Srinagar: The Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Baramulla district was removed from his post on Monday, two days after he issued a directive asking teaching and non-teaching staff to avoid criticising government policies on social media.
The CEO of Bandipora district has been given additional charge of Baramulla until further orders.
An order issued by the administrative secretary of the School Education Department stated, “Pending inquiry, Bashir Ahmad Shah, in charge CEO Baramulla, is hereby attached with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir with immediate effect.”
Shah’s controversial circular, issued on Saturday, instructed all employees of the district’s School Education Department to strictly follow guidelines and refrain from posting inappropriate content or engaging in “unwarranted debates and discussions” on social media.
The directive came after a meeting chaired by the administrative secretary on Friday, during which Shah cited several instances of “misuse” of social media by teaching and non-teaching staff. Terming such activities as an “interference” in departmental policy matters, Shah said they violated government circulars issued in 2023.
The administrative secretary had earlier directed all CEOs to report any such violations to ensure accountability. The circular warned that breaches could result in disciplinary actions including censure, fines, withholding of increments or promotions, demotion, recovery from pay, premature retirement, or dismissal. It, however, clarified that employees were allowed to use social media for “positive and constructive purposes.”
The order drew criticism from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para, who called for its revocation.
“In an already silenced Jammu and Kashmir, this directive warning teachers and government staff against speaking out is deeply concerning. A government that came to power promising to give people a voice is now contributing to silencing the few remaining ones,” Para wrote on X, attaching a copy of the circular.
He also noted that the government had previously informed the assembly of plans to draft a new media policy to regulate digital platforms, following the controversial 2020 New Media Policy, which faced criticism from journalists and civil society for its “authoritarian undertones.”
