Hill Council, Leh under the chairmanship of Gyal P. Wangyal, CEC welcomed Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Ladakh Affairs Department, Rigzin Samphel on October 23 at Council Secretariat.
 
Tsering Sandup, Deputy Chairman; Konchok Stanzin, EC Education, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, DC, Leh; Councilors and staff of the Council Secretariat were present.
 
Gyal P Wangyal congratulated Rigzin Samphel for getting the opportunity to serve Ladakh as Commissioner/ Secretary. He said that his presence would be highly crucial at a time of transaction of Ladakh from a Division to Union Territory. 
 
Rigzin Samphel is the second IAS officer from Ladakh to serve the region after former Chief Secretary, J&K Govt., C. Phuntsog.
 
Gyal P Wangyal expressed great hopes that his administrative experience would immensely benefit Ladakhi at the inception of UT Ladakh. He further added that Rigzin Samphel will be a connecting bridge between Hill Council and Lieutenant Governor. He expressed positive hopes that his role will take the new Ladakh towards prosperity. 
 
Rigzin Samphel, Commissioner Secretary said that it was his vision and aspiration to serve the people of his land and expressed his happiness on getting this chance after 15 years. He said that Indian Administrative Service officers are Civil Servants and are bound to serve the public with a sensitive and compassionate attitude. 
 
He assured to serve Ladakh at the best of his capacity in execution of policies and programmes of both the Council at grass root level under civil limitations. He said that Ladakh has very peculiar and geographical constraints and to address the problems besides effective governance, close coordination and local wisdom are needed.
 
He hoped that his work experience in UP and J&K Govt. will help him to serve UT Ladakh effectively.
 
Earlier, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal,MP Ladakh also welcomed him and expressed great hopes that under his supervision the administrative establishment of Ladakh UT will be fair and effective in all ways. 
 
Rigzin Samphel from Stok village is a 2003 UP Cadre IAS Officer. He has served in Uttar Pradesh and as Secretary Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir and Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Ladakh Affairs Department. To oversee the transition of Ladakh region as the youngest Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir government has shifted the Ladakh Affairs Department along with its Administrative Secretary Rigzin Samphel to Leh in an order released on 16th October 2019.