IAS officer’s profanity on female officer during encounter goes viral online, sparks protests by J&K officers

An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer allegedly used inappropriate and vulgar language against a female officer during an online official meeting in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, sparking protests from local officials and regional political parties.

In a viral video on social media, IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, secretary in J&K, can be seen shouting at junior officer Bilquis Wani.

Mr. Rajan was apparently unhappy with the performance of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in Ganderbal in central Kashmir. After Mr. Ranjan’s rage, the officer responded. Mr. Ranjan is currently serving as Secretary, Revenue and Secretary, Labor and Employment in J&K.

“I was on leave but still attended the meeting from home. Senior officers should respect the dignity of women,” Ms Wani, Deputy Director of Employment, Ganderbal, told The Hindu.

Mr. Ranjan was seen ordering his subordinates to write an “order to suspend the officer” over her alleged remarks. “The chief secretary must dismiss her from service. Nothing less,” Mr Ranjan said in the video.

A viral clip of the meeting drew a sharp reaction from J&K officers. “I support a fellow JKAS (J&K Administrative Service) officer who respectfully engages with her boss in a meeting and tries to explain while he acts like a hooligan, as if he is involved in a roadside brawl and uses unparliamentary language with her,” Mantasha Binti Rashid said in a Facebook post.

Several J&K officers started an online campaign in favor of the female officer. “What goes on in these meetings is often degrading and humiliating. Senior officers need to know what is acceptable and where to draw the line, especially when you are dealing with local officers who often know a lot more about matters on the ground,” Ms Rashid said.

She said that the arrogance of this official cannot be accepted and tolerated. “Anything undignified in any professional setting must not become the norm,” she added.

Former J&K minister and People’s Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar said the incident reflected the “master-slave relationship established in Kashmir”. “The local officers are the smartest. The officer who abused her has been in and out of prison for gun license fraud for most of his career,” Mr Akhtar said.

He said there are administrative methods to achieve accountability. “The IAS cannot abuse the locals and treat them as native subjects and themselves as sahibs,” Mr Akhtar said.

The PDP leader was referring to the case against Mr. Rajan in the gun pass involving several IAS officers in J&K. In 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also booked Mr. Ranjan, of the 2010 batch, “for amassing assets beyond legal income”.

Published – 16 Oct 2026 05:28 IST