L-G Sinha sacks two government employees for anti-national activities in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday (August 22, 2025) terminated the services of two government employees, including a school teacher, after security agencies’ reports suggested their involvement in anti-national activities in the Union Territory.   

Invoking special provisions of Article 311, which do not require any departmental inquiry, the orders issued by the L-G administration terminated the services of Khurshid Ahmad Rather, a teacher appointed in 2003 and regularised in 2008, and Siyad Ahmad Khan, an Assistant Stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department. Mr. Rather was teaching in a government school close to the Line of Control in Kupwara’s Nawa Gabra area.

“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Siyad Ahmad Khan, a resident of Keran, Kupwara, are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. The L-G is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case,” reads the order.

The L-G has terminated 77 government employees since amended provisions of Article 311 were introduced in 2020 in J&K. All these employees, according to reports prepared by the security agencies, were allegedly involved in anti-national activities in J&K.

The sacking of the government employees in J&K continued in spite of the ruling party National Conference (NC) manifesto promising to re-examine all such cases of termination. 

Most of the regional parties had opposed the L-G’s move in the past on the grounds that the termination should follow a due process of law instead of merely being based on the reports filed by the security agencies. The terminated employees included children of separatist leaders and militants.