Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to set up a dedicated administrative service cadre to address the shortage of officers in the Union Territory, people familiar with the development said.
This is the first time that the Ladakh Subordinate Administrative Service (LSAS) cadre has been discussed – and the move could meet one of the demands of groups that have been seeking more autonomy for the UT.
Currently, Ladakh, which was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir as a separate autonomous territory after the abrogation of Article 370, has to depend on the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) as well as deputation to meet its requirement of officers. The strategically important region is facing acute shortage, particularly of gazetted Group B level management posts due to non-filling of direct recruitment vacancies under JKAS, non-filling of promotion quota posts by JKAS and continued dependence on delegation from J&K.
The new proposal, which was sent to Union Home Minister Govind Mohan a few days ago, recommends cadre restructuring and a separate LSAS for entry-level (Level 8) positions, with recruitment through a combination of direct recruitment and promotion, said an officer requesting anonymity.
“While 50% of the posts are proposed to be filled through direct recruitment through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the remaining 50% are proposed to be filled through promotion from eligible non-gazetted sub-posts within Ladakh. The rules are proposed to be formulated in consultation with the UPSC, which will also decide the recruitment process,” this official added.
The proposal also stipulates that recruitment to these posts will be governed by Ladakh’s domicile and reservation framework, thus ensuring local representation and capacity building within the UT, officials emphasized. Envisions career advancement opportunities for recruits, including upward mobility to Group A services in due course.
The proposal also highlights structural holes in the current administrative arrangement and the “urgent need for a sustainable system for Ladakh”, where five new districts were divided last month, requiring more officers for various departments, said a second officer who also requested anonymity.
“A dedicated administrative service is essential to ensure continuity, accountability and efficiency of governance in Ladakh. The current delegation-based system, though useful in the meantime, cannot fully meet the long-term administrative requirements of the Union Territory. Establishment of the Ladakh Secondary Administrative Service (LSAS) will not only address the shortage but will also empower local talent, strengthen institutional capacities, and ensure responsive governance tailored to Ladakh’s unique needs,” LG VK Saxena told HT.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its report issued in March last year observed that there were 1,275 vacancies in gazetted posts and 3,596 vacancies in undeclared posts in various UT departments in Ladakh.
Ladakh-based groups, including LAB (Leh Apex Body) and KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance) are also demanding creation of an administrative service in Ladakh on the lines of DANICS (Dedicated Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service for Union Territories) to cater manpower for administrative posts among their state and Sixth Schedule demands.
Currently, the JKAS operates as a joint cadre for both J&K and Ladakh, and “has led to systemic challenges, as candidates from Ladakh are not eligible for direct recruitment into JKAS due to the restricted residency requirement of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir,” the senior officer said.
“The current system relies heavily on the secondment of declared officers from Jammu and Kashmir to Ladakh for short periods. While this arrangement provides temporary support, it often leads to frequent turnover, interruptions in management, and the creation of career gaps once officers return to their original cadre. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Jammu and Kashmir itself faces a shortage of gazetted officers, which limits its ability to continually provide adequate support to Ladakh. As a result, the second officer said: “There is often a severe shortage of manpower at senior management levels, and this has affected administrative efficiency, especially at the field level, where continued presence and expertise is crucial.”
Sajjad Kargili, KDA leader, welcomed the plan.
“The people of Ladakhi have been demanding for the last six years that we should have our own administrative or police service. I have not seen the latest proposal but any such move that serves the interests of Ladakh students and job aspirants is welcome.”
