Leh, Sep 14: The Ladakh Administration has taken a significant step towards strengthening its administrative machinery, with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approving draft Recruitment Rules for 129 Junior Scale posts spread across 15 departments and services.
The move is aimed at creating a defined career progression mechanism for government employees serving in feeder cadres, while also facilitating the induction of fresh talent through direct recruitment.
The proposed Recruitment Rules cover Junior Scale positions in the General Administration Department, Cooperative, Employment, Excise and Taxation, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Handicrafts and Handlooms, Industries and Commerce, Information, Labour, Rural Development, Revenue, Social Welfare, Tourism and Transport departments.
Under the proposed framework, eligible officials in feeder cadres will be able to seek promotion to Junior Scale posts after completing the prescribed qualifying service. The administration said the rules are intended to address delays in promotions and establish a more structured system for filling critical gazetted positions.
The development follows an amendment issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 9, 2026, which empowered the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh to frame rules for Group ‘B’ Gazetted services and posts, including positions forming part of common cadres such as JKAS.
Earlier, such rule-making powers were not available to the Lieutenant Governor, creating difficulties in framing the required recruitment and promotion rules for these posts.
The issue was also taken up personally by LG Vinai Kumar Saxena with the Ministry of Home Affairs in July this year. According to the administration, the LG had highlighted the delays in regular promotions resulting from the absence of the necessary Recruitment Rules.
Saxena also expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his continued support towards strengthening the administrative framework and governance mechanisms in Ladakh.
The proposed recruitment structure provides for a combination of direct recruitment and promotion, with several services following a 50:50 ratio. Out of the 129 posts covered under the draft rules, 79 have been earmarked for direct recruitment, while 50 posts have been identified for promotion.
The administration said the framework is expected to improve administrative efficiency by enabling Ladakh to develop recruitment and promotion mechanisms suited to its own institutional requirements.
The LG said that stronger institutions were essential for ensuring responsive and effective governance, adding that the new rules would provide eligible officers in feeder cadres with a clear pathway for career advancement while bringing new talent into the administration through direct recruitment.
Before the rules are finalised, the draft Recruitment Rules will be placed in the public domain for a period of 30 days in line with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines.
Stakeholders will be invited to submit suggestions and objections during this period. The feedback will subsequently be examined and necessary changes incorporated before the final proposals are forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consultation or approval, wherever applicable.
The rules will come into effect after the prescribed process is completed and the final notification is issued.
