About Department
The Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state till October, 1947 when tribesmen from across the border invaded it. The Indian Army was invited to defend the state but here they needed civilian support for transportation of every kind of stores at the borders. A temporary system was devised where under local village headmen used to assist Army in procurement of Porters and Ponies for carrying of stores to forward areas. For smooth transportation of stores from base Headquarters of Army to forward areas, the authorities decided to create a temporary organization which could assist Army in procurement of Porters/Ponies for this purpose. This new dispensation gave birth to the Defence Labour Procurement Department, J&K.
There happens to be the Labour Department of J&K State headed by the Labour Commissioner and a separate wing named as Defence Wing entrusted with the job of procurement of Porters and Ponies to Army was established in June, 1948. At the time of creation of Defence Wing, 03 Posts of Labour Officers, 02 posts of Clerks and 04 posts of Runners under the control of Labour Commissioner were sanctioned by virtue of Order No: 296-C of 1948 dated 21-06-1948 the Government of J&K State. Following the aforementioned order various categories of posts, both gazetted and non-gazetted, were created from time to time to help in running the system of procurement of Porters/Ponies. From 1948 onwards, a limited number of 08 Sub-Offices were created at such places as Baramulla, Kupwara, Karnah, Bandipora, Kanzalwan, Baltal, Kargil and Leh having also the jurisdiction of the sectors created later on. Various kinds of Gazetted and non-Gazetted posts was also created from time to time.
The expenditure of the establishment of Defence Wing viz pay and allowance etc. used to be borne by the Government of J&K State. It was felt by the State Government that the nature of work is purely for the Defence Forces which resulted in forming a Study Group comprising of Deputy Financial Advisor (Q) Union Ministry of Defence, Deputy Secretary, Union Ministry of Defence, AA&QMG of HQ 19 Inf Div and Secretary to Government, Industries Department, State Government of J&K.
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