SED bars officers to allow student participation in political programmes, rallies

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-01-25 21:16:15 |

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Srinagar, Jan 25: The School Education Department (SED) has barred its officers to allow participation of the students in any political programmes or rallies organised by the political parties.

The circular instructions in this regard have been issued by the Deputy Secretary SED Peer Zahid Ahmad.

As per the instructions, all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and Heads of Institutions of all the schools have been instructed not to grant any permission or give any direction to students or staff to participate in any political programme or rallies organised by any political party or organization.

"Further, all the Chief Education Officers shall strictly monitor that any directions from any district authority should not be in contravention to the circular instructions," the circular reads.

It reads that in case of any such deviation, the Chief Education Officer concerned shall immediately bring the same into the notice of respective Director School Education for further instructions.

"The respective Directors shall ensure strict compliance of circular instructions and violation of same shall be viewed seriously and shall invite strict action under law," the SED circular reads.

Earlier, instructions were issued to students to attend a Tiranga rally organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The move evoked criticism from J&K Student Association (JKSA) who said that the government order mandating both government and private schools to send students to a rally organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was deeply concerning and unacceptable.

"The directive for students to join ABVP in the rally has become more of an ideological event rather than a Republic Day celebration. The government has no right to dictate which political or ideological events students should participate in," National Convenor of JKSA Nasir Khuehami in a statement said.

Khuehami said that permission granted by the District Administration of Poonch not only raises serious concerns about the misuse of authority but also highlights a troubling disregard for institutional impartiality.

"Such actions set a dangerous precedent for the erosion of accountability within democratic institutions," he said.