AKHIL MAHAJAN
JAMMU: Signalling a major people-centric shift and symbolic departure from traditional nomenclature, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has renamed the Lieutenant Governor’s official residence from “Raj Bhavan” to “Lok Bhavan”, marking a shift towards a more people-oriented institutional identity.
The decision has been conveyed through a formal notification issued by the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, Jammu, and takes immediate effect, as per the order signed by Principal Secretary to the LG, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, IAS.
In pursuance of a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) dated November 25, 2025, and under the directions of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the notification states that the existing nomenclature “Raj Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir” has been “modified and named as ‘Lok Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir’.”
It further notes that the institution shall henceforth be referred to only by its new title in all official references and communications.
Officials indicated that the renaming aims to project a more people-centric image of the highest constitutional office in the Union Territory, aligning with a wider national trend of replacing colonial-era or feudal designations with titles emphasising public ownership and democratic values.
The change is expected to be reflected across official signages, stationery, notifications and digital platforms of the Lieutenant Governor’s establishment in the coming days.
The order also makes it clear that the notification comes into force immediately, signalling that all future references in government records, media communications and public dealings will adopt the new name “Lok Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir.”
