J&K High Court Quashes Termination of Bank Officer Accused of Terror Links
· India · Indian Express, NDTV
The J&K High Court has quashed the termination of a J&K Bank officer who was dismissed from service without an inquiry for alleged involvement in terrorist and anti-national activities. Justice Sanjay Dhar ruled that dismissing an employee without an inquiry is a drastic step justified only in rare cases, noting the complete absence of any formal investigation or police findings against the petitioner. The court relegated the officer, identified as Deputy General Manager Saadut Hussain Pampori, back to the position he held immediately prior to the dismissal order issued on July 15, 2024. However, the court granted the bank the liberty to either initiate a regular departmental inquiry pursuant to his April 15, 2024, suspension or proceed afresh by fulfilling the specific requirements of Clause 12.29 of the bank's Officers Service Manual. Pampori had challenged his dismissal in court on the grounds that neither an FIR was registered nor any investigation was conducted by state or central
Why it matters
This ruling reinforces procedural safeguards for banking and public-sector employees in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that dismissals based on security allegations require proper departmental inquiries or formal investigations rather than executive orders.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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