‘Anti-national’ staff to face music, J&K begins process

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31

Jammu and Kashmir will take stringent action, including dismissal, against employees found guilty of being involved in anti-national activities by the police or if there is collateral evidence against them. The government can now proceed against such employees on the recommendation of a committee set up for the purpose without any inquiry.

The panel headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam will have Home Secretary and the state police chief as members, among others.

Action would be taken under Section 311 of the Constitution that is now applicable to J&K.

This will also apply to employees who have served detention.

The cases will be dealt with by the police on the basis of the interrogation reports of the employees as well as collateral evidence. Once the cases are examined and

recommended, the General Administration Department will issue orders for their dismissal/suspension. The provision will apply to pending cases too.

In August 1990, five officials were dismissed for indulging in activities deemed prejudicial to the security of the state.Their services were restored after a 73-day employees’s strike and the intervention of political leaders. In 1993 following a police mutiny, more than 130 policemen were dismissed. They were later reinstated.