Ramban teacher suspended for anti-govt Facebook post

Jammu, Feb 24: A teacher in Ramban district was suspended for a social media (Facebook) post allegedly criticising the government.
District Magistrate, Ramban, Mussarat Islam issued the suspension order against the teacher. The order stated that the teacher shall remain attached to the office of the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Ramban.
To probe the matter, the District Magistrate has also ordered the constitution of an inquiry committee headed by Additional District Development Commissioner, Ramban. The other members of the committee include Chief Education Officer, Ramban, Zonal Education Officer, Batote and Headmaster HS Chanderkote.
The committee is directed to initiate an in-depth inquiry and submit a detailed report on the matter along with specific recommendations by or before March 13, 2023.
According to the suspension order, some Facebook posts were criticising the policies and achievements of the government and after scrutinising the Facebook page(s), it has been found that the account is in the name of a person who happens to be a teacher in the School Education Department, Ramban, presently posted at GPS Chanderkote, Education Zone Batote.
With this regard, a report was sought from the Chief Education Officer, Ramban for ascertaining the facts as to whether the person is working as a teacher in School Education Department, District Ramban.
“After perusal of the said report, it has been confirmed that the person is presently working as a teacher in GPS Chanderkote and is presently deployed in MS Sawni, Zone Batote. Further, it has been revealed that his pay was kept withheld for misuse of social media in the year 2020 also by the Chief Education Officer, Ramban vide order No. CEO/R/20/146-53, dated 11.04.2020, and the same was released after the submission of a written apology from the said teacher. It has been found that the said teacher has posted various posts criticizing/ commenting adversely about the Government policies on his Facebook page,” the order read.
It was also found that the teacher had concealed his identity and made a fake Facebook ID with a profession as a socio-political activist and not a teacher.
The order further mentioned that the teacher was transferred from Higher Secondary School Rajgarh to Government Girls Primary School, Chanderkote, during the previous ATD, but the PRIs of Panchayat Kunfer (Chanderkote) objected to his posting in GPS Chanderkote due to his doubtful character.
On February 17, the Chief Secretary passed directions to all Administrative Secretaries for monitoring social media networks on a regular basis and identifying government employees criticising or adversely affecting government policies or achievements on social media.