Association seeks impartial probe, protection against retaliation; CM Omar Abdullah takes note as political leaders demand accountability
Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Oct 16 (GNS): The All Jammu & Kashmir Junior Scale KAS Association (AJJSKA) has decided to observe a one-day pen-down strike in protest against the alleged verbal abuse and public humiliation of a woman Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer during an official meeting on October 14.The association’s decision follows widespread outrage over a purported video of a virtual departmental review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, during which senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan allegedly used derogatory language against Beenish Wani, a 2015-batch JKAS officer serving as Assistant Director, Employment and Counselling Centre, Ganderbal. Ranjan is currently the Administrative Secretary of the Labour and Employment Department. In a communication to its members, the association, as per GNS, said the proposed protest was intended to uphold the dignity, self-respect and institutional honour of the service. It urged officers to stand united in solidarity, maintaining that an attack on the dignity of one officer concerned the entire fraternity.The association has maintained that administrative accountability and performance monitoring are essential to governance but cannot justify abusive language, intimidation or conduct that undermines the dignity of a serving government officer.According to reports, the confrontation occurred during a review meeting concerning Mission YUVA, with discussions involving the role of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).Wani was briefing the meeting about the performance and targets of her office when Ranjan questioned the role of NRLM in the work being undertaken. The exchange reportedly escalated as Wani attempted to explain that the mission was being used as a supporting agency.The circulating footage purportedly shows Ranjan interrupting the officer, using ‘insulting language’ and asserting his authority as her superior. He is also alleged to have directed a subordinate to prepare a suspension order and recommend action through the General Administration Department.Wani purportedly objected to the language used against her and insisted on being allowed to explain her position.In its statement, the JKAS fraternity condemned the alleged verbal abuse and personal insults and called for an impartial inquiry into both the October 14 incident and the subsequent departmental clarification concerning the circulating video.The fraternity has sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and the General Administration Department to establish the facts, ensure that the affected officer faces no retaliatory action and introduce safeguards against workplace intimidation.It has also demanded a public apology from the concerned senior officer and recommended appropriate misconduct proceedings if the allegations are established.The association has challenged the reported departmental claim that the footage was artificially generated or fabricated, maintaining that the officer herself and other participants could attest to the meeting and the incident. It has argued that the authenticity of the recording should be assessed through a transparent and independent technical examination rather than competing public claims.The fraternity has stressed that administrative discipline must be grounded in fairness, mutual respect and accountability, and that official authority must not become a shield against scrutiny. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken serious note of the alleged incident and written to the Chief Secretary to ensure that Wani does not face retaliation, according to National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq.In a statement, Sadiq said the Chief Minister had intervened following the allegations.“Accountability must prevail, and no one should be allowed to misuse their position to intimidate or victimise others,” Sadiq said in a post on X.PDP leader Iltija Mufti strongly criticised the alleged conduct and called for immediate action against Ranjan.Reacting to the video on social media, Mufti questioned the use of ‘derogatory language’ by a senior officer against a woman colleague and demanded that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ensure accountability.She also raised concerns over what she described as the sidelining of JKAS officers and competent Kashmiri IAS officers since 2019, arguing that local officers should not be made subordinate to arbitrary displays of authority.Mufti demanded Ranjan’s immediate suspension and said the same standards of accountability applied to government employees should be followed in this case as well. National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who has been at odds with the party leadership on several issues, also criticised the alleged treatment of Wani.In a statement shared through his office, Mehdi said the episode showed a senior officer threatening a woman’s career after she sought an opportunity to complete her explanation.His office questioned the conduct of an official holding a senior administrative position and urged the authorities to ensure that Wani was not victimised for standing up for her dignity.Mehdi also linked the controversy to broader concerns over administrative accountability in Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and Chief Secretary to respond to the allegations. The Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) has also condemned the behaviour of the senior officer and called for an impartial inquiry.The employees’ organisation said differences of opinion during official proceedings should be handled professionally and should not compromise the dignity of government employees.JKAS officer Mantasha Binti Rashid also expressed solidarity with Wani, highlighting concerns over humiliating interactions in official meetings. She stressed that work should not come at the cost of personal dignity and professional respect. *Department says clips lack full context*Amid the raging controversy, the Labour and Employment Department said the clips circulating on social media did not present the complete context of the October 14 meeting.According to the department’s clarification, the review covered the performance of the department across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir and focused on implementation of Mission YUVA. It said the complete recording was available with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).The department emphasised that discipline and professional decorum were essential during official interactions and said the matter would be dealt with under applicable rules and regulations. It also urged the public and media not to rely on ‘unverified or selectively edited material.’ (GNS)
