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Baramulla education officer issues warning to staff over social media posts, faces action soon after

The circular had warned that social media posts on policy matters could lead to the withholding of pay, premature retirement, or termination of teaching and non-teaching staff

Baramulla Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bashir Ahmad Shah

day after the Baramulla Chief Education Officer (CEO) issued a circular warning that social media posts on policy matters could lead to the withholding of pay, premature retirement, or termination of teaching and non-teaching staff, the state government has ordered an inquiry and stripped him of his responsibilities.

In an order, Education Secretary Ram Niwas Sharma attached CEO Bashir Ahmad Shah to the Directorate of Education, Kashmir, pending an inquiry.

Incidentally, in his circular, Shah had referred to a review meeting held by Sharma, where the “misuse of social media platforms” was taken up.

“The worthy Secretary of School Education, J&K, during a review meeting held on October 3, intimated that various instances of misuse of social media platforms by teaching and non-teaching staff of the department, thereby suggesting/interfering in the policy matters of the department, have been brought to his notice,” read the circular issued by CEO Shah.

“The chair, during the meeting, directed all the Chief Education Officers to bring into the notice of the Administration any such violation without fail in order to fix the responsibility and act under government instructions,” it read.

“An elaborate set of guidelines regarding the use of social media by government employees has been notified for strict adherence/compliance,” read the order, outlining the punishments for violation. These include withholding of pay, premature retirement and even termination from the service.

The circular, however, allowed the government teachers and non-teaching staff to use social media for “positive and constructive purposes”.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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