Outrage across J&K over IAS officer’s videographed conduct; JKAS bodies demand inquiry

JKAS Fraternity, EJAC seek time-bound probe; JKAS association challenges department’s account of viral video, demands accountability and protection for woman officer

Srinagar, October 15: Common citizens, political leaders and government employees are expressing outrage across Jammu & Kashmir over the alleged verbal abuse and public humiliation of a senior female Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer by Labour and Employment Secretary during an official review meeting, with officers’ and employees’ organisations demanding an impartial inquiry and accountability.

The controversy erupted after video clips purportedly showing the IAS officer addressing JKAS officer Beenish Wani in abusive language during a review meeting on October 14 circulated widely on social media. The meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, was convened to review the implementation of Mission YUVA.

The incident has triggered concerns over workplace dignity, professional conduct and the exercise of authority within the administration.

The JKAS Fraternity strongly condemned the alleged verbal abuse, personal insults and public humiliation of the officer, a member of the 2015 batch, and demanded a public apology and appropriate proceedings against Ranjan.

In a statement, the Fraternity said administrative accountability and performance monitoring could not justify abusive language, intimidation or conduct undermining the dignity of a serving officer.

It also questioned the department’s subsequent clarification describing the circulating video clips as unverified and selectively edited, maintaining that the footage was authentic. The association said the complete recording should be subjected to transparent and independent technical examination rather than being dismissed as fabricated.

The Fraternity urged the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Secretary and the General Administration Department to order an impartial inquiry into both the incident and the subsequent departmental clarification. It also sought safeguards against retaliatory action against the affected officer and called for a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace intimidation and abuse of authority.

EJAC demands time-bound inquiry

The Employees’ Joint Action Committee (EJAC) strongly condemned the reported use of abusive language against Wani and called for an impartial, time-bound inquiry into the incident.

EJAC president Wajahat Hussain Durrani said differences during official proceedings must be handled professionally and that every government employee deserved respect, irrespective of rank or position.

The employees’ body’s intervention added to growing demands for accountability and appropriate action over the alleged conduct during the official meeting.

JKAS association challenges department’s account

The All J&K Junior Scale KAS Association (AJJSKA) also condemned the alleged verbal abuse and public humiliation of the senior female officer and challenged the department’s reported claim that the circulating video was fabricated or AI-generated.

The association said the department’s position had raised further questions about administrative accountability. It maintained that the officer concerned and other officials who attended the virtual meeting could provide testimony regarding the recording.

AJJSKA called for an impartial inquiry into both the original incident and the subsequent departmental clarification, along with protection against possible retaliatory action.

The association emphasised that administrative discipline must be based on mutual respect, fairness and accountability, and that supervisory authority could not justify conduct that undermined an officer’s dignity.

Department says clips are unverified

In its official clarification issued late evening on October 15 to Ziraat Times, the Labour and Employment Department said the review meeting, held from 3 pm to 6 pm on October 14, had assessed departmental performance across all 20 districts of Jammu & Kashmir. It stated that the complete recording was available with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

According to the department, the meeting focused on the implementation of Mission YUVA, with the chair urging district officers to work with dedication and ensure timely delivery of benefits to eligible youth.

The department said mutual respect, discipline and professional decorum were essential in official interactions, adding that provocative remarks and inappropriate language had no place in administrative engagements.

Expressing concern over the circulation of what it described as selectively edited clips without the complete context, the department said the footage being shared was unverified and could create a misleading impression of the proceedings.

It added that the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The department also appealed to the media and the public to exercise caution and refrain from sharing unverified or sensationalised content on social media.