Srinagar, Oct 30, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir LG Administration has dismissed more than 80 government employees since 2021 under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution of India, a provision that allows termination without an inquiry if deemed necessary in the interest of state security.
The dismissals, ordered with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, have spanned multiple departments, including Education, Police, Health, Sheep Husbandry, and Public Works, and form part of a sustained government campaign to remove individuals allegedly involved in activities detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
According to official and media reports examined by the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the number of terminations under this provision has now crossed 82, following the recent dismissal of two Education Department teachers, Ghulam Hussain and Majid Iqbal Dar, for alleged links with militant groups. The duo like other terminated employees, were accused of propagating anti-national narratives and aiding radical elements.
Earlier this year, three employees, a police constable, a government school teacher, and a junior assistant in a medical college, were terminated for alleged association with proscribed militant outfits. In 2024, two more employees, a teacher and a stock assistant, were removed from service in the Kupwara district for similar charges.
Reports said each case is vetted by a high-level committee comprising senior officials from the Home, Law, and General Administration Departments, which examines evidence submitted by intelligence and security agencies before recommending action to the Lieutenant Governor.
Officials maintained that such measures are taken only after due assessment and are essential to prevent infiltration of “subversive elements” into government ranks. “The administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against those found supporting or glorifying militancy. No one who threatens the unity of the country will remain in government service,” said a senior Home Department officer.
However, various political parties have expressed concern over the increasing use of Article 311(2)(c), arguing that the clause, meant for exceptional situations, is being applied frequently without allowing affected employees a fair opportunity to defend themselves. They caution that the absence of transparent inquiry procedures may undermine principles of natural justice.
Despite criticism, officials insist the government will continue its scrutiny of employees suspected of involvement in anti-national activities, citing the need to protect public institutions and maintain administrative integrity.
Since the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the administration has invoked Article 311(2)(c) more extensively than any other Indian state or Union Territory. Comparatively, states such as Punjab, Assam, and Manipur, which also face insurgency or security-related challenges, have used Article 311(2)(c) sparingly. Official data indicate fewer than five dismissals under the provision in each of these states over the past decade. [KNT]
