Leh, Jan 09: In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs has abolished the position of Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and created the post of Chief Secretary to take its place in Ladakh.
This move is exactly what the Home Ministry has implemented in Chandigarh, another Union Territory (UT). Till now, Ladakh had been functioning with an Advisor to LG, a role typically held by an IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre. As Pawan Kotwal (IAS:1994:AGMUT) has been performing this advisory function, he will now become the first Chief Secretary of Ladakh. It marks a historic shift in the governance of the region.
Dr. Kotwal, who took office as Advisor to the LG in June 2023, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Prior to this, he served as the Principal Secretary for Health & Medical Education, Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Revenue, Planning & Monitoring in Ladakh. As Chief Secretary, Dr. Kotwal will now oversee Ladakh’s administrative apparatus.
