Kashmiri Lecturer Suspended for Appearing in SC Against Revocation of Article 370 (Image:www.main.sci.gov.in/)

A senior lecturer at a government school in Srinagar has been suspended from service after appearing in an ongoing session against the abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court.

The lecturer Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, who is also an advocate, appeared in the top court on Wednesday. He is a senior lecturer of political science at the Government Higher Secondary School in Srinagar”s Jawahar Nagar.

In the court, he argued for the petitioners in the case.

“I teach Indian politics in J&K. It is… very difficult for me to teach since 2019 about this beautiful Constitution. When students ask if we are a democracy after 2019, it is difficult to answer. Despite the assurance made by the then Governor Satya Pal Malik on August 4 that the Article 370 will not be abrogated, a curfew was imposed at midnight and former chief ministers were detained”, The Hindu quoted Mr Bhat during the hearing.

The State was split into two union territories “in violation of the morality of Indian constitution”. “It was against people’s right to democracy as the consent of people of J&K and Ladakh was not taken into consideration. The move was against cooperate federalism and supremacy of the Constitution”, Mr Bhat added in Court.

Following the event, an order of suspension was issued by Alok Kumar, the Principal Secretary of School education in J&K on Friday. The order says Mr Bhat as a “deliquent officer”.

“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″, Indian Express quoted the order.

A senior officer is also appointed as an inquiry officer to conduct an in-depth inquiry into Mr Bhat”s conduct.

“Further, it is hereby ordered that Ms Subah Mehta, Joint Director, School Education, Jammu is appointed as inquiry officer, who shall conduct an in-depth inquiry in the conduct of the delinquent officer”, the official statement added.

During the period of suspension, Mr Bhat will remain attached in the office of Director School Education, Jammu.

Mr Bhat is a native of Kasmir”s Budgam district. He has a law degree, and appeared personally at the top court. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370 from J&K.

Article 370 of the constitution gave special status to the northern region of India, Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir was administered by India as a state from 17 November 1952 to 31 October 2019, and Article 370 conferred on it the power to have a separate constitution, a state flag, and autonomy of internal administration.

The central government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

The land has been the subject of a dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since partition in 1947.