Jammu and Kashmir L-G Dismisses Two Employees Linked to Terrorism
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jammu, April 8 (NationPress) The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, announced on Wednesday the termination of two government employees due to their alleged connections with terrorist organizations.
The individuals dismissed are Farhat Ali Khanday, a Class IV worker in the Education Department, accused of collaborating with Hizbul Mujahideen, and Mohammad Shafi Dar, a Class IV employee in the Rural Development Department, suspected of ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Officials indicated that these measures were taken based on intelligence suggesting their involvement in activities detrimental to the state's security.
Under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has been proactive in dismissing employees linked to terrorism, frequently invoking Article 311(2)(c) of the Indian Constitution.
This provision enables dismissal without a formal investigation if retaining the employee is considered a threat to national security.
Article 311(2)(c) empowers the President, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor to terminate employees without inquiry if they believe a formal investigation could jeopardize state security.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has implemented a stringent policy aimed at removing “terror associates” or “terrorists embedded within government structures.” Those dismissed have included teachers, laboratory technicians, and forest department staff, with many linked to groups such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Rather than following conventional inquiries, these dismissals are typically based on evidence provided by security and intelligence agencies confirming involvement in unlawful or anti-national activities.
The administration has reiterated that these actions are part of an ongoing effort to safeguard state institutions from internal threats.
A committee led by the chief secretary evaluates and recommends the termination of employees acting against the state's interests. These recommendations stem from reports and intelligence collected by the J&K CID department concerning employees affiliated with terrorist groups while receiving government salaries.
Earlier in January, in a significant crackdown on the terror network, the Lt-Governor dismissed five employees for their confirmed terror links, including Mohd Ishfaq (teacher), Tariq Ahmad Rah (lab technician), Bashir Ahmad Mir (Assistant Lineman), Farooq Ahmad Bhat (Field Worker, Forest Dept), and Mohd Yousuf (Driver, Health and Medical Education Department).