Did J&K LG Really Dismiss 3 Government Employees for Terror Links?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The J&K Lt Governor dismissed three employees linked to terrorism.
- Dismissals were made under special powers without standard procedures.
- Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution allows bypassing usual processes.
- Previous dismissals indicate a longstanding strategy against terrorism.
- Employee associations had ties to separatist movements before Article 370's abrogation.
Srinagar, June 3 (NationPress) In a continued effort to dismantle the terror ecosystem, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha took decisive action on Tuesday by terminating three government employees due to their affiliations with terrorist organizations.
According to officials, this significant operation targeted those sympathetic to terrorism within the government framework. The dismissed individuals include Jammu and Kashmir Police constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a teacher from the School Education Department named Ajaz Ahmed, and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar. These individuals were reportedly linked to Pakistan-backed terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
“The trio was identified as active terror associates, engaging in arms smuggling, launching assaults on security forces, and providing essential logistical support to terrorists. They are presently in judicial custody,” stated an official.
The Lt Governor wields the authority to dismiss government employees with terrorist connections in J&K. These actions are executed without the conventional procedures required for such dismissals, as the special powers granted to the Lt Governor allow for bypassing the drawn-out processes typically outlined in service rules.
Under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, the Lt Governor can circumvent regular procedures when an employee's actions threaten the state's interests or are oriented towards secessionist and anti-national activities.
Historically, the Lt Governor has dismissed over two dozen government employees connected to terrorism.
Prior to the revocation of Article 370, the grip of the state government over its employees was relatively loose, with the employees' association in Kashmir being a part of the separatist All Party Hurriyat Conference. Similarly, the Kashmir Bar Association, which is the elected body of lawyers, also participated in this separatist coalition.