CEO Rajouri Withholds Salaries, Seeks Explanations After Surprise Inspection Reveals Major Lapses
Srinagar, Dec 5 : In a major administrative action, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri has suspended two teachers, withheld salaries of staff from 11 schools, and issued strict notices to 34 schools after a district-wide inspection exposed serious lapses in the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme and academic performance.
According to the order issued by the CEO Rajouri as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, a team of senior officers conducted surprise inspections across 200 schools on December 3, 2025, to assess punctuality, work culture, and the serving of cooked Mid-Day Meals.
The inspection revealed that 34 schools, listed in Annexure-A, failed to serve Mid-Day Meals as per the approved menu, raising concerns about compliance and student welfare.
Additionally, 11 schools, listed in Annexure-B, demonstrated poor academic performance. Notably, 7 of these schools also failed to serve the Mid-Day Meal as per norms, while in 2 schools, the meal was not cooked at all.
In another serious violation, the report states that two teachers Farnaz Kouser (PS Dhara Pathana) and Mohammad Altaf (PS Namble Kalyan) left their respective schools after marking attendance, without informing the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO).
Following the findings, the CEO Rajouri ordered the following measures, Immediate Suspension of Farnaz Kouser, Teacher, PS Dhara Pathana. Mohammad Altaf, Teacher, PS Namble Kalyan, order reads.
Both have been placed under suspension and attached to HS Lower Bhangai and HS Kallar, respectively.
Salary Withheld, The salaries of all masters and teachers from the 11 academically weak schools (Annexure-B) have been withheld for December 2025, pending tangible improvement in academics and MDM implementation.
Explanations Sought, All staff from the 34 schools listed in Annexure-A have been directed to submit written explanations through their respective DDOs within two days, failing which strict disciplinary action will be initiated.
The CEO has warned that any further negligence will invite “strict action under rules, without any further notice.” (KNC)
