A controversy erupted in Kashmir on Saturday over the ‘backdoor’ appointment of the grandson of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the state’s tourism department.

While sources said Geelani’s grandson, Anees-ul-Islam, was named research officer in the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC), a subsidiary wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, out of turn, authorities denied that rules were bent for the appointment.

“The interviews for the post were held in November and Anees had topped the merit list prepared by the five-member interview panel,” an SKICC spokesperson said in a statement.