J-K Government Terminates Services of Three Employees for Security Threat

New Delhi, July 17, 2023: In a recent development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has taken strict action against three government employees, terminating their services on the grounds of being deemed a “threat to the security of the state.” The termination was carried out under Article 311(2)(C) of the Constitution, which empowers the government to dismiss an employee without conducting a formal inquiry.

This decision comes close on the heels of two doctors being terminated under the same law in connection with the Shopian rape-murder controversy.

The employees who faced termination include Faheem Aslam, a proficient public relations officer (PRO) at Kashmir University since 2008. Having earned a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, he previously served as a correspondent for a renowned local English daily, Greater Kashmir.

Murawat Mir, appointed as a junior assistant in the revenue department in 1985, and Arshad Ahmad Thoker, a constable in J&K Police’s armed wing since 2006, were the other two employees whose services were terminated under the same provision.

Article 311(2)(C) grants the government the authority to dismiss employees without the need for an explanation or a formal inquiry into their conduct. Over the last eighteen months, the J&K government has terminated approximately 52 employees, citing security concerns. However, the government has not disclosed the specific reasons for their termination to either the employees or the media.

The termination has raised eyebrows and concerns over possible misuse of power. A government source highlighted that tampering with a Cabinet note, as alleged in this case, is a matter of grave concern and must go through multiple levels of approval. Such actions can have serious implications and cast doubts on the transparency and fairness of the process.

Among the terminated employees, six belong to the Jammu region, while the remaining are from the Kashmir valley. The decision sends a strong message regarding the government’s commitment to ensuring security and maintaining law and order in the region.