L-G sacks 2 govt. employees in J&K even as ruling NC pushes for reviewing such cases

The duo was terminated on the basis of the report submitted by the security agencies. However, no departmental inquiry was instituted against them earlier

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday (November 29, 2024) invoked a special Section of Article 311 and terminated the services of two government employees in J&K for “anti-national” activities. It comes at a time when the elected government, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has questioned such terminations and proposed to review them.

Officials said the Lieutenant Governor invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India, a special provision introduced in 2020 dropping the requirement of departmental inquiry to sack Abdul Rehman Naika, a school teacher from Qasba Devsar in Kulgam district, and Zahir Abbas, a pharmacist from Badhat Saroor in Kishtwar district.

The duo was terminated on the basis of the report submitted by the security agencies. However, no departmental inquiry was instituted against them earlier. 

Mr. Naika, according to the security agencies, was appointed as a Medical Assistant in 1992 and his links with the Hizbul Mujahideen, a militant outfit, was “unearthed when police officials started investigating the killing of a political person, Ghulam Hassan Lone from Devsar. 

“Lone was a staunch nationalist and all his three sons are serving in security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigation had revealed that Naika was one of the plotters of the killing of Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among the patriotic people,” the report said.

The report accused Mr. Naika of “nourishing, strengthening and proliferating a conducive ecosystem for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring district of Shopian and Anantnag”. Security agencies said Mr. Naika was allegedly arrested and a hand grenade and an AK-47 ammunition were recovered from him. 

“Naika confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades on security forces and political persons. He also admitted that as an overground worker his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets,” the report said. 

In a separate report, security agencies said another terminated employee, Mr. Abbas, was a graduate from Aligarh Muslim University and was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana. 

“Abbas was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal. During the investigation, the role of Abbas as hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher he was expected to serve the nation but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists and provided arms, ammunition and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen,” the report said.

The report suggested that Mr. Abbas allegedly continues to indulge in radical activities in the jail. The report said the investigations revealed terror outfits’ “sinister strategy to subvert the system within”. 

The fresh terminations came after a gap of six months. In June, four employees – including two constables, one teacher and one Assistant Lineman - were terminated under Article 311 for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities. At least 62 employees have been terminated by the L-G since 2020 in J&K.

These terminations, however, were questioned by J&K political parties, including ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The NC, in its election manifesto, had promised to review such cases. In November this year, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote an open letter to CM Abdullah on establishing a review committee for all those employees terminated during the Central rule. She had suggested clear guidelines and full inquiry before any dismissal. “Such steps would not only relieve affected families but also restore confidence among government employees in J&K,” Ms. Mufti had said.

Published - November 30, 2024 01:00 am IST