Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday terminated the services of three government employees including a policeman, for alleged ‘terror links ,” officials said.
They said the employees terminated included Firdous Ahmad Bhat, a police Constable; Mohammad Ashraf Bhat a school teacher and Nisar Ahmad Khan an orderly in the Forest Department have been terminated under proviso (c) of sub-section of Article 311 of the Constitution of India.
The Article empowers the government to dismiss employees without seeking an explanation or conducting an inquiry into their conduct.
This is the second instance of such dismissals since Omar Abdullah assumed office as Chief Minister. However, Abdullah’s government has no role in these terminations as the law and order comes directly under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Over the past four years, more than 75 government employees in J&K have been dismissed under Article 311(2)(C), with the latest action reflecting the government’s stringent stance on ensuring state security.
Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti hit out at the government over the latest dismissals, saying the people had pinned hopes on the popular government expecting such actions will come to an end.
“Arbitrary & summary dismissals of government employees have become a daily occurrence since 2019. What is perhaps most surprising & puzzling is that it continues unabated despite an elected government in power that had promised to put an end to such practices once in office. People had pinned their hopes on the new government expecting at least some relief through vigorous advocacy of these issues with the LG,” she said in a post on X.
UNI
