The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Senior IPS officer Sujit Kumar on Wednesday took charge as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, succeeding V K Birdi as part of a major reshuffle of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Kumar, a 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, formally assumed charge on Wednesday afternoon following the Home Department's order transferring and posting 14 police officers with immediate effect.

Kumar, who was serving as Inspector General of Police, Security, J&K, has now been posted as IGP Kashmir Zone under Government Order No. 438-Home of 2026.

Birdi, who was serving as IGP Kashmir, has been relieved of the charge following Kumar's appointment.

Senior officers of the Kashmir Zone were present during the formal assumption of charge and extended their greetings to the newly appointed IGP.

Kumar has previously served in several key positions in Jammu and Kashmir, including in the Kashmir Valley, and has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations, security and law-and-order management.

A native of Patna, Kumar is an alumnus of Delhi University's Hindu College and has also served on central deputation with the Special Protection Group (SPG) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

He is a recipient of the President's Police Gallantry Medal and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

The appointment comes amid a broader reshuffle of senior police officers in Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR — The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has directed the School Education Department to strictly implement food safety regulations in all government and private schools, including a ban on the sale of junk food within school premises and within 50 metres of school gates.

In a communication to the Directors of School Education, the FDA said the Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diets for Children in School) Regulations, 2020, must be effectively implemented to ensure safe, hygienic and nutritionally balanced food for schoolchildren.

Restrictions on food sales

Under the regulations, schools must ensure that food products high in saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar or sodium are not sold or offered within school premises.

The restrictions also extend to an area within 50 metres of the school gate in any direction, where the sale, marketing or advertising of such food products to school children is prohibited.

Licensing and hygiene requirements

The FDA has also directed that school authorities or food business operators running food services on school campuses must be registered or licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and comply with prescribed sanitary and hygienic requirements.

Such food facilities are also required to have Food Safety Display Boards and Food Safety Supervisor(s), wherever applicable.

Additional measures

The regulations further require schools to designate meal times to encourage healthy eating habits among children and provide safe drinking water free of cost to all students.

School authorities, including principals and headmasters, along with the bodies responsible for management of the institutions, have been tasked with ensuring regular inspection of food premises and monitoring the quality, safety and hygiene of food served to students.

The FDA has also said schools may appoint a Health and Wellness Ambassador or constitute a Health and Wellness Team to act as a nodal mechanism for monitoring the availability of safe, balanced and hygienic food.

The FDA has called upon the School Education Department and school authorities to ensure strict compliance with the regulations across Jammu and Kashmir.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday effected a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the finance department, ordering the transfer and posting of over a dozen senior officers with immediate effect.

According to a government order issued by Financial Commissioner (ACS), Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar, accessed by the news agency KNS, the move is aimed at administrative efficiency and comes in continuation of an earlier order issued on August 4.

Key transfers

Among the key changes, Rajesh Chander Kotwal, who was serving as Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu, has been moved as Director Finance, School Education Department. He replaces Kulbushan Kumar, who has been shifted to the ARI & Trainings Department and will also hold additional charge of the Tribal Affairs Department.

Anil Kumar Dogra has been appointed as the new Director Accounts & Treasuries, Jammu, while Santosh Kumari has been transferred from JK Power Development Corporation to the Labour & Employment Department.

Newly promoted officers assigned

Several officers promoted to the rank of Director Finance have also been given new assignments. Shahid Majeed Kakroo has been posted as Director Finance, Jal Shakti Department, while Manav Gupta takes over as Director Finance at JK Power Development Corporation.

Amit Mahajan has been posted as Director Finance, Cooperative Department, and Premlata Patial has been appointed Director Finance at JK Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL).

Harjeet Kour, another promoted officer, has been directed to await further orders of adjustment within the Directorate General of Accounts & Treasuries. Rashim Deepika, who was holding additional charge of the Cooperative Department, has been relieved of that responsibility and will continue in the Tourism Department for now.

The order also notes that Naila Zahoor has been posted as Director Finance, Youth Services and Sports Department, relieving Jasvinder Singh of the additional charge.

The reshuffle, which involves multiple departments including School Education, Revenue, Jal Shakti and Labour & Employment, is seen as part of the administration's efforts to streamline financial management across key sectors.