Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 19:Former Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday passed away here today after battling cancer. He was 63.
Khanday, a 1978-batch IAS officer, took premature retirement from service just few months before his superannuation in 2015. He is survived by wife, Judge Kaneez Fatima, and daughter Sehar Iqbal.
Khanday breathed his last at SKIMS Hospital at Soura, where he was undergoing treatment for cancer, which had relapsed after his retirement from service.
Khanday will be buried at a graveyard near his Humhama residence, relatives said. Known as an able administrator, Khanday was dogged by several controversies during his years of service — the last one being his premature retirement due to differences with the PDP-BJP Government over transfer of few subordinate officers.
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Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed grief over the demise of Mohammad Iqbal Khandey.
The Governor, in his condolence message, described Khandey as an able administrator who worked with dedication for public welfare.
He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this hour of grief.
Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh has expressed condolences over the death of Khanday. He prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.
N N Vohra, former Governor J&K, and his wife, have, in a message to Mrs. Khanday, conveyed grief and their heartfelt sympathy on the untimely passing away of her husband, Iqbal Khanday, who was the first IAS officer from Kashmir to be appointed as the Chief Secretary of the State and had worked with Vohra during the period of Governor’s rule before Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Coalition Government took over.
They have prayed to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.”
Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti condoled Khanday’s death. “Sorry to hear about the demise of Iqbal Khanday Sb. He was Chief Secretary in J&K & worked with me when I had the privilege of heading the Government. My heartfelt condolences to his family & loved ones (sic),” Omar wrote on Twitter.
Mehbooba, in a statement, said Khanday was a “simple person easy to get along with and totally dedicated to his job”. She appreciated the significant contributions made by the officer in various state departments.
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