Jammu and Kashmir: Omar government removes officer for warning teachers against flouting PDP-BJP era social media rules

SRINAGAR: The National Conference government in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday removed the chief education officer of north Kashmir after he issued a circular warning teachers against posting comments related to policy matters on social media.

J&K education secretary Ram Niwas Sharma issued an order attaching the officer, Bashir Ahmad Shah , to the Directorate of School Education , Kashmir, pending an inquiry. In the circular issued Saturday (Oct 4), Shah had mentioned that the education secretary had raised concerns during a review meeting the previous day over the misuse of social media by teaching and non-teaching staff.

The circular said any violation of the December 2017 social media guidelines could attract disciplinary action, including censure, fine up to one month’s salary, withholding of increment or promotion, demotion, premature retirement, or dismissal from service.

The guidelines were not meant to discourage the constructive use of social media, the circular stated, but cautioned staff to refrain from “unwarranted debates, discussions, or posting inappropriate content”.

The guidelines, issued by the then PDP-BJP dispensation, bar government employees from engaging in political discussions, criticising government policies and actions, or posting or endorsing political or communal content online.

PDP legislator Waheed Parra criticised Shah’s circular, calling it “deeply concerning”. “In an already numb Jammu and Kashmir, this order warning teachers and staff against raising their voice is deeply concerning. A govt that came to office on the promise of giving people a voice is now contributing to silencing the few remaining ones,” Parra said.

NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq responded that the circular was based on guidelines framed by the PDP-BJP government in 2017. However, the Omar Abdullah govt still removed the officer.