Engineer Awarded For Snow Clearance On Republic Day In Kashmir Suspended A Day After For ‘Failure’
The suspension of the Assistant Executive Engineer awarded on Jan 26 has evoked a sharp reaction by the opposition leaders.
Published : January 28, 2026 at 5:59 PM IST
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday suspended five engineers of the Public Works Department (R&B) over alleged delay in snow clearance operations and unauthorized absence from duty. The suspension has triggered a controversy after one of the suspended officers was recently commended for his “excellent performance” during the same snowfall.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who also holds the PWD portfolio, ordered the suspension following heavy snowfall in Kashmir. Those suspended include Noor Din, Assistant Executive Engineer, PW(R&B), Sub-Division Imam Sahib, Shopian; Ramiz Riyaz, Junior Engineer, Mechanical & Hospital, Zainapora Sub-Division; Shabir Ahmad Ganie, Assistant Executive Engineer, Mechanical and Hospital Division Tangmarg; Nasir, Assistant Executive Engineer, Mechanical and Hospital Division Anantnag (Sub-Division II); and Sandeep Vaishnavi, Assistant Engineer (PM Package), Machinery Division, Srinagar.
According to the suspension order issued by the Under Secretary in the PWD, complaints were received from legislators and public delegations from Shopian, Anantnag and other areas, that certain officers have failed to perform their duties efficiently, which resulted in delays in snow clearance, disruption of road connectivity and essential services.
However, the suspension of AEE Noor Din has raised questions as two days earlier, on January 26, 2026, he was awarded an appreciation certificate by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Zainapora for his role in snow clearance operations in Shopian.
In a report submitted to the government, Executive Engineer R&B Zainapora, Jahangir Hakim, gave a clean chit to Noor Din, stating that the officer, along with the technical staff, remained stationed at the office continuously for five days and nights to supervise snow clearance work.
Hakim said that the R&B Division Zainapora cleared 91.53 percent of affected routes by January 24, with full clearance completed by January 25.
“The division received an appreciation award from the SDM Zainapora on January 26, 2026, in recognition of the excellent performance during the snowfall,” Hakim said in his report to the Superintending Engineer, PW(R&B) Circle Pulwama-Shopian. A copy of the report is available with ETV Bharat.
The Executive Engineer also clarified that Ramiz Riyaz was “not directly involved in snow clearance operations” and recommended that the allegations against the officials be withdrawn so that they could continue their duties without hindrance.
The suspensions have sparked political reactions, with opposition leaders accusing the government of targeting honest field officers to deflect blame for administrative shortcomings.
Former PDP legislator Ajaz Mir alleged that the ruling party legislator from Zainapora had pressured engineers to prioritise snow clearance in his native village, leading to confrontation and disruption of operations across the constituency. “These officers were suspended due to personal grudges rather than dereliction of duty. A week before the snowfall, the officers had requested an additional snow clearance machine, but no action was taken,” Mir alleged.
Dy CM Responds
Deputy CM Choudhary on Wednesday warned government employees against indulging in "political activities" or "working for a few selected individuals at the cost of coordination with elected representatives", saying that such conduct may invite strict action.
Responding to a question on the suspension of five employees during his visit to south Kashmir's Shopian, the Deputy Chief Minister said legislators "cannot be sidelined in governance matters". “MLAs are part of the government and hold constitutional positions. Officials must take them on board,” he said.
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