J&K administration orders probe into IAS officer's 'misconduct' with female JKAS officer

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered an in-depth inquiry into the alleged misconduct by IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan with a female JKAS officer during an official online meeting earlier this week.

The order was issued following a strong reaction across the political spectrum against the 2010 batch IAS officer Ranjan, who in a desperate attempt to establish his authority during an online meeting, used words like “You are shit” and “I am your boss stupid” against his junior Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service officer Beenish Bhat of the 2015 batch. Ranjan was suspended in 2020 after Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested him in connection with its probe into the illegal issuance of arms licences across J&K to ineligible persons between 2012 and 2016. He was reinstated in 2021. The case is still pending.

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Ranjan, who is currently Administrative Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, used abusive language against Assistant Director (Employment), Ganderbal, Beenish Wani, over the role of the National Rural Livelihood Mission during a review meeting, a video of which went viral on social media. Ranjan also threatened to suspend her and questioned the JK Public Service Commission, which conducts the JKAS recruitment saying, “JKPSC type setting won’t work here”.

The National Commission for Women has also taken suo moto cognizance of the incident as its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary Atal Dhuloo seeking verification of the video, an impartial inquiry and appropriate disciplinary and legal action if the allegations are established. NCW has sought an Action Taken Report within seven days.

The video of the controversial meeting triggered reaction on social media in support of the female officer, following which political leaders including J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and others called for action against the officer.

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The JKAS officers’ fraternity also observed a day-long pen-down strike in solidarity with Wani, held a protest on the premises of the civil secretariat and met the chief secretary to put forth their demands.

“I’ve taken this up in the strongest possible terms with the chief secretary. Unfortunately, a UT’s control over IAS officers rests with the Lok Bhavan, but as chief minister, I’ve instructed the chief secretary to ensure that the JKAS officer faces no retributive action,” Abdullah informed on X. “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 inquiry into his conduct,” he said.

People’s Democratic Party chief Mufti said “such erratic and disdainful conduct cannot be tolerated. Omar Abdullah must immediately take up the matter with the Government of India and demand strict action against the officer who is already facing allegations of issuing illegal gun licences.”

A senior JKAS officer said they were hopeful of strict action after the inquiry as “the video shows it all and there is nothing much to probe about.” The netizens also referred to “Bureaucratic Raj” in J&K after 2019, asserting that “senior officers are ruling the roost” here without any accountability.