JAMMU: Contrary to widespread speculations, a major reshuffle in administration and bureaucracy is likely to be deferred to the first week of February even as an exercise is understood to have been completed ahead of the scheduled meeting of State Administrative Council (SAC) on Friday.
According to highly placed authoritative sources, in Friday’s SAC meeting there was possibility of the replacement of one Commissioner-Secretary to Government as the Governor, his advisors and Chief Secretary were upset over the sluggish pace of his working. However, a comprehensive reshuffle in different rungs of bureaucracy and administration, which was likely to come up as a non-agenda item, was now expected to happen around the end of current month.
A number of Deputy Commissioners are believed to be among more than 40 officers of the rank of Special Secretary to Government/Heads of Departments who could be shifted from present places of posting next week. Election Commission of India has already asked the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to transfer DCs and other key officers from their home districts before this month end, ahead of the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.
ECI is expected to take its final decision regarding holding the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir together in April-May or holding them separately or deferring both, in the next 10 days. According to well-placed sources, SAC was likely to consider three models, prepared by Department of Health and Medical Education and General Administration Department, in coordination with Finance Department, as an alternative to a medi-claim group insurance scheme that has been lately terminated by the Government.
One of the three models could be approved, possibly without involving any insurance agency, to provide cashless and capless health insurance cover to the Government employees and pensioners over the same premium that had been already fixed.
Sources said that SAC was likely to approve a list of around 20 names for State Awards in different categories which would be announced on the eve of Republic Day on Friday evening.
A number of other administrative matters, including posting of Nelu Gera, an IFS officer of the rank of Additional PCCF, are likely to be considered in tomorrow’s SAC meeting that would be chaired by Governor Satya Pal Malik and attended by his three Advisors and Chief Secretary. Skandan Krishnan, whose order of appointment was issued on Wednesday, is unlikely to join before January 28.
Agencies
