J&K gets new DGP, decision on Chief Secretary deferred

The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has given its nod to the appointment of S.P. Vaid as the new Director General of Police of the state. A direct recruit in IPS from J&K will head the force for the first time. Though another Jammu IPS officer, M.M. Khujuria also headed J&K the Police in 1985, but he was absorbed in the IPS by induction. The PDP-BJP government has, however, deferred its plan to replace the present Chief Secretary B.R. Sharma, because of opposition from alliance partner BJP. Informed sources told this newspaper that BJP was not in favour of replacing B.R. Sharma. The push for the change primarily came from Mehbooba Mufti, as wanted some “fresh blood” to carry out her agenda of governance on the ground. She had tried to change the Chief Secretary earlier as well, but failed because of stonewalling by the state BJP and also by the Centre. Now the state government has to take a final call whether, or not, to change the chief secretary. If it decides to do so, it will have to send a panel of names to the Centre. Neither of the two coalition partners was opposed to the appointment of 1986 batch J&K cadre IPS officer, S.P. Vaid as police chief. Vaid, who was Director General of Law and Order in J&K Police, will assume office on Sunday, the New Year.