In the last few months, government employees in the Union Territory have been fired for charges, including ‘militancy’ links.
New Delhi: Six employees of the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory administration were fired on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in ‘militancy-related’ activities.
Two employees each from the J-K Police and School Education departments, one officer from the Forest department, and one employee from the Roads and Buildings department were among those fired.
Sacked employees worked in four separate departments
According to the GAD’s orders, the sacked employees are Abdul Hamid Wani (Teacher from Bijbhehara Anantnag), Liyaqat Ali Kakroo (Teacher from Nambla Uri), Jaffer Hussain Butt (Police Constable from Hunjalla Kishtwar), Showkat Ahmad Khan (Constable in IRP 12th battalion from Narbal Budgam), Muhammad Rafi Butt (Junior Assistant in Public Works Department of Pochhal, Kishtwar) and Tariq Mehmood Kohli (Range Officer in the Forest Department from Chandak Haveli, Poonch).
Terminated employees had cases against them
The six government employees were fired for having alleged ties to ‘militancy’ and operating as ‘Over Ground Workers (OGW)’ for militants.
According to authorities, police constable Jaffer Hussain Butt was detained and charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case of gun-running, while Rafi Bhat was fired when it was found that he was giving logistical support to Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Kishtwar.
Liyaqat Ali Kakroo, a teacher since 1983, was apprehended in 2001, and his detention confirmed that he was a locally trained militant, as per the local police.
Also, Tariq Mehmood Kohli, a Poonch native and Forest Department range officer, was also fired for reportedly importing illegal guns, ammunition, and explosives from Pakistan, as well as hard narcotics and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).
Police Constable Showkat Ahmad Khan, a native of Budgam in central Kashmir, was accused of stealing firearms from the home of a member of the State Legislative Council (MLC), where he was posted as a personal security officer (PSO).
Sacking ordered under Article 311 of the Indian Constitution
On the recommendation of a high-level committee appointed by the J&K government in 2020, these employees were fired.
Separate orders issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) state that the Lieutenant Governor of the UT has dismissed these employees after concluding that an investigation against them is not necessary in the interest of the State’s security.
The government can fire an employee without undertaking a required investigation into accusations against him under sub-clause (C) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Indian Constitution. No inquiry is held and dismissed employees can only approach a high court for relief, in case the charges are proved false.
This is the third time in the last several months of 2021 that government employees have been terminated in the Union Territory.
In July, the J&K administration fired 11 government employees, including two police constables and the sons of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin. Previously, in May, the administration fired three government employees.