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

In a viral video on social media, IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, can be seen shouting at a junior officer, Beenish Wani.

Mr. Rajan was apparently unhappy with the performance of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in Ganderbal in central Kashmir. After the angry outburst from Mr. Ranjan, the officer retorted.

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

Mr. Ranjan could be seen directing his subordinate staff to type a “suspension order of the female officer” over her alleged remarks. “The Chief Secretary has to dismiss her from service. Nothing less,” said Mr. Ranjan, in the video.

The viral clip of the meeting evoked a sharp reaction from J&K officers. “I stand in support of a fellow JKAS (J&K Administrative Service) officer who is respectfully engaging with her boss in a meeting and trying to explain herself, whereas he’s acting like a hooligan as if engaging in a roadside brawl and using unparliamentary language with her,” said Mantasha Binti Rashid in a post on Facebook.

Several J&K officers launched an online campaign in favour of the female officer. “What happens in these meetings is often humiliating and demeaning. Senior officers need to know what’s acceptable and where to draw a line, especially when dealing with local officers who often know much more about the matters on the ground,” said Ms. Rashid. 

She said this official’s high-handedness can’t be accepted and tolerated. “Anything undignified in any professional set-up shall not be made a norm,” she added.

Former J&K minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar said the incident reflected a “master-slave relationship established in Kashmir”. “Local officers are the brightest. The officer who abused her has been in and out of jail for most of his career in a gun licenses scam,” said Mr. Akhtar.

He said there were administrative methods to seek accountability. “An IAS can’t abuse and treat locals as native subjects and themselves as sahibs,” said Mr. Akhtar.

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