Aug 25, 2025: Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, additional general secretary of the National Conference (NC) and a former minister, has warned the Lieutenant Governor's office against policies that, according to him, discriminate against civil service cadres in Jammu and Kashmir. Sadhotra criticized the "growing tendency" of placing Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in all important decision-making positions while ignoring officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS). He cautioned that such a strategy would not only demoralize local officers but also reduce administration efficiency as a whole. The NC leader said that JKAS officers have been the backbone of governance in the region for decades, highlighting their role. He remarked, "They enjoy a strong rapport with the people across regions and possess invaluable knowledge of the ground realities, having risen from the grassroots." Ignoring this cadre, he argued, would amount to weakening the administrative structure that has historically depended on both IAS and JKAS officers working together with due regard to hierarchy and discipline.

Sadhotra cautioned that the bureaucracy's divisions could be avoided by pampering one service while neglecting the other. He stated, "A divided and demotivated administration can never deliver its best in putting policies into action or addressing people's grievances." He emphasized the necessity of fair play and equality, stressing that those in charge must ensure harmony and confidence in all governance wings. He asserted that the development aspirations of the people of J&K can only be effectively met by a bureaucracy that is both balanced and motivated.

Calling for immediate course correction, the NC leader urged the administration to provide a level playing field to both IAS and JKAS officers. He stated that the public's interests should continue to take precedence, which can only be accomplished by treating all cadres fairly, with dignity, and with respect.