National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah expressed shame and demanded strong action against an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer for his alleged misconduct towards a woman officer. The senior politician stated that the officer’s behavior was unacceptable and unbecoming of a senior administrative official.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Friday, Dr. Abdullah condemned the language used by the IAS officer, describing it as extremely inappropriate and indicative of a lack of discipline and professionalism. He emphasized that officers are appointed to serve the public and resolve their grievances, not to insult or humiliate them. Dr. Abdullah highlighted that the officer’s command to the woman officer to ‘Get out, get out’ was completely wrong.
Dr. Abdullah further stated that the officer should be reprimanded and called for his removal from Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed dismay over the incident, saying he felt ashamed upon witnessing the video of the interaction, which he described as putting the entire administrative community in an embarrassing position.
When questioned about similar incidents during his tenure as Chief Minister, Dr. Abdullah asserted that no officer or minister has the right to insult people. He maintained that public servants are in office to assist citizens and resolve their difficulties, not to abuse them. He also suggested that had Jammu and Kashmir retained its statehood, he would have taken more stringent action, stating the officer would have been immediately removed from the Union Territory.
The incident reportedly occurred during a virtual government meeting, where the IAS officer allegedly used abusive language and made threats towards a junior Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer. Videos of the interaction circulated on social media, drawing widespread condemnation from various political figures and administrative bodies within the region.
The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) fraternity announced a day-long pen-down strike in protest against the officer’s conduct. While emphasizing their commitment to performance monitoring and accountability, the association stated that abusive language or intimidation by any authority is unjustifiable. Reports suggest a pattern of unparliamentary conduct by the officer in question, who has previously faced administrative scrutiny, including a suspension in 2020 in connection with an illegal arms licensing case.
The Chenab Times News Desk