J&K Chief Secretary convenes meeting to address pending issues between Ladakh and J&K UT

The Chief Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory presided over a crucial meeting at the Secretariat in Jammu to tackle pending issues related to the apportionment of assets, liabilities, and manpower between the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Advisor to UT Ladakh, actively participated in the meeting, emphasizing the importance of resolving these critical matters. The discussions covered a range of significant topics, including the apportionment of employees, officer deployments to address essential vacancies, transfer of posts from corporations, and the progress of ongoing projects managed by J&K agencies in Ladakh.

A key focus of the meeting was the transfer of cultural assets such as art, artifacts, and archival records, along with assets previously under the jurisdiction of the J&K Sports Council that have been apportioned to UT Ladakh. Addressing the issue of employee seniority, the meeting emphasized the inclusion of employees apportioned to UT Ladakh in the seniority lists of their respective departments within UT Jammu and Kashmir, effective as of November 15, 2021, ensuring fair treatment and representation for all employees.
Discussions also highlighted the allocation of land for the construction of Kargil Saria at Sonamarg, underscoring the commitment to infrastructure development and regional progress.

The meeting underscored the necessity of close cooperation and collaboration between the two Union Territories to efficiently address pending matters and streamline administrative processes.

Both the Chief Secretary of J&K UT and the Advisor to UT Ladakh expressed optimism regarding the meeting’s outcomes and reiterated their commitment to facilitating a smooth transition and effective governance in both UTs. The extensive participation included Administrative Secretaries from UT Ladakh, the Deputy Commissioner of Leh, Chief Engineers, Directors, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries, and officials from the Ladakh Administration, virtually joining from the Civil Secretariat in Ladakh. The Deputy Commissioner of Kargil and officials from Kargil participated from the DC Office in Kargil, contributing to a comprehensive and inclusive discussion on the pertinent issues at hand.