Embarrassed over the alleged misbehaviour by a senior IAS officer with a woman colleague, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued a fresh code of conduct, warning its employees against the use of derogatory, threatening or inappropriate language at the workplace.
The circular has been issued after a viral video came to light rocking the administration. In the video, IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan (IAS:2010:AGMUT) can be heard using derogatory language against Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) woman officer Beenish Wani during an online review meeting.
The incident caused severe public criticism leading to the state govt ordering an inquiry into the alleged misconduct.
Ranjan is currently serving as Secretary of the Labour and Employment department.
In this backdrop, the General Administration Department (GAD) has issued a circular setting standards of conduct and professional decorum at all levels of administration.
The circular citing provisions under the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, reiterates that all officers and officials are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity, devotion to duty, discipline and conduct becoming of a public servant.
The government has enjoined upon all employees to ensure that official interactions are conducted with due courtesy, restraint, dignity and mutual respect. It has also been clarified that these standards will apply equally to interactions between superior officers and their subordinates, between officers and officials of different ranks, and between subordinate employees and their seniors.
According to the circular, all Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments and Managing Directors have to bring these instructions to the notice of employees under their administrative control and ensure strict compliance at all levels.
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