Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the conduct of senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan following a controversial online meeting, stating that his behaviour was not in keeping with the standards expected of a senior civil servant.
The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) fraternity announced a day-long pen-down strike in protest. The incident occurred during a virtual review meeting on ‘Mission YUVA’. the association stated that no authority can justify abusive language or intimidation While emphasising its commitment to performance monitoring and accountability. The fraternity alleged that this was not an isolated incident and pointed to a recurring pattern of unparliamentary conduct by the officer.
Ranjan, a 2010-batch IAS officer currently serving as administrative secretary of the labour and employment department, reportedly used abusive language toward assistant director (employment and counselling centre, Ganderbal) Beenish Wani.
Ranjan repeatedly interrupted Wani, referred to her using demeaning language, and threatened to recommend her dismissal when she attempted to explain her office’s targets, according to a video of the interaction circulating on social media.
Writing on X, Abdullah confirmed he had raised the issue with the chief secretary. A senior official confirmed that lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha is aware of the incident and stated that action will follow. “I’ve seen the video of the online government meeting that is circulating on social media. Prima facie the conduct of the senior officer was not in keeping with the standards expected of a senior IAS officer & the subsequent threats issued to a junior JKAS officer only make matters worse. I’ve taken this up in the strongest possible terms with the Chief Secretary. Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti urged the chief minister to demand strict action from the central government, referencing past allegations against the officer. MP Srinagar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur also publicly condemned the officer’s behaviour and called for accountability. IAS officers posted in J&K fall directly under the Lieutenant Governor’s jurisdiction, leaving the elected Chief Minister without direct powers to transfer or take disciplinary action against them.
2020: Suspended by the J&K government following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an illegal arms licensing case involving alleged forged documents.
Unfortunately as a UT control over IAS officers rests with Lok Bhavan but as CM I’ve instructed the CS to ensure the JKAS officer faces no retributive action,” he said. National Conference chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said that had J&K retained full statehood, the officer would have been attached to the general administration department (GAD) pending a formal inquiry. “This is precisely why the fight for the restoration of full statehood is so important,” Sadiq added. Earlier reporting noted: NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked chief secretary Atul Dulloo to ensure accountability and protect the woman officer from retribution. “Accountability must prevail, and no one should be allowed to misuse their position to intimidate or victimise others,” Sadiq said. “This is precisely why the fight for the restoration of full statehood is so important, and why those occupying influential positions continue to undermine it,” he said.
Earlier reporting noted: Sadiq also seized the opportunity to underline the government’s limited powers under the present Union Territory structure. Earlier reporting noted: Had J&K been a full state, Sadiq noted, Ranjan would have been immediately transferred and attached to the General Administration Department (GAD) pending a formal inquiry into his conduct.
