To handle critical work three more advisers on cards

Governor Satya Pal Malik is likely to appoint three more advisers to tune the administrative work in the state and infuse a greater sense of accountability, said highly placed sources.

The sources said the Governor was keen to enhance contact with the people with the help of the advisers, Chief Secretary and other officials in the administration.

It is felt that he needs more hands to handle the critical work of the administration and make it available and accessible to the public at all levels, they said.

The sources said he would be appointing the new advisers in consultation with the Centre in the next few days.

One of the names doing the rounds is that of KK Sharma, former Chief Secretary of Delhi. Sharma belongs to the Jammu region. Currently, the Governor has three advisers — BB Vyas, K Vijay Kumar and Khurshid Ganai.

Sources said Malik counted them as assets for their expertise and the knowledge of the local affairs. But he needed more hands to distribute and redistribute the work in the light of the coming urban local bodies and panchayat elections, they said.

The state had come under the Governor’s rule on June 20, a day after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP-led Mehbooba Mufti government.

The then Governor, NN Vohra, had appointed BB Vyas, who till then was the Chief Secretary of the state, K Vijay Kumar, who has been the Special Secretary, Home, and Khurshid Ganai, who was holding the post of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), before his current assignment. Ganai had resigned from the CIC’s post a day before his appointment was announced by the Governor’s administration.

Malik has retained all three advisers appointed by his predecessor. Sources said as the Governor anticipated more work in view of the elections and felt the need to monitor things at the grass-roots level, he needed more hands to assist him in enhancing the outreach of the administration.