Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Nov 29: The Centre on Wednesday appointed Atal Dulloo, a 1989 batch senior-most IAS officer in Jammu and Kashmir, as chief secretary of the Union Territory. He is the first local to hold the top bureaucratic post after 2017. The Union Home Ministry today appointed Dulloo, a son of the soil, as chief secretary of J&K as incumbent CS Arun Kumar Mehta is attaining superannuation Thursday.
“Consequent upon the superannuation of Arun Kumar Mehta, IAS, on 30.11.2023 and on repatriation from central deputation, Atal Dulloo, IAS (AGMUT-1988) is hereby appointed as chief secretary, Jammu and Kashmir with effect from 1-12-2023 or from date of assumption of charge, whichever is late and until further orders,” reads the order. Dulloo is the first native bureaucrat to occupy the top post since 2017.
B R Sharma, a native of J&K, held the top bureaucratic position from August 2015 to April 2017.
Dulloo’s premature repatriation to AGMUT cadre by the Centre earlier this month indicated that he would be J&K’s next chief secretary. On November 21, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) had ordered premature repatriation of Dulloo to J&K on the request of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Before repatriation, he was sent on central deputation in June this year where he served as Secretary, Department of Border Management. Born in the Kashmir Valley in 1966, 57-year-old Dulloo has held key bureaucratic positions in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in New Delhi.
Starting his bureaucratic career as a sub-divisional magistrate in Ladakh, Dulloo has served as deputy commissioner of key districts in the erstwhile state. He has also held key bureaucratic positions in the civil secretariat and served as Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education Department and Agriculture Production Department. A man of impeccable integrity, Dulloo is known for his cordial style of working and commands respect among all communities in the Union Territory. As administrative head of Health & Medical Education Department, he played a key role in expansion of medical infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir.
