Katra/Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday questioned arbitrary dismissal of government employees for their alleged terror links by the Lt Governor saying that the law says that “every accused person is innocent until proven guilty” in the court.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to terminate the services of the three employees on Saturday after investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies accused them of terror links.
So far, over 70 government employees have been dismissed on the charges of terror links over the past few years.
“If there is a proof against them (dismissed employees) and they have been given an opportunity to clear the allegations but failed… if such steps are taken without hearing them, the law says that every person accused of any crime is considered innocent until proven guilty,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Katra.
He was reacting to a question on the latest dismissal of the government employees accused of terror links by the Lt Governor and said everyone is getting an opportunity to speak in the court.
“There should be a court hearing and if they fail to prove their innocence, take whatever action they want,” the chief minister said.
He also expressed his displeasure over the tabling of the Waqf bill and said “this law is against Muslims of the country and there is no other reason for such a law”.
Asked about his maiden budget, he said it is better to wait. “The (assembly) session will start on March 3 and the budget will likely be presented on March 7.”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on said “arbitrary and summary” dismissal of employees was continuing even after an elected government has taken office in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, Mufti said, “Arbitrary and summary dismissals of government employees has become a daily occurrence since 2019. What is perhaps most surprising and puzzling is that it continues unabated despite an elected government in power that had promised to put an end to such practices once in office.”
The former chief minister said the people had pinned hopes on the National Conference government, expecting some relief.
“People had pinned their hopes on the new government expecting at least some relief through vigorous advocacy of these issues with the LG,” she added.
CPI(M) leader and MLA Kolgam, M Y Tarigami and Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone also flayed the government move.
