SED attaches CEO Baramulla in DSEK with 'immediate effect'
Srinagar, Oct 6: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department (SED) on Monday attached the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla in the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) with 'immediate effect'.
The move comes two days after the CEO issued a circular warning the teaching and non-teaching employees for 'misuse' of social media.
A circular issued by CEO Baramulla on October 3 stated that the Secretary SED during a meeting convened on October 3 of 2025, intimated that various instances of misuse of Social Media platforms by teaching and non-teaching staff.
"The employees are suggesting or interfering in the policy matters of the department, which has been brought in the notice of the Secretary SED," the circular reads.
Two days later, the CEO was removed from the post and attached to the DSEK.
"Pending inquiry, Bashir Ahmad Shah, in-charge CEO Baramulla is hereby attached in the Directorate of School Education Kashmir with immediate effect," reads an order signed by Secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma.
"CEO Bandipora shall hold the charge of the post of CEO Baramulla and Principal DIET Sopore, till further orders," it reads.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo said the CEO was removed from the post for issuing a circular, "on his own" in which employees of the education department were barred from using social media.
"Actually the order banning government employees from using social media was issued during the PDP regime in 2017 and later during LG rule in 2023," Sakina Itoo said.
But the Baramulla CEO issued the circular on his own to create an impression that such instructions had come from the government.
“Baramulla CEO has been attached as no officer can be allowed to bring disrepute to the elected government,” Sakina Itoo told Greater Kashmir.
She said that government employees have their democratic right to raise their issues. "But they also have to talk within limits," she said.
She said that such orders (barring employees from using social media) cannot be issued in an elected government.
"Such orders are issued in LG rule as was done in 2023. Before that the order was issued in 2017 during the PDP regime," she said.
Sakina Itoo said that employees have also voted for their candidates during the elections and they have "right to talk."
"But CEO Baramulla issued the circular without taking consent from the higher ups," she said.
Sakina Itoo said the officer earlier committed the same mistake and issued instructions at his own level during a war-like situation, creating panic among masses.
"During a war like situation earlier this year, he issued certain instructions that schools will remain closed and created panic for which he was attacked," Itoo said.
Earlier, CEO Baramulla in its circular termed the use of social media by employees as a violation of circular instructions issued by the government vide Circular No. 09-JK (GAD) of 2023 dated March 24 of 2023.
"An elaborate set of guidelines regarding use of social media by the government employees have been notified for strict adherence and compliance vide Government Order No.1646-JK(GAD) of 2017 dated December 26 of 2017," reads the circular issued by CEO Baramulla on October 4 of 2025.
