J&K govt dismisses 18 employees

SRINAGAR: The J&K government has ordered the dismissal of 18 employees, suspected of having links with the ultras.

J&K chief secretary C Phunsung said this is part of the ongoing process of dismissing employees who are suspected of having links with militants. “The process of dismissal of such employees has begun. I am afraid that I cannot tell you how much time it will take to cleanse the administration completely,” he told DNA.

Those who were dismissed include a doctor, two junior engineers and one university lecturer. The other eleven worked in different government departments of the state. The decision was taken by the cabinet which met in Jammu on Friday night.

Despite the boycott by the PDP ministers, the cabinet went ahead with the decisions that include dismissal of the employees having links with the ultras.

In the early nineties, several senior officers were sacked on charges of being close to separatists. The order was, however, rescinded.

Even today, several government employees’ unions are affiliated to the Hurriyat Conference. They propagate secessionism in the state The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), an apex body of government employees, has asked the government to allow the employees to put forth their point of view before dismissing them.

“The government should give proof before dismissing the employees. They should be given a chance to clear their stand. Dismissal is not the answer as it also affects the family of the accused,” said Abdul Qayoom Wani, president of EJAC.