Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday terminated the services of two government employees, citing “interest of the security of the state,” officials said.
The dismissed employees include Zahir Abbas, a school teacher from Kishtwar district of Jammu , and Abdul Rehman Naika, a pharmacist with the Health and Medical Education Department and a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, in South Kashmir.
The terminations were carried out under Article 311(2)(C) of the Constitution, which empowers the government to dismiss employees without seeking an explanation or conducting an inquiry into their conduct.
This marks the first instance of such dismissals since Omar Abdullah assumed office as Chief Minister. However, Omar’s government is likely to have no role in these terminations as the law and order comes directly under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Over the past four years, more than 70 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.
The latest termination order were issued by General Administration Department and it said that the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Zahir Abbas are such as that it warrant his dismissal from service.
“And Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Zahir Abbas, Teacher in School Education Department S/o Irshad Ahmad R/o Badhat Saroor, District Kishtwar. Accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses Zahir Abbas from service, with immediate effect,” the GAD order read.
A similar worded order has been issued to Rehman Naika.
Recently, former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti had written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeking an immediate review of the termination of government employees dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
