Babu Marriage: IAS toppers Tina Dabi and Athar Aamir Khan get married in Kashmir

Tina Dabi, Athar Aamir Khan (Photo Courtesy: Tina Dabi Instagram)

THERE is nothing new in two IAS officers falling in love during probation in Mussoorie’s IAS academy, LBSNAA, and then getting married. But on Sunday, the marriage of Tina Dabi and Athar Aamir Khan at a Pahalgam resort in the trouble-torn Kashmir Valley was the talking point both among officers and also in social media. But why? First, the IAS couple who…

Kashmir interlocutor and retired IPS Dineshwar Sharma given cabinet secretary's rank; IAS Utpal Kumar Singh prematurely repatriated to Uttarakhand

Dineshwar Sharma (right) with home minister Rajnath Singh

THE CENTRAL government on Monday appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief and 1979 batch retired IPS Dineshwar Sharma as the interlocutor in Kashmir, bestowing on him the rank of a cabinet secretary, the topmost rank in Indian bureaucracy. As home minister Rajnath Singh had announced, Sharma as the representative of Government of India would initiate and carry forward a dialogue with the elected representatives, various organisations and other individuals concerned in Jammu and Kashmir. By giving the rank of the cabinet secretary, the government clearly wanted to…

Centre extends incentive package for its employees working in Kashmir Valley for 2 more years

THE government on Thursday decided to extend the existing special concessions and incentives for Central government and PSU employees working in Kashmir Valley for two more years, i.e. till January 1, 2019. The concessions also include options for employees to move their families to a selected place of their choice in the country at the expense of the government. And incentives include…

Ex-foreign secretary Nirupama Rao takes to Twitter to discuss TV channels’ Kashmir debate; gives befitting replies to trolls

ON A day, IAS officer from Kashmir, Shah Faesal stirred up a debate by writing a newspaper article with a strong argument that every hour of prime time TV news aggression pushes Kashmir a mile westward from India, former foreign secretary of India and 1973 batch retired IFS Nirupama Rao carried forward the debate in micro-blogging site Twitter, giving reasons why there is a need for matured and intelligent discourse, and also giving befitting replies to trolls. Rao, who had huge experience in effectively handling many a tricky issue including Kashmir diplomatically at various global forums in the past, said,

Why so many bureaucrats are in the fray of Jammu and Kashmir poll

As the poll fever starts gripping the Valley of Kashmir, a number of civil servants have been contesting the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Two former commissioner secretaries, a retired IG of police and three officers who headed government departments...

More incentives to Central government employees posted in Kashmir Valley

Santa is here!

IN THIS season of showing an extra care to Sarkari employees ahead of crucial Lok Sabha polls, the government on Monday issued a revised package of incentives for Central government employees including those of PSUs working in Kashmir Valley. The benefit of additional HRA will be admissible to all Central government employees posted to Kashmir Valley irrespective of whether they are natives of Kashmir Valley of not, if they choose to…

LTC relaxation to Kashmir extended for 2 years; Srinagar, Gulmarg hot destinations

IN AN attempt to encourage more and more Central government employees visiting picturesque Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has extended the relaxation of LTC by air for another two years beyond June 18, 2012. This means the employees who are otherwise not eligible to travel by air could avail of Leave Travel Concession, or LTC, by air provided...

Short Take

Govt employees in India take pledge on anti-terrorism (In Pic: Home minister P Chidambaram, second from left, administering the pledge) Anti terrorism day was observed throughout the country on Thursday, May 21. Employees in government offices, PSUs and other public institutions in the country took a pledge in connection with the anti-terrorism day. The Union home minister P Chidambaram administered the oath to the officers and staff of the ministry of home affairs in North Block lawns. Secretaries of other departments too administered the pledge. The objective behind the observance of anti-terrorism day is to wean away the youth from the violence cult by highlighting the suffering of the common people and showing how it is prejudicial to the national interest. Special allowances for Central Govt employees in Kashmir The government has extended the package of special concessions and facilities to employees of the Central government and its public sector undertakings (PSUs) working in the Kashmir Valley till the year end, the government said in a release. The employees posted to Kashmir Valley will continue to be entitled to additional HRA and messing facilities. Employees who have migrated from the Kashmir Valley would be accommodated to the extent possible in Delhi and its vicinity. Justice Upadhyaya, Justice Mridul appointed HC judges Justice Janakray Chandubhai Upadhyaya, additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court, was appointed a Judge of the Gujarat High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office. In another development, Justice Siddharth Mridul, additional Judge of the Delhi High Court, was appointed a Judge of the Delhi High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.