KARGIL: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, attended a farewell ceremony organised in honour of the outgoing Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS, on the occasion of his superannuation. The event was held in Kargil and jointly organised by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, District Administration Kargil, and District Police Kargil.
The farewell dinner served as a special tribute to Dr. Pawan Kotwal, whose association with the Ladakh Administration began on April 12, 2021, when he joined as Principal Secretary, handling key departments including Planning, Development & Monitoring; Health & Medical Education; Forest, Ecology & Environment; and Revenue. His visionary leadership and reform-oriented approach played a crucial role in the successful implementation of several landmark initiatives across these sectors.
On June 9, 2023, Dr. Kotwal assumed the role of Advisor to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor. Subsequently, in a significant administrative milestone on February 12, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, redesignated the post of Advisor to Lieutenant Governor as Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, appointing Dr. Kotwal as the first-ever Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Addressing the gathering, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta lauded Dr. Kotwal’s exemplary service, exceptional leadership qualities and sharp administrative acumen. He highlighted Dr. Kotwal’s pivotal role in fostering teamwork and driving inclusive and sustainable development across Ladakh’s challenging and rugged terrain.
The Lt Governor remarked that Dr. Kotwal’s tenure was marked by effective governance, deep empathy for the people and a strong citizen-centric approach, which significantly strengthened administrative frameworks across the Union Territory. He further noted that Ladakh’s visible development progress is the result of close coordination between the Central Government, UT Administration and district-level officers.
Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, congratulated Dr. Kotwal on his superannuation and recalled their long association dating back to their tenure in Jammu & Kashmir. He praised Dr. Kotwal’s impartial approach towards Leh and Kargil, structural reforms, and the historic creation of five new districts in 2024—Drass, Zanskar, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, describing his legacy as a “golden chapter” in Ladakh’s administrative history.
Member of Parliament, Ladakh, Mohd Hanifa Jan, highlighted Dr. Kotwal’s foundational contributions in the sectors of Health, Revenue, Planning, and Ecology & Environment, stating that his role in shaping Ladakh’s development trajectory would be remembered for decades.
In his farewell address, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal expressed heartfelt gratitude to LAHDC Kargil, the District Administration and District Police Kargil for organising the memorable ceremony. Reflecting on his journey as one of the founding pillars of the UT Administration, he spoke of the remarkable transformation Ladakh has witnessed since attaining Union Territory status.
Dr. Kotwal acknowledged the challenges faced during this transition and noted that UT Ladakh has now achieved a stable and robust administrative foundation capable of delivering efficient and citizen-centric governance. He commended the proactive efforts of district officers in Leh and Kargil, particularly highlighting the near-completion of digitisation of land records, which will enable citizens to easily access accurate digital land data.
He also termed the enactment of the domicile law and the 95 per cent reservation policy as historic milestones that have significantly empowered the youth of Ladakh. Concluding on an emotional note, Dr. Kotwal said the affection and respect he received from the people of Ladakh would remain a cherished lifelong memory.
The occasion was attended by Executive Councillors and Councillors of LAHDC Kargil; Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS, Principal Secretary; Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, IAS; SSP Kargil Nitin Yadav, IPS; heads of religious and social organisations; senior district officers; and family members of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, among other distinguished guests.
