Rodrigues, Bhanu Prabha and Rudra Goud assigned Addl responsibilities
Yash Khajuria
Leh, Aug 18: In the first major reshuffle of the Civil Administration of Ladakh since assuming charge, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Monday ordered transfers and fresh postings across 24 departments, affecting more than 20 officers including IAS and JKAS cadres. The wide-ranging changes, aimed at streamlining governance and improving administrative efficiency, take immediate effect and bring a new alignment to the Union Territory’s civil administration.
Omkar Rajender Gundage, IAS of the 2023 batch, has been appointed Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Zanskar. He will also hold the additional responsibility of Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Zanskar. Gundage had joined the UT administration earlier this month following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Several senior officers have been entrusted with new portfolios. Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS of the 2013 batch, who currently manages Tourism and Culture along with Housing and Urban Development, will now also oversee Information and Public Relations. Bhanu Prabha, IAS of the 2015 batch, has been given the Youth Services and Sports Department in addition to her existing charge of Higher Education, Technical Education and Skill Development, and School Education. Rudra Goud P.T., IAS of the 2017 batch, will now handle Power Development and New and Renewable Energy, along with his present responsibilities of Industries and Commerce, Mining and Geology, and Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.
Meanwhile, Vikram Singh Malik, IAS of the 2012 batch, has been relieved from his role as Administrative Secretary in Ladakh. He has been posted as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi, under the Central Staffing Scheme, with effect from August 18.
The reshuffle also covers departmental heads in Ladakh. Dr. Zahida Banoo, Special Secretary in the Health and Medical Education Department, has been posted as Secretary of the Ladakh Subordinate Services Selection Board, succeeding Rigzin Spalbar. Kunzang Angmo, Director of Tourism, has been shifted as Director of Social and Tribal Welfare, while Tashi Dolma takes charge as Director of Tourism in addition to Women and Child Development. Tsering Paldan has been moved to Director of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, replacing Amit Sharma.
At the Secretariat level, changes have also been introduced. Atul Singh Markotia, Deputy Secretary, has been posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Shakar Chiktan, with additional charge as Tehsildar of the subdivision. Ravi Shanker will replace him as Deputy Secretary at the UT Secretariat. Sumera Shafi, Under Secretary, has been entrusted with the Departments of School Education, Higher Education, and Youth Services and Sports, in addition to her present responsibilities in Labour & Employment and Housing & Urban Development.
Other appointments include Nitza Angmo as Under Secretary in Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation; Sanjait Bharadwaj as Under Secretary in Information Technology and Social and Tribal Welfare; Mohit Sharma in Forest, Ecology and Environment, Rural Development and Science and Technology; and Imtisal Rasool in Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, and Non-Renewable Energy.
Jigmet Angchuk has been placed as Under Secretary in the Subordinate Services Selection Board with additional charge of Labour & Employment, while Abied Hussain has been appointed OSD in Technical Education and Skill Development. Asif Hussain, OSD in the Lt. Governor’s Secretariat, has been moved to Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries.
The UT administration has emphasised that the reshuffle is intended to strengthen departmental functioning and ensure effective delivery of public services across Ladakh.
