IAS officer involved in sex scandal reinstated by J

Jammu, Mar 18 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet today reinstated former financial commissioner Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, allegedly involved in sex scandal, sources said.

The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, witnessed the absence of People's Democratic Party ministers for the third time in a row.

However, in a major decision, the cabinet issued the orders of the reinstatement of Mr Khanday, who has been posted as the chairman, public enterprises, sources said.

Mr Ajmer Singh Sidhu, who has been relieved of the additional charge, and is posted as Principal Secretary, information technology and science and technology.

Mr Pankaj Jain has been recalled from the centre and posted as Director General, IMPA.

Mr Nazir Ahmed Bhatt has been posted as secretary, higher technology education.

Director, Tourism Kashmir Farooq Ahmad has been given additional charge of the MD, Cable Car Corporation, sources added.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved the removal of pay disparity of subordinate accounts personnel, benefiting accounts assistants, accountants and assistant accounts officers.

It also approved promotions of IPS officers -- Mr M A Shah, Mr Deepak Kumar and Mr Gulzar Singh Slathia -- while selection grade to ten IPS officers and senior time scale to two IPS officers.

The cabinet also approved extension in sanctioned relief package to border migrants of Niabat Khour in Akhnoor Tehsil of Jammu district with effect from october 1, 2005 to Mar 31, 2006.

UNI