LG Chairs High-Level Review of Home Department’s Subordinate Offices

Jammu, Dec 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting of subordinate departments of the Home Department at Lok Bhavan in Jammu, focusing on budgetary allocations, expenditure and the progress of key infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor reviewed the Budget Estimates (BE) for 2025–26 and the expenditure position of departments including Prisons, Prosecution, Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL), Sainik Welfare and the Advisory Board under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Sinha also took stock of major ongoing projects, such as the construction of a high-security prison at Mahanpur in Kathua, the establishment of a Cyber Division at FSL Jammu, the upgradation of the Cyber Division at FSL Srinagar, and the construction of bunkers in border districts of the Union Territory. He directed officials to expedite the pace of work and ensure timely completion through better coordination among departments.

Emphasising internal security and institutional strengthening, the Lieutenant Governor instructed officials to enhance capacity-building across various wings of the Home Department. He also called for the sensitisation of prison officers and staff, along with frequent inspections, monitoring and surveillance of prisons across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Director General of Police, Prisons, Deepak Kumar; Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti; Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commandant General Home Guards Abdul Ghani Mir; Director Fire and Emergency Services Alok Kumar; Director Sainik Welfare Brigadier (Retd) Pankaj Chib; Director Forensic Sciences Laboratory Om Prakash, and other senior officials.