The Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) has appointed Vikas Kumar as the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) for the Pune Circle, nearly 10 months after the post remained without a full-time head. The prolonged vacancy had raised concerns over the management of vast defence land holdings across Maharashtra under the Army’s Southern Command.
Kumar assumed charge on Monday, bringing an end to an unusual administrative gap in one of the country’s most strategically significant defence estates formations. The post had remained vacant since August 2025 following the transfer of the then DEO, Vidyadhar Pawar, who took over as chief executive officer of the Pune Cantonment Board. During the intervening period, officials from the Principal Directorate of Defence Estates (Southern Command) managed the position as an additional charge arrangement.
According to senior officials, the delay in filling the post was linked to Kumar’s previous assignment as chief executive officer of the Mhow Cantonment Board, where he was also holding additional charge as DEO. The absence of a relieving officer reportedly delayed his transfer to Pune. Defence estates and cantonment officials had repeatedly expressed concern over the prolonged vacancy, arguing that officers holding additional charge often avoid taking decisions on sensitive matters involving defence land, leases, encroachments and legal disputes.
The issue gained attention earlier this year when activists highlighted delays in addressing alleged violations involving Old Grant Bungalows (OGBs), some of the most valuable and disputed defence properties in cantonment areas. Questions were raised over the lack of timely action in cases involving tenancy disputes and alleged attempts by private parties to assert claims over defence-owned properties.
Officials within the Southern Command stressed that Pune’s rapid urban expansion has increased pressure on defence land, making proactive oversight essential. “The DEO is responsible for maintaining land records, monitoring encroachments, regulating leases, and ensuring compliance with defence land policies. So, this appointment is crucial for effective defence land management. We were surprised that the Pune Circle remained without a full-time DEO for such a long period,” a senior Army officer told TOI.
