According to two separate Office Memorandums issued on October 30, 2026, Rahul Eknath Karale has been selected for appointment as Commissioner (Personnel) at the Director level in the DDA for a tenure of five years. Satyam Mohan has been selected as Commissioner (Housing) at the Deputy Secretary level for a period of four years.

Both appointments will be effective from the date the officers assume charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

From Defence Services to Urban Administration

The selections are significant from an administrative perspective, as two specialised defence cadre officers have been chosen for important assignments in Delhi's urban governance establishment.

While Karale will oversee the Personnel portfolio, Mohan will be responsible for the Housing portfolio. The appointments cover two critical administrative functions within the DDA—human resource management and housing development.

The selection of officers from IDAS and IDES also highlights the Centre's practice of deploying officers from specialised services to organisations beyond their parent cadres under the Central Staffing Scheme. However, the Office Memorandums do not specify the reasons behind their selection.

Three-Week Deadline to Assume Charge

The DoPT memorandums direct that both officers be relieved of their existing duties immediately to enable them to take up their new assignments.

As per the directions of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), officers selected under the Central Staffing Scheme are required to join their new assignments within three weeks from the date of issue of the formal appointment order. Failure to comply may lead to the initiation of debarment proceedings under the Central Staffing Scheme.

The memorandums also request the Secretary of the Department of Capital Development to forward copies of the formal appointment notifications once issued.

Fresh Administrative Deployment in DDA

The Delhi Development Authority plays a significant role in urban planning, housing development and institutional administration in the national capital. The selection of separate officers for the Personnel and Housing portfolios represents an important administrative deployment within the organisation.