Srinagar: Ishfaq Gowher
After two erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre IPS officers were recently appointed as Directors General of Police in other Union Territories, several Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officers from Jammu and Kashmir are likely to get an opportunity to serve in other states and UTs under the AGMUT cadre, sources said.
Senior IPS officer SD Singh Jamwal has been posted as the Director General of Police of Arunachal Pradesh, while Mukesh Singh has taken charge as the DGP of Ladakh. These postings are being seen as part of a broader cadre management exercise by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aimed at optimal utilization of senior police officers across different AGMUT segments.
Sources indicated that following recent promotions, the number of IPS officers holding the rank of DIG in Jammu and Kashmir has exceeded the sanctioned strength for the Union Territory. As a result, a few DIG-rank officers are likely to be considered for postings outside J&K in other AGMUT states and Union Territories.
Officials familiar with the development said that such inter-cadre movement is not unusual and is, in fact, encouraged under existing service norms. The Ministry of Home Affairs has repeatedly emphasized that working in different AGMUT segments is important for an officer’s career progression, professional exposure, and leadership development.
The AGMUT cadre comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and several Union Territories, each presenting diverse policing, administrative, and law-and-order challenges. Posting officers across these regions is aimed at giving them wider operational experience and preparing them for higher responsibilities at both the state and central levels.
Sources further said that officers from Jammu and Kashmir, given their experience in handling complex security and law-and-order situations, are often considered well-suited for challenging assignments in other parts of the AGMUT cadre. Their deployment also helps address shortages in senior police leadership in other states and UTs.
While no official transfer or posting orders have been issued so far for DIG-rank officers, indications suggest that the process may gain momentum in the coming months as the MHA reviews cadre requirements across different AGMUT regions.
The expected movement of DIG-rank officers is being viewed as a routine administrative measure rather than an extraordinary development. Officials said it aligns with long-standing cadre management practices and is aimed at ensuring balanced deployment of senior IPS officers across the AGMUT framework.
