Srinagar, April 13: The Government of India on Monday empanelled two senior IAS officers of Jammu & Kashmir cadre to hold secretary/ secretary equivalent posts at the Centre.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet(ACC) has cleared the proposal of empanelment of Sudhanshu Panday (1987-batch)

The two J&K cadre officers figure in the list of 28 officers cleared for holding secretary/ secretary equivalent posts at Centre. Mehta returned to J&K from central deputation after imposition of
Governer’s rule in the erstwhile state in 2018.

Since then, he is playing a key role in governance and decision-making in Jammu & Kashmir which is without an elected government. Presently, Mehta is holding the position of Financial Commissioner Finance which is considered as one of the powerful bureaucratic positions. Panday is on central deputation for past eight years and is presently joint secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce.

Interestingly, among 10 senior most bureaucrats of J&K cadre, only three are serving in the Union Territory. Of them, BR Sharma, Pradip Kumar Triptahi, Sudhanshu Panday, Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Raj Kumar Goyal and  Shantamanu are holding positions in central government. Umang Narula, who also belongs to J&K cadre, is advisor to LG of Ladakh Union Territory.

Arun Kumar Mehta, Atul Dullo (Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education) and Shaleen Kabra(Principal Secretary Home Department) are among the senior bureaucrats discharging their duties in J&K.