Chinar Book Festival
The first book festival of its scale in the Kashmir valley, organised by the District Administration Srinagar with the National Book Trust at SKICC.
3 sources
Deputy Commissioner · 2024–2025
Srinagar
Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat was Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, from 8 January 2024 to 15 June 2025. He succeeded Mohammad Aijaz Asad, IAS, and was succeeded by Akshay Labroo, IAS. He concurrently chaired the District Disaster Management Authority and the District Red Cross Society.
Role and Context
As District Election Officer and Returning Officer for the 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, he conducted the General Election 2024 (notification 19 April, counting 4 June), with 24 candidates in the fray and home voting for electors above 85 and persons with disabilities. Between August and October 2024 he conducted the Legislative Assembly Election for all eight Srinagar constituencies, with 17 postal-ballot facilitation centres and counting at SP College on 8 October.
The first Chinar Book Festival, conceived by him and hosted with the National Book Trust at SKICC from 17 to 25 August 2024, drew more than 1,000 publishers, 300 stalls and over one lakh visitors and was declared an annual calendar event. The E-Arzi applications-management portal was launched in October 2024. In January 2025 Srinagar became the first district in J&K to implement the Union SMILE scheme, with a shelter and rehabilitation home at Hawal; a substance-abuse rehabilitation centre at Sanat Nagar followed in February.
Emergency work included the Gandbal boat capsize in April 2024, flood preparedness as the Jhelum rose, the Bohri Kadal fire of June 2024, the Rainawari land-subsidence committee, and the road-safety action plan after the Tengpora accident in November 2024. He also led a 100-day tuberculosis elimination campaign, heritage-restoration reviews at Khankah-e-Naqshband, Aali Masjid and Vicharnag, the digitisation of revenue maps of 40 estates, and civil-defence preparedness in May 2025.
Case Studies
General and Assembly Elections 2024, Srinagar
As Returning Officer for the 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency and District Election Officer for eight Assembly constituencies, Dr Bhat conducted two elections in six months.
3 sources
SMILE Shelter and Rehabilitation Home, Srinagar
The first shelter and rehabilitation home in Jammu & Kashmir under the Union SMILE scheme, opened at Hawal with the NGO Prayas.
2 sources
Digital Service Platforms: Madadgar, E-Arzi and e-Nigrani
Three applications launched across three districts to take applications, grievances and works monitoring online.
3 sources
Documented Initiatives
Digitised/restored revenue maps of 40 estates, some inactive for decades (cited at farewell)
Digital governanceMedia report · Source
Civil-defence preparedness 'in May 2025' (May 2025) cited at farewell
Disaster responseMedia report · Source
Attended Real Kashmir FC training in club jersey to boost young footballers
Tourism & sportMedia report · Source
Opened J&K's first SMILE-scheme shelter/rehabilitation home for beggars at Hawal (with NGO Prayas); Sanat Nagar substance-abuse rehab & counselling centre operationalised (Feb 2025)
HealthBorder & rural infrastructureMedia report · Source
Mission YUVA action plan; 34 Mission Youth cases approved; Launch & Startup Showcase
Youth & livelihoodMedia report · Source
Launched 100-day intensified TB-elimination campaign, 'Nikshay Van'; Rs 2.31 lakh Red Cross Nikshay Poshan support; TRUENAT machine at UPHC Batamaloo
HealthMedia report · Source
Post-Tengpora accident road-safety action plan: tech-based live violation detection, curbing underage driving, sessions with coaching centres and schools
Education & readingBorder & rural infrastructureMedia report · Source
Visited injured of the TRC Sunday Market grenade attack; directed all medical facilities
AdministrationMedia report · Source
Heritage revival push: Khankah-e-Naqshband (Rs 4.86 cr), Aali Masjid, Vicharnag temple restoration reviews
Heritage & cultureBorder & rural infrastructureMedia report · Source
Launched 'E-Arzi' applications-management portal; online grievance portal and WhatsApp chatbots cited at his farewell
Digital governancePublic outreachMedia report · Source
As DEO conducted the J&K Assembly election 2024 for all 8 Srinagar ACs: 17 postal-ballot facilitation centres, home voting, counting at SP College on 8 Oct
ElectionsMedia report · Source
Conceived and hosted the first Chinar Book Festival with National Book Trust at SKICC - 1,000+ publishers, 300 stalls, 1 lakh+ visitors; declared an annual calendar event
Education & readingHeritage & cultureMedia report · Source
Received first Amarnath Yatra batch at Pantha Chowk (capacity ~5,000); saw off first Hajj-2025 batch; Muharram, Eid, Navreh, Diwali arrangements
Heritage & cultureMedia report · Source
Rushed to Bohri Kadal blaze (historic Bazar Masjid, houses, shops gutted); relief; constituted 9-member expert committee on Rainawari land subsidence (26 Jun)
Disaster responseHeritage & cultureMedia report · Source
As DDMA chairman reviewed flood preparedness as Jhelum rose; again toured city during March 2025 rains
Disaster responseMedia report · Source
As RO 02-Srinagar PC conducted the Lok Sabha 2024 election: 22 nominations on last day, 29 valid, 24 in fray; SVEEP events (Tulip Garden, Nukkad Natak Lal Chowk, 'Jashn-e-Jugalbandi' Polo View, mega rally); vote-from-home for 85+/PwD; counting 4 June
ElectionsMedia report · Source
Gandbal/Batwara boat capsize response: briefed media (12 of 15 rescued, 6 dead), Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, multi-agency search
Disaster responsePublic outreachMedia report · Source
Documented Outcomes
| District | Reported outcome | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | Chinar Book Festival: 1,000+ publishers, 300 stalls, one lakh+ visitors; declared annual | Aug 2024 | Media report · Report |
| Srinagar | First SMILE shelter and rehabilitation home in J&K | Jan 2025 | Media report · Report |
| Srinagar | Revenue maps of 40 estates digitised and restored | June 2025 | Media report · Report |
Photographs
Media
District Police accord warm farewell to outgoing DC Srinagar Dr. Bilal
District Police accord warm farewell to outgoing DC Srinagar Dr. Bilal — as DC & DEO Srinagar
Srinagar admn bids emotional adieu to outgoing DC, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat
Srinagar admn bids emotional adieu to outgoing DC, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat — as DC & DEO Srinagar
DC Sgr inaugurates potential entrepreneurship mela at Kashmir Haat
DC Sgr inaugurates potential entrepreneurship mela at Kashmir Haat
Distt Admin Sgr organizes Tabletop Exercise on Flood Disaster preparedness
Distt Admin Sgr organizes Tabletop Exercise on Flood Disaster preparedness
Srinagar admn bids emotional adieu to outgoing DC, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat
Farewell function praises his crisis management and digitisation of revenue records.
Dr Bilal Bhat inaugurates Youth Entrepreneurship Mela at Kashmir Haat, sparks startup spirit
Dr Bilal Bhat inaugurates Youth Entrepreneurship Mela at Kashmir Haat, sparks startup spirit — as DC & DEO Srinagar
All 2,183 reports from this posting
Related Documents
- 8 Jan 2024
Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat assumes charge as DC Srinagar
District Information Office release on the assumption of charge, as carried by the press.
- 4 Jan 2024
GAD order dated 4 January 2024 (56 transfers and postings)
Transfers Dr Bhat from Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, and posts him as Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar. Order number not captured in the available report.