Early Times Report
LEH, July 28: In a significant step that would address the shortage of Gazetted officers in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs has conveyed its approval for filling vacant Group 'B' Gazetted Administrative Service posts through "ad-hoc promotions", as an interim measure.
In a communication dated 27 July 2026, the MHA 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.
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. He 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.
L-G Saxena said this decision by the MHA would strengthen governance in Ladakh while addressing the genuine aspirations of our 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," Saxena said. |
