Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has formally allocated portfolios to eight ministers following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, distributing key departments among the Deputy Chief Minister and seven other members of the Council of Ministers, while retaining all unallocated departments and subjects with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The portfolio allocation was notified by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha through an official order, setting out the responsibilities of each minister in the reorganised Cabinet.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has been assigned the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department, Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development. His portfolio places him in charge of key sectors linked to infrastructure development, industrial growth and employment generation.
Senior National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar has been allocated Revenue, Power Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and the Election Department. The departments place several important administrative and governance functions under his charge.
Sakeena Masood Itoo will continue to head the Health and Medical Education Department and the Social Welfare Department, retaining responsibility for healthcare delivery and welfare programmes.
Javed Ahmad Rana has been assigned Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Transport. His responsibilities include public distribution and consumer affairs, tribal welfare, and the transport sector.
Javid Ahmad Dar has been given charge of Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives, bringing key economic and rural livelihood-related departments under his supervision.
Mir Saifullah will oversee Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, and Administrative Reforms, Inspections and Trainings (ARI and Trainings).
Shamima Firdous has been allocated School Education, Higher Education and Jal Shakti, placing education and water-resource management under her charge.
Altaf Ahmad Wani will head the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, along with Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, covering environmental protection and grassroots development.
The order makes it clear that all departments and subjects not specifically allocated to any minister will remain with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The allocation follows the induction of four National Conference legislators—Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani—into the Cabinet on October 27 at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers.
The reshuffle and subsequent portfolio distribution have completed the latest restructuring of the Council of Ministers, with the allocation placing responsibility for major administrative, economic, social and development sectors across the Cabinet.
