VP Dhankhar presents Paul H Appleby award to J A Khan

New Delhi, Nov 5: At the 70th Annual Meeting of the General Body of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the prestigious Paul H. Appleby Award for the year 2024 to Jalil Ahmed Khan, a well-known former senior IAS officer of J&K, for his exceptional contributions to public administration and his dedicated service to the IIPA. The Vice President is also the President of the IIPA.

J A Khan is the eighth retired senior civil servant of Jammu & Kashmir and a member of the Regional Branch of IIPA to receive this coveted award, which is a rare distinction.

J A Khan, a distinguished IAS officer of the 1967 batch of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, has been an outstanding civil servant of the state’s administration who during his chequered public service spreading over 44 years, has to his credit several administrative achievements and earned all-round respect for his integrity, administrative acumen and brilliance. He was an authority on J&K’s financial management and headed the Finance Deptt, for more than a decade. Following his superannuation, he served as Economic Advisor to the J&K Government from 2009 to 2013, utilizing his expertise to shape the state’s economic policies. The key positions he held included Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir & Jammu, Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir and Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries & Commerce and Finance Departments. Khan's significant contributions to public service were recognized with a Gold Medal from the State Government in 1997.

As a founding member of the J&K Regional Branch of IIPA, established in the late 1970s, Khan played a vital role in its growth and development. His leadership as Chairman from 1995 to 2003 revitalized the branch during challenging times, particularly following the disturbances in the region. His efforts were instrumental in securing Government support, including Grant-in-Aid for organising vital programs that addressed pressing public issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

In collaboration with Dr SS Bloeria, Shri Khan co-authored “The Dying Terrorism: Ballot Defeated Bullet in Jammu and Kashmir,” reflecting his deep understanding of the state’s socio-political landscape.

The Paul H. Appleby Award, named after the esteemed Dean whose recommendations led to the establishment of IIPA in 1954, recognizes individuals for their outstanding service to public administration. Previous recipients from Jammu and Kashmir include notable figures such as N N Vohra, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Karan Singh, Member Parliament; Shri Veeranna Aivalli, former DG J&K Police, Dr Ashok Bhan IPS (Retd) former DG Police and Patron of IIPA J&K Regional Branch, Dr S S Bloeria, (Retd) Former Chief Secretary J&K Govt and Former Chairman and Patron of IIPA J&K Regional Branch and Er. J B S Johar, Vice-Chairman, IIPA JKRB and AM Watali, IPS (Retd) Former Member J&K Public Service Commission.

The award ceremony was attended by several distinguished members of the IIPA J&K Regional Branch, including Dr. Ashok Bhan, (Retd), Patron; B.R. Sharma, (Retd), Chairman; Prof. Alka Sharma, Honorary Secretary; Prof. Anil Gupta, Joint Secretary; and Jatin Chanjotra, Programme Coordinator.