More action in J&K’s corridors of power: Interim Chief Secretary appointed as Sajjan Singh Yadav awaits posting

The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed Shailendra Kumar, a 1995 AGMUT cadre IAS officer, as the interim Chief Secretary until the arrival of Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav. Kumar is currently serving as Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) in the Finance Department and has additional charge of the Administrative Secretary post in the Agriculture Production Department.

Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav, who succeeds Atal Dulloo, was appointed on November 1 or the date he assumes charge, whichever is later. Meanwhile, the LG Manoj Sinha transferred six IAS officers, including Shaleen Kabra, who was appointed as the DG of Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration & Rural Development. The Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices have reopened, marking the resumption of government functioning in Jammu after a six-month closure.

The practice of shifting the seat of power between Jammu and Srinagar began in 1872 and was discontinued in 2021 but reinstated by the Omar Abdullah government in October 2025.