On July 20, In a significant event took place in Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, as B R Sharma was sworn in as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of the Union Territory. The oath of office was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor in Jammu and Kashmir.
B R Sharma’s appointment as the State Election Commissioner came a week before the swearing-in ceremony. His predecessor, K K Sharma, had completed his term in this position on February 1, leaving the vacancy to be filled.
Born in the Kathua district of the Jammu region, B R Sharma is a seasoned bureaucrat with an illustrious career. He belongs to the 1984-batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), which is one of the premier civil services in India. Over the years, Sharma has garnered extensive experience and expertise in various administrative roles, both at the state and national levels.
One of his notable roles was serving as the chief secretary of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2017. As the chief secretary, Sharma was responsible for the highest-ranking administrative position in the state, acting as the principal advisor to the state government and overseeing its day-to-day operations.
Additionally, B R Sharma has also held key positions in the central government. He served as an Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which plays a crucial role in matters of internal security, law and order, and disaster management among other important domains. His experience in the MHA likely provided him with insights into various national security issues and governance challenges.