The Centre is learnt to be examining the possibility of granting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo a one-year extension, with administrative continuity in a sensitive region cited as a key consideration.
Dulloo, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, is currently serving as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, a post he took over on 1 December 2023. He is due to retire on 31 October 2026. Officials familiar with the matter indicate that his continuation is being weighed in view of his experience and his role in managing coordination between the Union Territory administration and the Centre on critical governance issues.
Born on 24 October 1966, Dulloo holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and has spent over three decades in public service across both the Union and erstwhile state administration. His career has included key assignments in finance, health, agriculture, and border management.
At the Centre, he served as Secretary in the Department of Border Management under the Ministry of Home Affairs. In Jammu and Kashmir, he has held multiple senior positions, including Financial Commissioner in the Finance and Health & Medical Education departments, where he was closely involved in steering the region’s COVID-19 response.
Earlier in his career, he also served as Deputy Commissioner in districts such as Udhampur, Baramulla and Rajouri, gaining extensive field-level administrative experience.
As the Union Home Ministry begins to assess succession planning, Dulloo’s extension remains under consideration, underscoring the emphasis on continuity in the Union Territory’s top administrative leadership.
