J&K parties unite against abusive IAS officer; CM Omar asks chief secretary to ensure accountability

Political parties across Jammu & Kashmir’s ideological divide — the ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — have united to demand strict action against senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan after a viral video showed him verbally abusing a woman provincial services officer during an official virtual meeting.NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked chief secretary Atul Dulloo to ensure accountability and protect the woman officer from retribution. “Accountability must prevail, and no one should be allowed to misuse their position to intimidate or victimise others,” Sadiq said.Sadiq also seized the opportunity to underline the government’s limited powers under the present Union Territory structure. IAS officers posted in J&K fall directly under the Lieutenant Governor’s jurisdiction, leaving the elected Chief Minister without direct powers to transfer or take disciplinary action against them.