Adviser to L-G re-designated as Chief Secretary in Ladakh

The General Administration Department of the Union Territory of Ladakh has issued an office memorandum announcing the re-designation of the post of Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor as Chief Secretary.

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This decision follows the notification dated January 3, 2025, issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India, and has been approved by the competent authority in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

An IAS officer of the 1994 batch (AGMUT cadre), Pawan Kotwal currently serves as the Adviser to the L-G of Ladakh and will now assume the designation of Chief Secretary, Ladakh, with no change in his duties and responsibilities. Consequently, all official communications previously addressed to the “Adviser to Lieutenant Governor” shall now be directed to the “Chief Secretary of Ladakh.”

“This decision marks a significant milestone in Ladakh’s administrative evolution, making Pawan Kotwal the first chief secretary of the Union Territory. A highly respected civil servant, Kotwal was born in J&K in 1965 and holds a MBBS degree,” an official informed.

Over the course of his career, Kotwal has held various key positions across J&K and Ladakh, including Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Deputy Commissioner in multiple districts of J&K and Principal Secretary in several departments. He has also served as Financial Commissioner in the Revenue Department, and as Inspector General of Registration and as Secretary to the Chief Minister of J&K.

“The re-designation of the post of Adviser as Chief Secretary aligns Ladakh’s governance structure with established administrative norms across other Union Territories, ensuring greater efficiency, streamlined operations and improved public service delivery,” the official said.