1,698 ‘Absent’ on JK Edu Attendance App; CEOs, ZEOs Also on Notice

Muqeet Mubashir

Baramulla, Sept 03: In a shocking revelation, over 1698 employees of the School Education Department (SED) were found absent during working hours across north Kashmir districts on September 1, 2025.

Besides the names of teachers and non-teaching employees, the names of Chief Education Officers (CEOs) Dy CEOs and ZEOs also figure in the list of absent employees.

Among those found named absent are Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora Altaf Hussain Tara, Deputy CEO Bandipora Dr. G M Pujoo, CEO Baramulla Bashir Ahmad Shah, CEO Kupwara Mehraj U Din Shah, ZEO Sopore Fehmeeda Akhter, and ZEO Singhpora (Kalan) Saif-ud-din Chichi.

Surprisingly Deputy CEOs are the district nodal officers of the online attendance system.

The Joint Director Education for north Kashmir districts has put all the absent employees on notice and has asked them to explain their position.

According to the details 1698 employees were found absent in 3 districts of north Kashmir including 283 from bandipora, 889 from Baramulla and 526 from Kupwara.

Similarly 2097 employees checked in on the JK attendance late including 1076 employees of Baramulla, 238 from Bandipora and 783 from Kupwara district respectively.

“It has been observed from the JK Attendance records of September 1 of 2025 that a number of employees under your control have been found absent, reporting late or leaving the institutions early. The list of such employees is enclosed herewith for ready reference,” reads an official communication issued to CEO Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts.

The Joint Director has directed the CEOs “call an explanation to the concerned in respect of these irregularities” and to submit a detailed report within three days.

“It has also been noticed that the facility of On Duty and Auto Check-Out’ is being misused at large. The attendance of such officials is under close observation and if this practice continues, a list of frequent erring officials will be shared for strict disciplinary action,” the communication reads.

The CEOs have been advised to ensure strict compliance of the attendance guidelines in letter and spirit.