the Police Department, along with submissions from other departments requiring approval.
Among the major issues discussed were draft proposals concerning Ladakh Information Technology, as well as matters related to the Finance and Motor Vehicles Departments. The committee undertook a department-wise review to ensure clarity and uniformity in service regulations.
The School Education Department sought the creation and rationalisation of additional posts to improve administrative functioning. The committee examined the proposal to bifurcate Primary Teacher posts to enhance operational efficiency. It also deliberated on making the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) qualification mandatory for recruitment, a move aimed at raising academic standards in government schools.
Amendments to the Ladakh Social and Tribal Welfare (Subordinate) Services Recruitment Rules were also placed before the panel. The committee further reviewed proposals for revision and harmonisation of Recruitment Rules under the General Administration Department to ensure consistency across departments.
In addition, proposals concerning the Ladakh Horticulture Department and the reallocation of posts within the Agriculture Department were discussed. The panel examined the reconciliation of the Draftsman post under Command Area Development in the Agriculture Department. Amendments to the Ladakh Public Works (R&B) (Subordinate) Recruitment Rules were also considered to improve administrative clarity and service delivery.
Chief Secretary Kundra underscored the need for transparent and merit-based recruitment processes, directing Administrative Secretaries to submit revised proposals incorporating observations made during the meeting. He stressed that amendments to Recruitment Rules must align with the broader objective of strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing governance standards in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Dr L. Franklin; Administrative Secretary, GAD, Michael Dsouza; Administrative Secretary, Tourism, Sanjit Rodrigues; Administrative Secretary, Agriculture, Bhupesh Chaudhary; Administrative Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Shashanka Ala; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Romil Singh Donk; along with other senior officers who participated virtually.
