Yash Khajuria
Leh, Aug 13: In a significant step towards improving administrative efficiency and transparency in Ladakh, the Union Territory (UT) Administration has established a Civil Services Board (CSB) to oversee the transfers, postings, and service-related matters of civil service officers in the region. This move aligns with the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and follows a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, dated June 16, 2024.
The establishment of the CSB marks a crucial milestone in Ladakh’s governance, aiming to bring a more structured approach to managing the careers of civil service officers, including those from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS), as well as officers from the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), Jammu & Kashmir Police Service (JKPS), and Jammu & Kashmir State Forest Service (JKSFS) stationed in the UT.
Chaired by the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, the CSB comprises key officials, including the Principal Secretary of the Ladakh Administration, the Administrative Secretary of the Home Department, the Additional Director General of Police, and the Administrative Secretary of the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department. The Administrative Secretary of the General Administration Department will serve as the Member Secretary of the CSB. Additionally, the board has the provision to co-opt other departmental secretaries as members when specific departmental issues are being considered.
The primary role of the CSB is to make recommendations to the Competent Authority regarding the posting, transfer, and allocation of subjects for All India Service Officers in Ladakh. This includes overseeing the transfers and postings of heads of departments who do not belong to the administrative services.
A key responsibility of the CSB is to ensure that the minimum tenure of service, as prescribed by the Ladakh administration, is respected. However, in cases of necessity, the board has the discretion to recommend premature transfers, provided that the reasons are clearly documented. Ultimately, the final decision-making authority lies with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, who may overrule the CSB’s recommendations, with reasons recorded in writing.
The CSB is also responsible for reviewing proposals for transfers and postings referred by the General Administration Department, taking into consideration reports from the Administrative Secretary of the concerned department and other reliable sources. The board will also consider the views of the officers proposed for transfer before making its recommendations.
