L-G enforces major administrative reshuffle in J&K, ruffles feathers with elected government

Days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised concerns in the Assembly over the dual power system and transfers in the Union Territory, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) enforced a major reshuffle and changed 49 officers, including the ones in the Information department and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) that the elected government claims to be under its jurisdiction.

In a government order, Mr. Sinha transferred and posted 49 officers, mostly from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). However, it also included officers from the J&K Administrative Service (JKAS). According to the General Administration department, the exercise “has been undertaken in the interest of administration”.

Impacts 30 departments

The transfers have impacted over 30 departments in J&K, which include the Information department and the SMC. The order posted Mamta Yadav, an IAS officer, as new Director, Information and Basharat Qayoom, an IAS officer, as Commissioner, SMC. Most of the deputy commissioners in J&K currently are from the IAS cadre unlike the past.

“The L-G must have enforced these transfers with a good vision. We will prepare ourselves to work with these officers now,” said Mr. Abdullah.

Transaction of Business Rules

The Lok Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s office have been on a collision course over the transfers of officers in the past since the National Conference took over the reins of J&K in 2024. Official sources said Mr. Abdullah has been prodding the Lok Bhavan and the Centre over the Transaction of Business Rules, which was to be framed as per the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019.

A senior NC leader said the Business Rules would have demarcated the roles of the Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and the L-G regarding departments and transfers. However, the file approved by the elected government regarding the Business Rules remains pending with the Lok Bhavan for the approval.

“Ideally, the departments like Information, SMC, etc. should be with the elected government,” said the NC leader.

Mr. Abdullah, while speaking in the J&K Assembly recently, complained that the dual power system without Business Rules had “hamstrung his powers as the Chief Minister”.

“I am the Power Minister but the files of the J&K Power Development Corporation do not come to me. It was said that only IAS, IPS and security will be the domain of the L-G but even the files of the premier healthcare centre, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), are not routed to the Health Minister,” said Mr. Abdullah.

Officials in the Chief Minister’s office said the queries and objections raised regarding the Business Rules were “addressed with flexibility” but “still awaits its implementation”. Mr. Abdullah raised the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his meeting in Delhi earlier this year.

The rules are pending since Mr. Abdullah’s party won a majority of 42 seats in J&K in the 2024 Assembly elections.