‘Not in keeping with expected standards’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah takes note of IAS officer ‘abusing’ female colleague

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the alleged verbal abuse of a woman Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer by a senior IAS officer, saying his conduct was prima facie not in keeping with the standards expected of a senior bureaucrat.Abdullah said on Friday that he had taken up the matter with the chief secretary and instructed him to ensure that the junior officer faced no retaliatory action after senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan allegedly threatened to recommend her dismissal from service.In a post on X, Abdullah said he had watched a video of the online meeting that has been circulating on social media.“I've seen the video of the online meeting that is circulating on social media. Prima facie, the conduct of the senior bureaucrat was not in keeping with the standards expected of a senior IAS officer and 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. 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 said.He said the action that could have been taken against the IAS officer would have been different had Jammu and Kashmir been a state rather than a Union Territory."As an UT, we expect the authorities with control over IAS officers to set the right example and ensure that abusive, threatening behaviour is not brushed under the carpet,” Abdullah said.Row over online meetingThe controversy erupted after videos of a heated exchange between Ranjan and Assistant Director Beenish Wani surfaced on social media. The argument reportedly concerned the role of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) during a review meeting on Mission YUVA.The videos have drawn attention to the alleged abuse and public humiliation of Wani by the senior officer.Members of the JKAS fraternity have condemned the alleged incident and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.Abdullah’s remarks came amid calls for accountability over the officer’s conduct, with the chief minister stressing that Wani should not face adverse consequences for the incident.Stay updated with the latest Srinagar news. Download the TOI App.