Leh, Feb 18: In a significant move aimed at streamlining governance in Ladakh, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has re-designated the post of Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor as Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh.
Official sources said that the decision, approved by the Competent Authority in the MHA, was formally announced by the General Administration Department (GAD) of Ladakh following a notification issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India.
With this transition, Dr Pawan Kotwal, a 1994-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, who has been serving as Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, will now officially assume the title of Chief Secretary, UT of Ladakh. “While his responsibilities and functions remain unchanged, all official communications previously addressed to the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor will now be directed to the Chief Secretary of Ladakh,” the official sources said.
They said that this transition marks a key milestone in Ladakh’s governance structure, bringing it in line with other Union Territories that have designated Chief Secretaries as the top administrative officials. “The move is expected to enhance bureaucratic efficiency, improve coordination between various departments, and bolster Ladakh’s capacity to implement developmental initiatives effectively,” the official sources said.
Dr Kotwal, a seasoned bureaucrat known for his administrative acumen, was born in Jammu and Kashmir in 1965 and holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Over his distinguished career spanning three decades, he has held a range of pivotal positions across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. His past roles include serving as Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Deputy Commissioner in multiple districts of J&K, and Principal Secretary in the Health & Medical Education, Revenue, and Forest, Ecology & Environment Departments. Additionally, he has worked as Financial Commissioner in the Revenue Department, Inspector General of Registration, and Secretary to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
The re-designation of the post is expected to strengthen administrative clarity and ensure better governance for Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019 following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. The change aligns Ladakh’s governance framework with established administrative norms and is seen as a step towards institutional stability and long-term development planning. By officially establishing the post of Chief Secretary, the administration aims to enhance policy execution, improve public service delivery, and foster greater accountability across departments. Officials said that as Ladakh continues to evolve as a Union Territory, this structural reform is likely to facilitate smoother governance and a more effective response to the region’s developmental and infrastructural needs. “The Ladakh administration remains committed to strengthening governance and ensuring efficient public service delivery, with Dr Kotwal now at the helm as the region’s first Chief Secretary,” they said.
