J&K lecturer suspended for appearing in SC, arguing for petitioners in Article 370 case

Terming him a “delinquent officer”, an order issued on Friday by the principal secretary to the government, school education, Alok Kumar, placed Bhat under suspension. “Pending enquiry into his conduct, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, senior lecturer, political science, presently posted at Government Higher Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect for violation of provisions of J&K CSR, Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (conduct) Rules,1971,” states the order.

The order further says that during the period of suspension, “the delinquent officer” shall remain attached in the office of Director School Education, Jammu. Subah Mehta, Joint Director, School Education, Jammu has been appointed as inquiry officer to “look into” Bhat’s conduct.

Bhat was on the roster for the advocates appearing for petitioners challenging the government’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status provided under Article 370. Bhat was allotted 10 minutes to speak on the matter on Wednesday.