Edu Dept warns teachers in Baramulla against online criticism of govt policies

The Education Department has issued a warning to teachers in Baramulla district, advising them not to criticise government policies on social media and cautioning that such actions could invite disciplinary action.

An order issued by the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Baramulla, stated that during a meeting on October 3, the Secretary, School Education Department, highlighted several instances of “misuse of social media platforms by teaching and non-teaching staff of the department,” which amounted to interference in policy matters.

The CEO noted that such acts “constitute interference in the policy matters of the department” and said, “The activities are purely in violation of circular instructions issued by the government in 2023.”

The administrative secretary has directed all CEOs to immediately report any such violations to the higher authorities “without fail in order to fix responsibility.” The order added that punishments for such breaches could include dismissal from service.

According to the order, penalties for violations may include censure, fines up to one month’s pay, withholding of increments or promotion, reduction to a lower post or pay scale, recovery of losses to the government, premature retirement on proportionate pension, removal from service without eligibility for future employment, or dismissal that disqualifies the employee from future service.

However, the order clarified that the guidelines were “not intended to dissuade employees from using social media for positive and constructive purposes.”

“It is accordingly enjoined upon all the employees of the School Education Department, district Baramulla, to strictly adhere to the guidelines and legal principles and refrain from indulging in unwarranted debates, discussions and sharing/commenting/posting inappropriate posts/content on social media platforms in order to avoid unfavourable circumstances,” the order read.

Reacting to the development, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para criticised the move, calling it an attempt to silence voices in the Union Territory.

“In an already numb Jammu & Kashmir, this order by the J&K Government’s Education Department warning teachers and government staff against raising their voices is deeply concerning. A government that came to power on the promise of giving people a voice is now contributing to silencing the few remaining ones in J&K,” he said on X.

He added, “It is pertinent to mention here that the J&K Government had earlier informed the Assembly that it was drafting a new media policy aimed at regulating digital platforms, including social media and news websites, following the much-criticised 2020 New Media Policy formulated by the BJP, which was widely condemned by journalists, civil society groups and political leaders for its authoritarian undertones. This order must be immediately revoked.”