In a significant administrative overhaul, the Jammu and Kashmir government, under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, announced the transfer and posting of 14 officers, including 10 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and 4 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, effective immediately. Leading the reshuffle, Anshul Garg, a 2013-batch IAS officer previously serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has been appointed as the new Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, replacing V K Bhiduri, who was transferred to Delhi by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on May 16, 2025.

The reshuffle also saw six districts—Jammu, Kupwara, Samba, Kathua, Poonch, and Bandipora—assigned new deputy commissioners to streamline governance and address regional challenges. Naveen S L, formerly Secretary of the Transport Department, has been appointed Secretary of the Civil Aviation Department, taking on the additional role of Commissioner, Civil Aviation, relieving Shahid Iqbal Choudhary of these duties. Avny Lavasa, previously awaiting orders in the General Administration Department (GAD), now takes charge as Secretary of the Transport Department, ensuring continuity in key administrative functions.

Vikas Kundal, outgoing Deputy Commissioner of Poonch, has been named Chairman of the J&K Services Selection Board, while Gurpal Singh, former Director of Social Welfare, Jammu, steps into the role of Managing Director of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited. Sachin Kumar Vaishya, previously Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, has been appointed CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, succeeding Garg. Meanwhile, Anil Banka, awaiting posting, is now Special Secretary to the Finance Department.

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The reshuffle also includes Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, former Managing Director of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, as the new Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, and Rakesh Minhas, previously Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, now serving as Deputy Commissioner of Jammu. Ayushi Sudan moves from Kupwara to Samba as Deputy Commissioner, while Indu Kanwal, former Chairman of the J&K Services Selection Board, takes over as Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora, replacing Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, who awaits further orders in the GAD. Ashok Kumar Sharma and Rajesh Sharma have been appointed as Deputy Commissioners of Poonch and Kathua, respectively, completing the roster of changes.

This strategic reshuffle aims to enhance administrative efficiency across Jammu and Kashmir, aligning key officers with critical roles to address the region’s evolving needs. Authorities expect the new appointments to bolster governance and development initiatives in the Union Territory.

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