The Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir has instructed all the teaching and non-teaching employees working under the department to avoid criticizing government policies on social media.
The official has clarified that employees who violate the instructions may face other punitive action including salaries and dismissal from service.
In a circular issued on Saturday, the Chief Education Officer has instructed all the employees of the district school education department to strictly follow the guidelines, “avoiding involvement in baseless debate and discussions and not sharing unfair materials on social media forums”.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed Para, criticized the circular, saying that it “prevents people from raising voice.” In the circular, the Chief Education Officer of Baramulla has said that in a meeting chaired by the Administrative Secretary of the Education Department on Friday, various matters related to the misuse of social media forums were discussed by teaching and non-teaching employees.
He said that such actions are similar to interference in the policy matters of the department and “completely violate the guidelines issued by the government in 2023.