Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Aug 25: Setting at rest speculation over his continuation in office, Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey today submitted his papers seeking voluntary retirement, three months ahead of his scheduled retirement on November 30, this year.
Reliable sources said, “though speculations were rife about Khandey’s continuation in office, since his absence in the last Cabinet meeting on Friday (August 21), the picture became clear today, when he formally submitted his papers to the Chief Minister’s office”.
“Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who has gone to New Delhi is well aware of the development and has told Mr Khandey to continue till some alternative arrangement is made. Since administration can’t be left headless, Khandey is likely to continue in his office till August 31 and the new incumbent is likely to take over the reins of administration from September 1″, sources pointed out.
Asked about the reasons for stepping down of the senior most bureaucrat of State, sources elaborated, “Khandey had developed some differences with the existing political dispensation and was also annoyed over the fact that some Ministers were interfering with his working”.
“The climax came on the day of last Cabinet meeting held on August 21, when the Chief Secretary requested for deferment of the Cabinet meeting as he couldn’t attend the same in view of death of his brother’s grandson. However, the request was turned down and the Government went ahead with the meeting with Principal Secretary Planning, B R Sharma acting as Cabinet’s Secretary in place of Khandey”, sources added.
Confirming the development, 59 year old Khandey told EXCELSIOR, “I have yesterday submitted my paper seeking voluntary retirement. However, I shall be attending the office till August 31”.
“I am yet to get any response from the State Government or the Chief Minister’s Office. Now, even if they tell me to continue, I wouldn’t do so”, he said responding to a specific query about his continuation in office. He refused to divulge the reasons for his actions and stated, “there is no particular reason for my resignation”.
Subsequently, Khandey, an IAS officer of 1978 batch, decided to step down and formally submitted his papers today. Khandey was made Chief Secretary of State on February 19,2013 during the National Conference – Congress ruling alliance headed by the then Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department, B R Sharma, IAS officer of 1984 batch, is likely to replace Khandey as the new Chief Secretary. “Though there are bureaucrats senior to Mr Sharma, they are unlikely to be considered for the coveted post as most of them will achieve superannuation this year”, sources pointed out.
Sources said, “Chairman J&K Special Tribunal, Sonali Kumar – 1979 batch IAS officer will retire on November 30, 2015 while as Financial Commissioner (Industries and Commerce), Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (1982 batch) will superannuate on October 31, this year”. Ashok Kumar Angurana (1980), Secretary in Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj retires on April, 2016 while as Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Arun Kumar (1979) batch will demit office on December, 2016.
Principal Secretary, Planning B R Sharma, who is likely to take over as Chief Secretary has service till 2020. Earlier, on October 17, 2014 the then Cabinet had accorded sanction to the promotion of B.R Sharma as Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department to the fixed scale of IAS. He had held several important posts including Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary Finance and Chief Electoral Officer, Deputy Commissioner Kathua and Kupwara also.
Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, a 1978-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), took charge as Chief Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir, after his appointment was sanctioned by the Omar Abdullah Cabinet on February 19, 2013.
Mr Khanday had replaced Madhav Lal, a J&K-cadre IAS officer of the 1977 batch, who has then been appointed as Secretary Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India. Mr Khanday was selected by the National Conference-led coalition in spite of his previous association with the Opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Even while he functioned as former Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed’s Principal Secretary in the PDP-Congress Coalition Government in 2002-05, his daughter Sehar Iqbal contested the Assembly election of 2008 on a PDP ticket from Kokernag, but lost to Congress candidate Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.
Reacting to the development, Omar tweeted, “another sign that things in J&K aren’t going as smoothly as some people would like to have us believe”.
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