Ajay Sharma
Jammu Tawi, December 16: Following persistent reporting by the Northlines over vacant posts of Chief Engineer in Public Works Department (PWD), the Government has finally placed eight In-charge Superintending Engineers (Civil) as In-charge Chief Engineers (Civil).
The placements, effective immediately, follow the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 137/18/2025 dated December 3, 2025, and are detailed in Government Order No. 377-PW (R&B) of 2025, issued today on 16.
Meanwhile, officials have attributed this swift action to the pressure built by incessant coverage of The Northlines’ that exposed how vacant senior positions were crippling departmental operations and delaying key development works.
In October 2025, The Northlines published an in-depth report titled “PWD in Limbo as Chief Engineer Post Remains Vacant, Projects Suffer,” shedding light on the chaos in the Public Works Department (PWD) in Jammu. The story revealed that the department had been functioning without a permanent Chief Engineer for months, relying on temporary “charge arrangements” where officers juggled multiple responsibilities—some handling up to four or five charges at once.
This led to incomplete road and construction projects, administrative indecisiveness, and overall deterioration in the department’s efficiency.
Building on this, The Northlines amplified the issue on social media, including a Facebook post on October 13, 2025, titled “PWD Rajouri Still Without Permanent Chief Engineer; Department Runs on Additional Charge.”
The post underscored the ongoing crisis in Rajouri, where the lack of a dedicated Chief Engineer forced the department to operate under makeshift arrangements, further hampering public infrastructure and essential services.
According to the placement order, signed by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Er. Purshotam Kumar has been placed as in charge Chief Engineer, PMGSY, Zone Jammu, Er. Kewal Kumar Atri in Public Works (R&B) Department, Zone Chenab, Er. Romesh Kumar as Executive Director, JKERA, Jammu, Er. Tilak Raj in Public Works (R&B) Department, Zone Pir Panjal (deputation on ex-cadre basis), Er. Narinder Kumar in Public Works (R&B) Department, Zone Central Kashmir, Er. Rajesh Kumar Agastam in Public Works (R&B) Department, Zone Jammu, Er. Ashwani Kumar in PMGSY, Zone Kashmir and Er. Noor Ali in Public Works (R&B) Department, Zone South Kashmir.
These placements are subject to conditions, including no preferential right to substantive promotion until filled through due process via the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC)/J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC), and the outcome of any pending writ petitions in courts.
Additionally, Er. Ashok Kumar Khokhar, previously In-charge Chief Engineer (Civil) for Public Works (R&B) Zone Chenab, has been transferred and deputed to the J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA) on an ex-cadre basis for posting as Executive Director, Kashmir.
