Ex minister Gulchain Singh Charak passes away

Jammu, Oct 17: Veteran political leader of Jammu and Kashmir and former minister Gulchain Singh Charak passed away on Friday at his residence in Greater Kailash, Jammu, after a prolonged illness. He was 83.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters and their families. His cremation will be held tomorrow, October 18, 2025 at Mandal (Uttar Behni) at 11.30 am.

Hailing from Samba district of Jammu, Charak was born to Thakur Maluk Singh Charak, who was in the Indian Army, in 1942. Nursed with a secular outlook, he started his political innings with the Congress, with which he remained associated for a long time, also in the capacity of the member Congress Working Committee (CWC) and the in-charges of various important states of the country.

He served as a Minister during the PDP-Congress government in J&K when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister. He held the portfolios of PWD, Higher Education and ARI & Trainings. Charak also served as the Leader of the Upper House, J&K.

His demise has been widely mourned in the political, social and religious circles of the society across J&K. Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, in his condolence message, described Charak as a “dedicated, social and upright leader who always worked for the welfare and upliftment of the people.” National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed profound grief over his demise.