Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that government employees suspected of involvement in narco-terror activities should be tried in courts rather than dismissed outright, as the current system denies them a fair chance to defend themselves.
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha dismissed two government teachers for their alleged links with terrorists.
“I have always maintained that such terminations should be carried out through the courts. Everyone deserves an opportunity to explain themselves,” Abdullah told reporters in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
The Lieutenant Governor had terminated the services of Ghulam Hussain and Majid Iqbal Dar, both teachers, who were allegedly involved in supporting activities of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit.
Abdullah said the process adopted by the LG for dismissing employees offers no chance for them to present their side.
“These employees often get reinstated by courts later. It’s better to let the judicial system decide and punish the guilty. Terminating people merely on suspicion could prove harmful for everyone,” he added.
The Chief Minister also congratulated Rajya Sabha MP-elect Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan on his victory, expressing hope that he would strongly voice the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament.
“I have come here to congratulate the people of Handwara, north Kashmir, and especially Ramzan, who won with a majority in the Rajya Sabha elections. I hope he will represent the people of J&K effectively in the country’s highest forum,” Abdullah said.
