Leh: In a significant step that would address the shortage of Gazetted officers in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has conveyed its approval for filling vacant Group ‘B’ Gazetted Administrative Service posts through “ad-hoc promotions”, as an interim measure.
In a communication according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), stated that while necessary steps are being taken to establish a long-term solution to overcome the shortage of officers, the Union Territory Administration may, as a short-term measure, fill the available vacancies under the promotion quota through ad-hoc promotions until a regular promotion mechanism is put in place.
An official said that the MHA’s decision follows the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, who had taken up the matter with the Ministry, highlighting the acute shortage of officers in Group ‘B’ Gazetted Administrative Service posts. “LG Saxena had highlighted that regular promotions to these posts have remained pending as the relevant Recruitment Rules are yet to be notified, resulting in a shortage of Gazetted officers and affecting administrative functioning across various departments,” he said, adding, “The decision will provide immediate relief to officials awaiting promotion and also to various departments facing shortages of Gazetted officers, ensuring continuity in governance, faster decision-making and improved public service delivery across the Union Territory.”
LG Saxena said this decision by the MHA would strengthen governance in Ladakh and would address the genuine aspirations of the officials awaiting promotion. “It will help overcome the shortage of Gazetted officers, improve administrative efficiency and ensure uninterrupted delivery of public services. I have directed the Chief Secretary to start the promotion process immediately,” LG Saxena said.
The Ministry has further advised that such ad-hoc promotions shall be made strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Personnel & Training’s Office Memorandum dated April 3, 2013, along with subsequent amendments and other instructions issued from time to time, subject to fulfilment of all prescribed conditions—(KNO)
