- Around 80 Employees Sacked in J&K; Mehbooba Warns of Growing Administrative Bias
Srinagar, Oct 30: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticized the recent dismissal of two government employees by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, terming it part of what she called a “deeply worrying trend” of disempowerment and marginalization of Muslims, particularly Kashmiris. Her remarks came following Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s decision to terminate the services of two teachers, Ghulam Hussain and Majid Iqbal Dar, on grounds of alleged links with the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In a statement, Mehbooba Mufti said the government’s actions were raising serious questions about fairness, justice, and due process. “Two more government employees have been terminated over alleged terror links, denied even the basic opportunity to defend themselves. This not only undermines natural justice but also fuels fears of a larger agenda to systematically disempower Muslims, especially Kashmiris,” she remarked.
The former chief minister argued that the government’s use of extraordinary powers under Article 311 of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without inquiry in the name of state security, had created an atmosphere of fear among government servants. “Since 2019, this clause has been repeatedly invoked to sack nearly 80 employees in Jammu and Kashmir. Many of them were not even informed of the exact charges, nor given a platform to contest them. Such actions erode institutional trust and make government employment seem precarious and politically influenced,” she said.
Mehbooba further alleged that these terminations were part of a broader pattern of discrimination. Referring to recent controversies over reservation policies and issuance of certificates, she claimed that “Muslims in general, and Kashmiris in particular, are being systematically sidelined.” “First, there were revelations about biased reservation policies disadvantaging marginalized communities, and now, wrongful dismissals continue unchecked, where the judge, jury, and executioner all belong to one side. This is not governance; it is persecution through administrative power,” she added.
The PDP chief maintained that while no one should be allowed to support or abet violence, every individual accused of wrongdoing must be afforded the constitutional right to defend themselves. “If there is credible evidence, why not allow an inquiry? Why not give the accused a fair hearing? Bypassing the principles of justice only deepens alienation and feeds into the very insecurities that breed unrest,” she cautioned.
Mehbooba also urged the administration to revisit such decisions in the spirit of fairness and accountability, emphasizing that arbitrary dismissals damage not only the reputation of those accused but also the morale of thousands of honest employees serving across Jammu and Kashmir. “Governance should not become an instrument of collective punishment. Transparency, fairness, and compassion must guide administrative actions, not suspicion and discrimination,” she stated.