J-K begins process to act against officials involved in ‘anti-national’ activities

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 31

In a move that could cast a shadow over the employees found involved in activities prejudicial to security of the state, the J&K government has constituted a panel to scrutinise and recommend cases for dismissal of their services.

The action would be taken by invoking Section 311 of the Constitution that is now applicable to J&K.

An order issued by the government on Thursday night announced the constitution of a committee headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to take stock of all such cases that would be referred to it by the police and home departments.

This provision would be applicable to all those employees about whom there are cases of having taken part in the “anti-national” activities overtly or covertly. It will also apply to those who have served detention.

One of the critical parts of the order is that the employees’ cases would be dealt with by the police on the basis of their interrogation reports and the collateral evidence which will dispense with the need for any inquiry, and once the cases are examined and recommended, the General Administration Department will issue orders for their dismissal from service as also suspension. This provision will also apply to such pending cases.

There were serious complaints in the past that the employees who were taking part in “anti-national” activities during street protests, instigating people against security forces were not booked, nor FIRs allowed to be filed against them by political governments; the administration was pressed not to act against them.

In August 1990, five government officials were dismissed from service on charges of indulging in activities deemed prejudicial to the security of the state, but they were restored to their positions after a 73-day-long strike by Kashmiri employees and on the intervention of political leaders.

In 1993, following a police mutiny, around 130 policemen were dismissed from service, but after a while they were reinstated in the fire services and other departments.

Sources said social media activities of the employees, even under fake identity, would also fall in the category of anti-national activities.

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