12 govt employees sacked for alleged role in Valley unrest

Police planned to press charges against more than 130 state government employees under the stringent Public Safety Act

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has sacked a dozen of its employees on the charge of spearheading and participating in anti-India protests that engulfed the state after the killing of a militant leader in July.

The termination follows reports early this month that police were getting ready to press charges against more than 130 state government employees under the stringent public safety act (PSA) for directly and indirectly instigating the Valley’s unrest.

A total of 90 people were killed and thousands wounded in clashes with security forces since young Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s death.

The employees sacked through an order released on Wednesday have been accused of violating the code of conduct for government staff.

The order states that the employees’ anti-national acts not only question the “sovereignty and integrity of India”, but also violate “Rule 14 and 20 of the JK Government Employees Conduct Rules 1971”.

These employees belong to various departments, including revenue, public health engineering, school education, consumer affairs and public distribution, sources said.

“Their continuation in service will not only set a bad precedent, but would tantamount to putting a premium on indulging in misconduct, subversion and anti-national activities,” the order says.

The ground for their sacking was prepared last month when the police intelligence wing drafted a dossier containing names of 36 employees, who have allegedly fomented trouble in Kashmir and incited youth to throw stones at security forces and indulge in other acts of violence, including arson.

The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), an organisation that fights for the rights of employees, already threatened to protest and sue the state government.