Srinagar: Hours before the Election Commission announced assembly poll schedule for Jammu and Kashmir, the state administration carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle transferring 14 top officials.

Transfers of 14 IAS and KAS officers were ordered late on Saturday night, just hours before the commission announced the seven-phase poll, beginning November 17.

Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Goswami is transferred and posted as financial commissioner (revenue) in place of Khusheed Ganaie, transferred as principal secretary (home), an official spokesman said on Sunday.

Arun Kumar, attached to general administration department following his indictment by an inquiry panel in the Amarnath land row in June, is posted as principal secretary (information technology).

Secretary (Ladakh affairs) T Dorje is transferred and posted as joint financial commission (agrarian reforms), while Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Gazanfar Hussain is special secretary (forest department).

Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, previously special secretary (forest department), would be deputy commissioner (Anantnag). Ghulam Abbas is deputy commissioner (Poonch) in place of Mohammad Afzal Bhat, the director (rural development Kashmir division.)

G Q Wani would be managing director (handicraft corporation) in place of R A qadri, MD tourism development corporation. V C Sharma is posted as JK Mineral Limited, while Special Secretary to Governor, Zafar Ahmad is director (handicrafts).

Mubarak Singh is deputy commissioner Kishtwar district in place of Sudershan Sharma, posted as special secretary (health), the spokesman added.
Source : DNA