Srinagar, Feb 15: Hours after Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manooj Sinha ordered termination of three more government employees over alleged terror links, a process started in 2019, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for giving these employees an opportunity to defend themselves.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the convocation ceremony of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) at Kakryal, Katra, he said the law says everyone is innocent until anything is proven. They should be given a chance to speak in the court and if they cannot prove their innocence, only then appropriate action should be taken, he said.
“What is perhaps most surprising and puzzling is that it continues unabated despite an elected government in power that had promised to put an end to such practices once in office. People had pinned their hopes on the new government expecting at least some relief through vigorous advocacy of these issues with the LG,” Omar said.
While the convocation ceremony was underway, an order from LG administration was issued in which it was mentioned that three government employees including a police constable Firdous Ahmed Bhat, a teacher Muhammad Ashraf Bhat and a forest department employee Nisar Ahmed Khan were terminated for their alleged anti-national activities, by invoking Article 311 (2) (C) of 2020.
The Chief Minister said that everybody gets a chance to present their case in the court of law and at least they are heard and if they aren’t able to defend themselves then take whatever action you want.
Employees’ dismissal continues even after govt formation: PDP chief
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said “arbitrary and summary” dismissal of employees was continuing even after an elected government has taken office in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, earlier in the day, invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to terminate the services of the three government employees after investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies accused them of terror links.
In a post on X, Mehbooba said, “Arbitrary and summary dismissals of government employees has become a daily occurrence since 2019. What is perhaps most surprising and puzzling is that it continues unabated despite an elected government in power that had promised to put an end to such practices once in office.”
The former chief minister said the people had pinned hopes on the National Conference government, expecting some relief.
“People had pinned their hopes on the new government expecting at least some relief through vigorous advocacy of these issues with the LG,” she added.
So far, over 70 government employees have been dismissed on the charges of terror links over the past few years.
Dismissing employees ‘without fair hearing’ is injustice: Tarigami
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Saturday condemned the dismissal of employees from service “without a fair hearing”, calling it an “arbitrary and unjust” decision by the Lieutenant Governor-led administration.
“The termination of employees without giving them an opportunity to present their side is sheer injustice and a blatant denial of due process,” Tarigami said in a statement issued here.
The LG administration issued an order dismissing three employees on allegations of involvement in anti-national activities. Tarigami criticised the move, saying, “Instead of creating job opportunities, depriving people of their livelihood has become a disturbing norm.”
He urged the administration to ensure that employees are given a chance to respond to allegations before any action is taken against them.
‘Grave injustice’: AIP slams sacking of employees
Awami Itehaad Party (AIP) senior leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed on Saturday strongly condemned the termination of three government employees in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a grave injustice and a violation of natural justice.
Khursheed questioned the government’s selective approach, saying, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji says ‘Nation is one, Law is one,’ but then why are government employees in Jammu and Kashmir being arbitrarily dismissed without even being given a chance to defend themselves? Why are we being treated differently? This discrimination must end.”
Elected representatives must intervene: Mirwaiz
Mirwaiz of Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Saturday condemned the Lieutenant Governor-led administration’s decision of terminating three government employees.
“The termination of three more state employees in such an authoritarian manner is highly condemnable. Do the rulers want to remove all Kashmiris slowly and steadily from government services and render them jobless?” Mirwaiz said.
“It is the duty of the elected representatives to take up this issue urgently with the concerned, as they have committed in their manifesto, and stop this harassment,” he added.
Give terminated employees chance to prove innocence: Hakeem
People’s Democratic Front (PDF) president, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has criticised the termination of three more government employees over alleged terror links, saying they should be given a chance to prove themselves innocent before any action is taken.
In a statement issued here, Yaseen said, “If the victim employees are proved guilty in the court of law and fail to prove themselves innocent, then only stern action should be taken against them.”
He said termination of an employee means snatching the livelihood of the breadwinner, which is a harsh step. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, he said.
The PDF chief said the terminations have caused significant concern. “The government should reconsider its actions. People should be given an opportunity to be heard in court,” he added.
