The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed senior IAS officer Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The 1995-batch bureaucrat belongs to the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. The central government transferred Yadav from the Delhi administration to lead the Union Territory’s bureaucracy.

The official appointment order takes effect on November 1, 2026. According to administrative notifications published by Greater Kashmir, MHA Director Anish Muraleedharan signed the formal transfer directive. Copies of the order reached the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat and the Delhi Chief Secretary’s office immediately. Therefore, the appointment marks a major administrative transition in the northern frontier territory.

Historic Milestone Following Merger of Erstwhile J&K Cadre

Yadav’s elevation represents a historic milestone in Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative history. He becomes the very first original AGMUT-cadre officer to hold the top bureaucratic post in the region.

Parliament had merged the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir civil services cadre into the AGMUT pool in January 2021. However, previous chief secretaries, including Arun Kumar Mehta and Atal Dulloo, originally belonged to the old state cadre. As detailed by Kashmir Observer, Yadav’s posting completes the full operational integration of the Union Territory’s civil services with central pools. Consequently, the transition opens top secretariat leadership positions to officers serving across other union territories.

Succeeding Outgoing Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on November 1

The incoming chief secretary will succeed incumbent Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo at the end of this month. Dulloo, a seasoned 1989-batch officer from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre, reaches superannuation age on October 31.

Dulloo had assumed charge as the territory’s top bureaucrat in December 2023 after completing a central deputation. Coverage by Cross Town News noted that Dulloo turned 60 on Saturday, ruling out further service extensions. Meanwhile, the outgoing administrator oversaw peaceful assembly elections and major highway infrastructure expansions during his tenure. As a result, Yadav will step into office as the elected territorial government prepares its upcoming winter development agenda.

Extensive Administrative and Public Finance Track Record

Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav brings three decades of diverse governance and financial management experience to Srinagar and Jammu. Since June 2026, he has served as Additional Chief Secretary in Delhi and Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board.

Previously, Yadav served with distinction as Additional Secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Union Finance Ministry. As reported by KNS Kashmir, he played a vital role in managing national public finance reforms and vaccination logistics. Furthermore, the seasoned administrator holds a doctorate in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. His deep expertise in central fiscal transfers will help Jammu and Kashmir accelerate central infrastructure projects over the coming years.

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