Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the IAS officer accused of verbally abusing a junior JKAS officer would have been attached to the General Administration Department (GAD) pending an inquiry if Jammu and Kashmir had statehood.
In a social media post, Omar said the authorities responsible for exercising control over IAS officers should set an example by ensuring that alleged abusive and threatening conduct was not ignored.
“Had J&K been a state the IAS officer seen abusing a young JKAS officer would have been attached to the General Administration Department pending an inquiry into his conduct,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that, as a Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir expected the authorities overseeing IAS officers to take appropriate action and ensure that the matter was not brushed under the carpet.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid a controversy over a purported video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a senior IAS officer verbally abusing a woman JKAS officer during an official meeting.
The footage has triggered widespread reactions, with the JKAS Association calling a one-day pen-down strike to protest the alleged humiliation of the woman officer. Employees’ organisations and political leaders have also called for an impartial inquiry and accountability.
The Labour and Employment Department has described the circulating clips as selectively edited and unverified, stating that the complete recording of the October 14 review meeting is available with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The department has said the matter would be dealt with in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
