Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has removed two government employees due to their suspected connections with terror groups. The individuals, Farhat Ali Khanday and Mohammad Shafi Dar, who worked in different departments as Class IV employees, were accused of affiliations with Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, respectively.
The decision to terminate their services was made based on intelligence inputs suggesting their involvement in activities detrimental to the state’s security. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration has been actively enforcing dismissals of government employees allegedly linked to terrorism, using Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution.
Under Article 311(2)(c), employees can be dismissed without a formal inquiry if their continued employment is considered a threat to national security. This provision empowers the President, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor to take such actions if they believe an investigation could jeopardize state security.
Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has implemented a stringent approach to root out individuals labeled as “terror associates” or “terrorists within the government system.” The terminated employees have included various roles such as teachers, technicians, and now Class-IV staff in education and rural development sectors, often with ties to groups like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen or Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Rather than conducting traditional inquiries, these decisions are typically based on evidence provided by security agencies, verifying the involvement of the employees in unlawful or anti-national activities. This ongoing initiative aims to safeguard state institutions from internal threats and subversion.
A committee led by the chief secretary recommends the dismissal of government employees found to be working against the state’s interests. These recommendations rely on field reports and intelligence gathered by the J&K CID department, highlighting the employees’ connections to terrorist organizations while receiving government salaries.
In a significant move against terrorism earlier this year, the L-G terminated the services of five government employees suspected of having established links to terror groups. The individuals affected included a teacher, lab technician, assistant lineman, field worker in the forest department, and a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department.
