J&K government fires teacher under Article 311 in sexual assault case

The Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed a teacher accused of sexually assaulting a minor student, marking the first instance of the elected state administration invoking Article 311 of the Indian Constitution to terminate a state employee without conducting a formal inquiry.

The teacher faces charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly raping a 14-year-old student. The victim subsequently died, adding severity to the criminal allegations against the accused educator.

Article 311 grants the government authority to dismiss or remove civil servants without holding an inquiry or hearing. While the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has repeatedly exercised these provisions to remove state employees in recent years, this represents the first application by the territory's elected government since the restoration of statehood.

The invocation underscores the government's swift action in cases involving crimes against children, particularly given the fatal outcome in this instance. The case remains under investigation by law enforcement agencies pursuing charges under both the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS.