Srinagar, July 18 -- Dressed in traditional Ladakhi Goncha, Gupta took the oath of office and secrecy, administered by Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. His appointment was read out by Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Member Parliament Haneefa Jan, Chief Executive Councillors of Leh and Kargil Hill Councils, Tashi Namgyal and Dr. Jaffer Akhoon, BJP J&K unit president Sat Pal Sharma, along with top bureaucrats and police officials.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Gupta pledged to pursue a development agenda that rises above religious, regional, and political divisions.

"Ladakh has faced discrimination in the past. Our focus will be to work t...