Jammu and Kashmir to Increase Sanctioned Strength of IAS Officers

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be increasing its sanctioned strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from 145 to 165, as a proposal to this effect has been approved by the government and sent to the Union Home Ministry for clearance. The move aims to overcome the shortage of IAS officers in the region, which has led to officers from other states and union territories being posted on inter-state deputation for a period ranging from two to five years.

Sanctioned Strength to be Increased at All Levels

The proposal aims to increase the sanctioned strength of IAS officers at all levels, including Financial Commissioners, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner/Secretaries, and Secretaries, once it is cleared by the Union Home Ministry. The increase in the sanctioned strength of IAS officers was necessitated due to the shortage of officers at various levels, prompting the deployment of many officers from other states and union territories on a deputation basis to meet the shortfall. Once Jammu and Kashmir get their full quota of sanctioned strength, it will not require the deputation of officers as per a report published in Excelsior.

Regular Monitoring of Officers on Deputation

The services of all officers deputed to the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh are regularly monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Besides officers from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, a number of IAS, IPS, and other AIS officers from different states and union territories are presently on deputation not only to Jammu and Kashmir but also Ladakh.

Shortage of Officers in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh

Both the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are short of IAS and IPS officers due to various reasons. Ladakh is being fed by Jammu and Kashmir not only in terms of IAS and IPS officers but also Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and Jammu and Kashmir Police Service (JKPS), etc. as it was part of Jammu and Kashmir till the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories after the abrogation of its special status on August 5, 2019. The deployments of officers on deputation to the two Union Territories are primarily aimed at overcoming the shortage of officers.

Extension of Deputation of All India Services Officers

The Department of Personnel and Training had earlier issued a notification allocating 65 senior duty posts of AGMUT to Jammu and Kashmir in Indian Administrative Services, 70 to Indian Police Services, and 58 to Indian Forest Services. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had also extended the deputation of All India Services officers to Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, who were sent to the two Union Territories due to the shortage of officers. As Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are yet to come out of the shortage of officers, a decision was taken that all AIS officers posted in the two Union Territories will be granted an extension. However, AIS officers who want to return to the Centre or States where they were posted before proceeding on deputation to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be allowed to leave the Union Territories, and the MHA is ready with a list of AIS officers who could be deputed to the two Union Territories following the return of officers from the deputation as the shortage of IAS officers still exists.