Srinagar: Mohammad Shafi Pandit, Jammu and Kashmir’s first Muslim IAS officer, passed away on September 19, 2024. Pandit, aged 77, was undergoing treatment for cancer in Delhi hospital. He was the first Kashmiri Muslim to qualify for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1969, marking a historic moment for the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mohammad Shafi Pandit, Jammu and Kashmir’s first Muslim IAS officer, who passed away on September 19, 2024. Pandit, aged 77, passed away in a Delhi hospital while undergoing treatment for cancer.

While in Srinagar for an official engagement, Prime Minister Modi expressed his sorrow, stating, “Mohammad Shafi Pandit was a towering figure of integrity and service. His contributions to Kashmir and India will be remembered for generations.”

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also expressed his grief, saying, “I am saddened by the demise of Shri Mohammad Shafi Pandit ji. He had an illustrious career as a bureaucrat and served with distinction. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to public service and civil society. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and admirers during this hour of grief.”

Born on August 15, 1947, Pandit completed his MSc in Geology and briefly served as a lecturer at Amar Singh College. Throughout his career, he held several key positions. As Deputy Commissioner of Doda, he played a pivotal role in launching the single-line administration concept, streamlining governance at the local level. As Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, he enforced guest control measures and took a firm stand against public mismanagement by invoking the Public Safety Act against Kothdars, who imported mutton and sold it at inflated prices. His tenure was marked by integrity and a deep commitment to public welfare.

Pandit was actively involved in Central Government initiatives. In 1992, as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Social Welfare, he was instrumental in implementing the Mandal Commission. Following 1996, his advocacy for depositing government employees’ salaries into their bank accounts strengthened the position of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, leading to improved financial systems in the region.

One of Pandit’s final roles in public service was as Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), where he worked diligently to reform the recruitment process and promote merit-based selections. /BI