Transfers & Postings · eGov
A major administrative reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir on 1 November 2026 reassigns several senior IAS officers, with Shailendra Kumar holding the Chief Secretary's charge until Sajjan Singh Yadav joins.
✦ AI SUMMARY 30-second read
- Shailendra Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer, will hold interim charge of Chief Secretary until Sajjan Singh Yadav takes over.
- Shaleen Kabra is transferred from Jal Shakti Department to Director General, IMPARD, while Rehana Batul moves the other way to Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs.
- All orders issued by the General Administration Department take immediate effect, except where a specific tenure is mentioned.
Why it matters: The interim arrangement ensures continuity at the top of J&K's civil administration pending the formal joining of the designated Chief Secretary.
This summary was generated by AI. Editors may review and update it.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on 1 November 2026 ordered a wide administrative reshuffle, placing Shailendra Kumar in interim charge of the Chief Secretary's post until Sajjan Singh Yadav formally joins the Union Territory administration.
Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer currently serving as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, will carry his additional charge as Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, alongside the new responsibility. The move was notified under Government Order No 1725-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department.
All orders, signed by Commissioner Secretary to the Government M Raju on the authority of the Lieutenant Governor, take immediate effect except where a specific tenure has been mentioned, and were issued in the interest of administration.
The key appointments
Shaleen Kabra, who served as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department — and also held additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Estates Department and Revenue Department — has been transferred and posted as Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD).
Chandraker Bharti, Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department, has been assigned the additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, J&K, until further orders, filling a gap left by Kabra's transfer.
Rehana Batul, who was Director General, IMPARD, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, relieving Avny Lavasa of that additional charge.
Other postings in the order
M Raju, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, has been given the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Estates Department.
Saugat Biswas, Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, has been assigned the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Jal Shakti Department — a portfolio vacated following Kabra's reassignment.
Avny Lavasa, Secretary, Tourism Department, has been divested of the additional charge of Tribal Affairs Department and instead assigned the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Revenue Department.
About the key officers
Shailendra Kumar
| Service | IAS · 1995 batch |
|---|---|
| New post | Chief Secretary, J&K (interim charge) |
| Previous post | Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department |
| Career so far | Kumar holds the post of Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, and also carries additional charge as Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department. |
Shaleen Kabra
| Service | IAS |
|---|---|
| New post | Director General, Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) |
| Previous post | Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department |
| Career so far | Kabra served as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department, and also held additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Estates Department and Revenue Department. |
Chandraker Bharti
| Service | IAS |
|---|---|
| New post | Additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, J&K |
| Previous post | Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department |
| Career so far | Bharti has been serving as Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department, and has now been assigned additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, J&K. |
Rehana Batul
| New post | Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department |
|---|---|
| Previous post | Director General, IMPARD |
| Career so far | Batul was serving as Director General, IMPARD, before being transferred and posted as Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department. |
Saugat Biswas
| New post | Additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Jal Shakti Department |
|---|---|
| Previous post | Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department |
| Career so far | Biswas continues as Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, while also being assigned additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Jal Shakti Department. |