President empowers Ladakh LG with authority to appoint Group ‘A’ civil service officers

Chief Secretary and DGP appointments will continue to require prior approval of Central Government

Srinagar: In a significant move, the President of India has granted the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh the power to make appointments to all Group ‘A’ posts of General Civil Services within the territory.

In a notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the President has directed that all appointments to all Group ‘A’ posts of General Civil Services in the administration of Union territory of Ladakh, shall be made by the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh, appointed under article 239 of the Constitution.

However, the notification stipulates that appointments to two key positions—the Chief Secretary of Ladakh and the Director General of Police—will continue to require approval of the Central Government—(KNO)