J&K Administration Bids Farewell to Atal Dulloo After Retirement as Chief Secretary; Sajjan Singh Yadav to Succeed Him
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday organised a farewell ceremony for senior IAS officer Atal Dulloo following his retirement on October 31, marking the conclusion of his tenure as the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory.
Dulloo, a 1989-batch IAS officer, had assumed charge as Chief Secretary on December 1, 2023. His retirement brings to an end a distinguished administrative career spanning several decades, during which he held key responsibilities in district administration, state governance and the Central Government.
The farewell ceremony, held in Srinagar, was attended by Administrative Secretaries, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments and several other senior officials.
Officers from across the administration recalled his contributions to governance, institutional coordination, public service delivery and the implementation of development initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officers Recall His Emphasis on Teamwork and Administrative Coordination
During the farewell gathering, senior officers highlighted Dulloo’s efforts to strengthen coordination between government departments and district administrations.
They particularly recalled his emphasis on teamwork, accountability and collective responsibility in addressing administrative challenges and improving the delivery of public services.
Colleagues also described him as an approachable administrator who encouraged open communication and cooperation among officials across different departments.
In his farewell address, Dulloo expressed gratitude to officers and government employees throughout Jammu and Kashmir for their cooperation and support during his tenure.
He observed that the achievements recorded during his time as Chief Secretary were the outcome of collective efforts by officials and employees working at various levels of the administration.
He also expressed confidence that the administration would continue to pursue development objectives, strengthen institutions and improve governance through coordinated efforts.
Who Is Atal Dulloo?
Atal Dulloo is a 1989-batch IAS officer who originally belonged to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre. Following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the cadre became part of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre.
Born on October 24, 1966, Dulloo holds a Bachelor of Technology degree. Over the years, he developed extensive administrative experience through assignments in district administration, key government departments and the Union Government. His career has included responsibilities across several important sectors, including finance, health, infrastructure, irrigation, tourism and rural development.
From District Administration to Senior Government Assignments
Dulloo held several significant positions during his career in Jammu and Kashmir, gaining experience in both field administration and policymaking. His earlier assignments included serving as Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, Rajouri and Baramulla. These postings provided him with considerable exposure to district-level administration and the implementation of government programmes.
He subsequently served as Administrative Secretary in several departments, including Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control, Forests, Tourism, Public Works, and Health and Medical Education.
Dulloo also served on central deputation from November 2013 to September 2018 as Joint Secretary-cum-Mission Director of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission in the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
Following his return to Jammu and Kashmir, he was appointed Principal Secretary in the Health and Medical Education Department. In May 2019, he was elevated to the level of Financial Commissioner and subsequently served as Additional Chief Secretary in the department. Before his appointment as Chief Secretary, he held important responsibilities in the Finance Department.
Led Jammu and Kashmir Administration from December 2023
Dulloo assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir on December 1, 2023, succeeding Arun Kumar Mehta. As the senior-most bureaucrat of the Union Territory, he worked closely with Administrative Secretaries, district officials and other government functionaries on matters relating to governance, development and public service delivery.
His tenure was marked by an emphasis on interdepartmental coordination, administrative accountability and collective decision-making. At his farewell, colleagues particularly acknowledged his efforts to promote a coordinated approach to governance and strengthen the functioning of government institutions.His retirement on October 31 formally concluded his tenure in the Indian Administrative Service.
Sajjan Singh Yadav Appointed as New Chief Secretary
The Centre has appointed Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the next Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs order, Yadav’s appointment will take effect from November 1, 2026, or the date he assumes charge, whichever is later.He will succeed Dulloo as the administrative head of the Union Territory.
With this transition, Jammu and Kashmir enters a new phase of administrative leadership, while Dulloo leaves behind a long record of service across district administration, departmental governance and senior policy positions.
