Shahzad Alam IAS Takes Bold First Step, Revokes All Previous Attachment Orders to Restore Institutional Efficiency
RC Sharma Chanakya
Jammu, July 23:
In a landmark administrative move that signals the beginning of a new era of accountability and reform, Shahzad Alam, IAS, the newly appointed Director of the Jammu & Kashmir Skill Development Department, issued his first official order detaching all employees who had been attached to the Directorate from various Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) over the years. The decision has been widely welcomed as a major stride toward restoring discipline, improving institutional performance, and curbing the long-standing culture of favouritism.
The order, issued in supersession of all previous attachment directives, puts an end to the controversial practice whereby several employees—especially vocational instructors from different trades—were deployed to the Directorate office, often for indefinite periods, disrupting the core training activities in their parent ITIs. The absence of instructors had adversely impacted the quality and continuity of vocational training across the Union Territory, defeating the very purpose of skill development at the grassroots level.
Of particular note is the case of Rayees Ahmad Fazili, Instructor (Painting General), who had been attached to the Directorate since October 15, 2006 Vide Order No. 825 of 2006—well before his regularisation—while still working as a Migrant Substitute. His prolonged stay at the Directorate, spanning nearly two decades, became a symbol of administrative indifference and preferential treatment that had drawn criticism from various quarters within the department and beyond.
Director Shahzad Alam’s decisive action has been hailed by employees, stakeholders, and civil society alike as a long-overdue corrective measure. By putting an end to such attachments, the new administration has sent a clear message that merit, transparency, and institutional responsibility will take precedence over personal preferences or unofficial lobbying.
“This order is not just a routine administrative measure; it’s a structural reform that will ensure instructors return to their designated places of work, helping to revive the integrity and effectiveness of our training programs,” said a senior official in the department.
The move is expected to bring about a significant improvement in the work culture of ITIs across Jammu & Kashmir by ensuring that each institution has its full complement of staff available for the benefit of students and skill seekers.
As Shahzad Alam takes charge of the department with this bold and reformist approach, expectations are high that more such steps will follow, leading to a more transparent, accountable, and performance-driven Skill Development ecosystem in the Union Territory.
