Baramulla, Sept 03 (KNS): The online attendance monitoring system of the School Education Department (SED) has flagged large-scale absenteeism in north Kashmir, with as many as 1698 employees, including senior officers, missing from duty on September 1, 2025.

The list of defaulters features not only teachers and non-teaching staff but also senior functionaries such as Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Deputy CEOs, and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs). Among those named absent are 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.

According to KNS, the absentees include not just field staff but also officers who are directly responsible for ensuring strict adherence to the very attendance system they themselves defaulted on. Ironically, Deputy CEOs serve as nodal officers for the online attendance system in their respective districts.

In a notice issued by the Joint Director of Education (North Kashmir), all absentees have been asked to explain their conduct.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe department’s data shows that of the 1698 absentees, 283 belonged to Bandipora, 889 to Baramulla, and 526 to Kupwara.

The attendance records revealed that 2097 employees reported late to duty—1,076 in Baramulla, 238 in Bandipora, and 783 in Kupwara.

“It has been observed that a significant number of employees were either absent, arrived late, or left early on September 1. The concerned have been directed to explain these irregularities within three days,” the official communication to the CEOs of the three districts stated.

The order also warned against misuse of the “On Duty” and “Auto Check-Out” features, noting that repeated offenders will face disciplinary action. The CEOs have been instructed to enforce attendance guidelines in full compliance and report back with detailed action taken.(KNS)