J&K IAS Reshuffle: Shailendra Kumar Given Interim Chief Secretary Charge, Six Officers Get New Roles
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, reassigning six IAS officers to key positions across various departments. In a parallel development, senior IAS officer Shailendra Kumar has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of Chief Secretary until Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav formally assumes charge as the new head of the Union Territory’s administration.
The changes follow the retirement of Atal Dulloo (IAS: 1989: AGMUT), who demitted office as Chief Secretary on October 31, 2026. The General Administration Department (GAD) issued two separate orders on November 1, 2026, outlining the interim arrangement for the Chief Secretary’s post and the transfer and additional-charge assignments.
Shailendra Kumar to Oversee Chief Secretary’s Responsibilities
Shailendra Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been assigned the charge of Chief Secretary by the Lieutenant Governor. He is currently serving as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, and also holds additional responsibility as Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department.
Kumar will discharge the duties of Chief Secretary until Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav, who has been appointed to the position, joins the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
A postgraduate in History from Patna University, Kumar has held several important administrative positions during his career, including Deputy Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer and Principal Secretary. His previous assignments have also included responsibilities in the Public Works, Industries and Commerce, Tourism and Agriculture departments.
Six IAS Officers Reassigned Across Key Departments
The second government order introduces changes in the administrative leadership of several important departments, including Revenue, Jal Shakti, Estates, Tribal Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD).
The key appointments and transfers are as follows:
Shaleen Kabra (IAS: 1992: AGMUT): Transferred from the Jal Shakti Department and appointed Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD).
Chandraker Bharti (IAS: 1996: AGMUT): Entrusted with the additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, alongside his existing responsibilities in the Home Department.
M. Raju (IAS: 2005: AGMUT): Assigned additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Estates Department.
Saugat Biswas (IAS: 2006: AGMUT): Given additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Jal Shakti Department.
Rehana Batul (IAS: 2010: AGMUT): Transferred from IMPARD and appointed Commissioner/Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department.
Avny Lavasa (IAS: 2013: AGMUT): Relieved of her additional responsibility for Tribal Affairs and assigned additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Revenue Department.
The appointments and additional responsibilities have taken effect immediately and will remain in force until further orders, wherever specified.
Profiles of the IAS Officers Affected
Shaleen Kabra
A 1992-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Shaleen Kabra holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before the latest reshuffle, he was serving as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Jal Shakti Department, while also handling additional responsibilities in the Revenue and Estates departments. His career includes several senior assignments in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Irrigation and Flood Control sector.
Chandraker Bharti
Chandraker Bharti belongs to the 1996 batch of the AGMUT cadre. An engineering graduate from Delhi College of Engineering, he also holds a Master of Science degree. His previous assignments include positions in the Delhi government and the Puducherry administration.
He has also served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, where he handled responsibilities relating to the aerospace division. Before the reshuffle, he was Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department, Jammu and Kashmir.
M. Raju
A 2005-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, M. Raju holds an MA in History and an MSc in Microbiology. He is currently serving as Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department, and also handles additional responsibilities in the Hospitality and Protocol Department and the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department.
Saugat Biswas
Saugat Biswas, a 2006-batch AGMUT cadre officer, holds a Bachelor of Science degree, an MA in Mass Communication and a postgraduate qualification in Public Policy. Before the latest administrative changes, he was serving as Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department.
Rehana Batul
A 2010-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Rehana Batul holds an MA in Sociology and an MPhil. She was serving as Director General of IMPARD before being transferred to the Tribal Affairs Department as Commissioner/Secretary.
Avny Lavasa
Avny Lavasa belongs to the 2013 batch of the AGMUT cadre and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Before the reshuffle, she was serving as Secretary, Tourism Department, while also holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department.
Key Departments Affected
The latest orders redistribute responsibilities across several crucial administrative wings of Jammu and Kashmir. The Revenue Department will see Chandraker Bharti and Avny Lavasa taking on additional responsibilities at different levels, while Saugat Biswas will oversee the Jal Shakti Department in addition to his existing assignment.
M. Raju has been entrusted with the Estates Department, and Rehana Batul will head the Tribal Affairs Department. Shaleen Kabra’s appointment as Director General of IMPARD completes the set of changes.
The interim arrangement for the Chief Secretary’s office is intended to maintain administrative continuity following Atal Dulloo’s retirement and ahead of Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav’s joining. Together, the two orders represent a significant redistribution of senior-level responsibilities across the Union Territory’s administrative machinery.
