Srinagar, Oct 16: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone has condemned the alleged misconduct by a senior IAS officer towards a female Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer, calling for stern action and an institutional mechanism to prevent workplace bullying and intimidation.
Reacting to the video showing IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan allegedly shouting at JKAS officer Beenish Wani, Lone described the recording as “scary” and said the incident went beyond workplace bullying.
Lone complimented Wani for standing her ground and upholding her dignity in the face of the alleged behaviour.
“We may pretend to be surprised but reality as it exists is that such exhibition of such behaviour is a normal occurrence. Workplace bullying by officers exists,” Lone said.
He described the situation as a vicious cycle in which senior IAS officers bully junior officers, who, in turn, pass on the behaviour to their subordinates and, ultimately, members of the public.
Lone also expressed surprise that the male officers present in the meeting, as well as those who joined remotely, did not stand up for their female colleague.
“That is the real surprise,” he said.
Calling for accountability, Lone urged the government to take stern action over the incident and establish an institutional mechanism to discourage and legally penalise bullying and intimidation.
He said such safeguards should extend beyond government workplaces to protect ordinary citizens from being shouted at, intimidated or bullied by public officials.
Lone also referred to the case of a recently retired officer whose pension and other post-retirement benefits were allegedly withheld for what he described as an “utterly flimsy reason”, adding that nobody would speak up in such cases.
The remarks come as the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged misconduct involving Ranjan, Administrative Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, and Wani, Assistant Director, Employment, Ganderbal.
The government has appointed Mandeep Kaur, IAS, as the Inquiry Officer and directed her to submit a report within 15 days. Amit Vermani, JKAS, Additional Secretary in the General Administration Department, has been appointed as the Presenting Officer.
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