Deputy Commissioner · 2021–2024
Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat served as Deputy Commissioner, District Magistrate, District Development Commissioner and District Election Officer of Kulgam for nearly three years, from 18 March 2021 to 8 January 2024. He succeeded Showkat Aijaz Bhat and was succeeded by Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, IAS.
Public health dominated the first year. He took the first COVID-19 vaccine dose publicly in April 2021, commissioned a 1,000 LPM oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Kulgam in May, and launched the Har Ghar Dastak door-to-door campaign in November. Kulgam reached 100% vaccination coverage and, in September 2022, became one of the first three districts in Jammu & Kashmir fully saturated under the AB-PMJAY SEHAT health scheme. The district also achieved 100% Aadhaar seeding of ration consumers and was declared TB-free as part of the Anantnag TB district.
Revenue and services went online. By September 2022 all 273 Jamabandis and more than 44,000 land records were digitised, making Kulgam the second district in the Union Territory to complete the exercise, and every public service was available online by January 2023. The Madadgar mobile application and the Rehbar Kulgam single-window self-employment portal were launched, and the district attained ODF Plus (Model) status under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0, for which the Lieutenant Governor presented a Certificate of Achievement in October 2023.
Other work included a tourism calendar built around the Aharbal Festival, the Aharbal Winter Carnival and the first Vasaknag Festival; a library and reading room for civil-services aspirants; the NCORD anti-narcotics drive; Mission Youth Mumkin vehicles; the evacuation of families after the July 2023 Noorabad cloudburst; and the conduct of JKSSB examinations. In April 2025 District Kulgam received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 in the holistic-development category, for work undertaken largely during this tenure.
Kulgam became the second district in the Union Territory to complete the digitisation of its land records, followed by all public services going online.
273 Jamabandis digitised; second district in the Union Territory
A door-to-door campaign that took Kulgam to full COVID-19 vaccination coverage and made it one of the first three districts in J&K fully saturated under the AB-PMJAY SEHAT health scheme.
100% COVID-19 vaccination coverage, October 2021
Legacy: Kulgam won the PM's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 (received by successor, who credited him)
InfrastructureMedia report · Source
Kulgam attained ODF Plus (Model) status under SBM-G 2.0 - LG's Certificate of Achievement
Environment & sanitationMedia report · Source
Led evacuation of families after cloudburst flash floods in Noorabad villages; no casualties
Disaster responseHeritage & cultureMedia report · Source
Rs 617 cr district capex; 270 Amrit Sarovars; 200+ playfields; JJM 60,289 households
Environment & sanitationInfrastructureMedia report · Source
Completed digitisation of land records - 273 Jamabandis, 44,000+ records - second district in the UT; all public services online by Jan 2023
Digital governanceMedia report · Source
NCORD anti-drug drive: 35 NDPS cases, poppy destroyed on 110 kanals (Jan-Jul 2022); trained 500 resource persons for Nasha Mukt campaign; 24x7 rehab centre (27,000 affected per his interview)
HealthAnti-drug campaignMedia report · Source
Briefed LG at inauguration of Eklavya Model Residential School (480 seats) and five smart schools for tribal children
EducationInfrastructureMedia report · Source
Opened a library-cum-reading room for civil-service aspirants
EducationMedia report · Source
Conducted JKSSB exams (5,500+ candidates at 25+ centres; Panchayat Secretary exam at 35 centres)
EducationMedia report · Source
Launched 'Madadgar' mobile app as part of the district's Digital India initiative
Digital governanceMedia report · Source
Personally toured Kund valley (Razloo, Nowbugh, Waltangoo) after heavy snowfall to check snow clearance, power restoration and avalanche centres
Disaster responseInfrastructureMedia report · Source
Created a tourism calendar: first Aharbal Festival, Aharbal Winter Carnival/Snow Festival, first Vasaknag Festival (Mar 2023); Rs 8.88 cr NABARD Hallan-Chiranbal road
Disaster responseHeritage & cultureMedia report · Source
Launched 'Har Ghar Dastak' door-to-door campaign for vaccination and AB-PMJAY SEHAT saturation; CSC mobile van (Dec 2021); Kulgam among first three 100%-saturated SEHAT districts (Sept 2022)
HealthInfrastructureMedia report · Source
Mission Youth 'Mumkin' vehicles (19 in Nov 2021, 15 in May 2022); 'Rehbar Kulgam' single-window self-employment portal; DECC job fair
Digital governanceYouth & livelihoodMedia report · Source
Commissioned 1000 LPM oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Kulgam (100 high-flow beds)
HealthInfrastructureMedia report · Source
Took the first COVID vaccine dose publicly; drove vaccination to 100% coverage (74% of 45+ by June; 1 lakh doses by 12 Jun; degree-college counters; felicitated health workers Oct 2021)
HealthEducationMedia report · Source
| District | Reported outcome | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kulgam | 100% COVID-19 vaccination coverage; felicitation of health workers | Oct 2021 | Media report · Report |
| Kulgam | Among the first three J&K districts saturated under AB-PMJAY SEHAT | Sept 2022 | Media report · Report |
| Kulgam | 273 Jamabandis and 44,000+ land records digitised; second district in the UT | Sept 2022 | Media report · Report |
| Kulgam | ODF Plus (Model) status; LG's Certificate of Achievement | Oct 2023 | Media report · Report |
| Kulgam | PM's Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 to the district | Apr 2025 | Media report · Report |
Kulgam Police led by SSP Sahil Sarangal hold farewell for outgoing DC Dr Bilal Bhat on his transfer to Srinagar.
Reshuffle: Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, DC Kulgam, posted as DC Srinagar.
Massive administrative reshuffle in J&K
Govt Orders Major Administrative Reshuffle, 56 Officers Shifted
Under-14 Cosco Tournament concludes in Kulgam
2017-batch IAS officer Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat named Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, moving from DC Kulgam, in a 56-officer reshuffle.
All 656 reports from this posting
Conferred on District Kulgam in the holistic-development category on the 17th Civil Services Day. Received by the incumbent Deputy Commissioner, who credited his predecessor. The award is to the district, not to Dr Bhat personally.
Presented to Dr Bhat as Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, at Raj Bhawan for leading the district to ODF Plus (Model) status under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0.
Interview as District Development Commissioner, Kulgam, setting out district capital expenditure (Rs 617 crore), 270 Amrit Sarovars, 200+ playfields and Jal Jeevan Mission coverage of 60,289 households.
Assumption of charge as Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, as carried by the press.
Transfers and postings of 20 IAS and KAS officers. Transfers Dr Bhat from Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Karnah-Tangdhar, and posts him as Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam.
