Five govt employees dismissed for involvement in narcotics trade

The Jammu and Kashmir government has sacked five of its employees under Article 311 of the Constitution for their involvement in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) cases.

The dismissed employees include Gulzar Ahmad Dar, jamadar, Irrigation Division, Shopian; Abdul Rashid Bhat, gang coolie, Irrigation & Flood Control Division, Sumbal; Dilbag Singh, lineman, Jal Shakti (PHE) Sub-Division, Hiranagar; Gulzar Ahmed, assistant motorman, Hydraulic Division, Ramban; and Noor Mohammad Sheikh, gang coolie, Ferozpora Basin, Irrigation division, Tangmarg.

The dismissal order reads that the case of the accused was put before the competent authority for acceptance of the report of the inquiry officer and the competent authority has, after due consideration, in exercise of the powers vested under Article 311(2) of the Constitution, “decided to impose penalty of dismissal from the service of the state which ordinarily disqualifies him from future employment, as his continued employment poses a grave risk to public welfare and erodes trust in government institutions”.

All the five employees were placed under suspension two to three years ago before the action of dismissal from service was taken against them by the government.