Srinagar: In first such order, a government teacher was fired from his services in north Kashmir district of Kupwara without holding any enquiry ‘in the interest of the security of the State’.
However, the termination of the government teacher has attracted huge criticism from civil society and political leaders and Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC).
“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Idrees Jan, Teacher, Government Middle School, Kralpora, Kupwara,” an order of the General Administration Department (GAD) read.
The order said Lt Governor after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available that the activities of Mr Jan are such as to warrant his dismissal from service.
Official sources said Jan was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2016. However, they said that he was released and reinstated as a teacher after J&K High Court (HC) quashed his detention under PSA.
The J&K government on April 21 constituted a Special Task Force (STF) to identify and scrutinize the government employees, and lodge cases against those who pose a threat to the country’s security or are involved in ‘anti-national activities’.
Meanwhile, expressing resentment over the termination of a teacher by government on charges of being allegedly involved in anti national activities, Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) said the decision was autocratic and not democratic.
“It is a partial decision and biased too where an employee is dismissed from his service and not allowed to put his point across or clear his stand. Among the pillars of democracy one of the strongest is judiciary in which the deprived lot entrust their faith and seek justice. As laid in the constitution of India, a convict can even reach out to the President of the Republic of India and appeal for justice. India being the largest democracy in the world confers this privilege to its citizens. But unfortunately the decision seems more of an autocratic set-up rather democratic,” EJAC President Fayaz Shabnum said.
