Srinagar, July 8: Four government school teachers in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have been placed under suspension for alleged negligence while performing duties related to the ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra, officials said on Wednesday.
According to an order issued by the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Ganderbal, the action was taken following a communication from the Nodal Officer of the Manigam Transit Camp, who is also the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Ganderbal. The suspension came into effect immediately.
The suspended teachers have been identified as Bilal Ahmad Sheikh of Haripora Kangan, Aabid Mohi-ud-Din Bhat of Manigam, Peer Mudasir of Wussan and Gowhar Rashid Kuloo of Gund.
Officials said the disciplinary action followed allegations of irregularities in the registration process for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims at the Manigam Transit Camp. According to the communication sent by the Nodal Officer to the district police, a mismatch was detected between the actual number of registrations and the entries recorded on fee registration forms generated in the name of one of the teachers. The report further stated that the possible involvement of the other three teachers could not be ruled out as they were present at the registration centre on the day of the incident.
The Nodal Officer has also requested the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ganderbal, to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, describing the allegations as serious.
The suspension order has been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Director of School Education Kashmir, the Nodal Officer of the Manigam Transit Camp, the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), and the teachers concerned for necessary action.
The 57-day annual Shri Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 28. Authorities have deployed extensive security and administrative arrangements, including RFID tracking and digital monitoring systems, to ensure the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
