MHA Transfers IAS Ramaswamy to Lakshadweep After Ladakh Flags Cooperative Irregularities, Accountability Questions Persist

Srinagar: In a sudden shake-up that has unsettled bureaucratic circles, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), ordered the immediate transfer of IAS officer Prasanna Ramaswamy G from Jammu and Kashmir to Lakshadweep. 

The directive, effective at once and valid until further instructions, follows concerns raised by the Ladakh administration over his past association with a cooperative society, sparking debate on accountability and governance.

The controversy was triggered by a report from the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, which flagged irregularities in the registration of the Looms of Ladakh Women’s Cooperative Society Limited.

The society was registered during Ramaswamy’s tenure as Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS). Records showed that both Ramaswamy and his wife, Abhilasha Bahuguna, were listed as co-founding members.

The administration categorically stated that no prior approval from competent authorities existed in departmental records permitting the officer to join or establish a private cooperative.

Meanwhile, two weeks before the transfer order, on July 30, 2026, Ladakh’s General Administration Department had formally written to the Home Ministry, raising serious procedural concerns about cooperative registrations. The communication revealed the conflict-of-interest issues and questioned the officer’s role in the process.

However, the MHA’s transfer directive did not incorporate the Lieutenant Governor’s recommendations, leaving unanswered questions about the ministry’s stance.

Ramaswamy, a 2010-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, had been serving as Commissioner/Secretary of the Tribal Affairs Department in Jammu and Kashmir since June 2024. Prior to that, he held charge in the Revenue Department, overseeing key administrative functions.

Born in Tamil Nadu on February 27, 1987, Ramaswamy holds a B.Tech degree and a postgraduate qualification in economics. His professional record has often been marked by high-profile assignments.