Srinagar, Jul 04: A post by a female Kashmiri doctor settled in the Bristol, England has triggered fresh concerns over alleged bureaucratic delays in the School Education Department (SED).
In a post on X, she alleged that her mother, a government teacher, was unable to travel to the UK during her pregnancy because her leave application remained pending for months.
Dr. Salfiya, who identifies herself on X (formerly Twitter) as a doctor settled in England, alleged that her mother had applied for station/country leave in December 2025 for the period from June to August 2026, but the application was yet to be processed despite the commencement of the sanctioned leave period.
She further claimed that an earlier leave application submitted during her pregnancy had also lapsed as the department failed to process it in time.
“Because of this administrative apathy, my mother couldn’t be with me during my pregnancy, my C-section or my postpartum recovery in the UK. This is not just a delayed file, it is a family that has suffered because of bureaucratic negligence,” she wrote on X.
The doctor also tagged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, seeking their immediate intervention and demanding accountability from the concerned officials.
Talking to Greater Kashmir with regard to the post on X, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Naseer Ahmad Wani, said the department follows a prescribed procedure before granting station or country leave.
“Granting permission requires vigilance clearance, following which the approval is accorded by the administrative department,” Wani told Greater Kashmir.
He, however, acknowledged having seen the social media post and said the matter would be looked into.
“I read the tweet, but why didn’t anyone follow the case in the department? I will check the status of the issue today,” DSEK told Greater Kashmir.–(GK)
