JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government has disclosed that 27 out of the 48 employees currently working in the office of the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi are state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir, accounting for 60.56 per cent of the staff.
The figures counter any perception that non-domiciles dominate staffing at the Resident Commissioner’s office, a key outpost of the J&K administration in the national capital. Still, 39.44 per cent of the staff — 21 individuals — are non-state subjects, raising questions about the recruitment process and representation balance.
The Resident Commissioner’s office is responsible for vital functions, including coordination with central ministries, assisting J&K residents in Delhi, handling official visits, and facilitating inter-state matters. Given this mandate, Tanvir Sadiq had sought details about the composition of the staff to assess the extent of local representation.
The government has not specified whether the employees are permanent, deputed, or contractual, nor whether any policy exists to ensure a fair share of employment for domiciles in such strategically important offices.
Besides, the Jammu and Kashmir government has clarified that it has no plans to relocate the Resident Commissioner’s office from New Delhi, stating that the office continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining coordination between the Union Territory and various ministries of the Government of India.
The clarification came in response to a written question posed by Tanvir Sadiq, a Member of the Legislative Council, who had sought information on whether the government was considering shifting the office of the Resident Commissioner out of the national capital. He also asked about the role and functions of the office, its staff strength, and the nature of its coordination with the Central Government.
