Srinagar: The Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, has directed all teaching and non-teaching staff under the department to refrain from criticizing government policies on social media, warning that violations could attract disciplinary action, including dismissal.
In a circular issued on Saturday, employees of the district’s School Education Department were instructed to strictly follow guidelines, avoid “unwarranted debates and discussions,” and refrain from posting, commenting, or sharing inappropriate content on social media platforms.
Pulwama MLA and PDP leader Waheed Para criticized the order, saying it suppresses the public’s ability to “raise their voices.”
The Baramulla CEO stated that the directive follows discussions at a meeting chaired by the Education Department Administrative Secretary on Friday, which reviewed multiple instances of social media misuse by departmental staff. The CEO described such actions as interference in policy matters, noting they violated circular instructions issued by the government in 2023.
The administrative secretary instructed all chief education officers to report any violations to the administration without fail, so accountability could be fixed.
The circular outlines possible penalties for breaches, including censure, fines up to one month’s pay, withholding of increments or promotions, demotion, recovery of pecuniary losses caused by negligence, premature retirement, and removal from state service. However, the circular clarified that employees are not barred from social media entirely and may use these platforms for “positive and constructive purposes.”
PDP leader Waheed Para condemned the government for issuing the order, calling for its immediate revocation. “In an already silenced Jammu and Kashmir, this directive warning teachers and government staff against speaking out is deeply concerning. A government that promised to give people a voice is now contributing to silencing the few remaining ones,” Para wrote on X, also sharing a copy of the circular.
Para noted that the J-K government had previously informed the Assembly of plans to draft a new media policy regulating digital platforms, including social media and news websites, following the controversial 2020 New Media Policy introduced under the BJP administration and approved by the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The earlier policy drew widespread criticism from journalists, civil society groups, and political leaders for its authoritarian undertones. “This order must be immediately revoked,” Para added.
