J&K government invokes Article 311 provisions for the first time, to fire teacher accused of raping student

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday (September 21, 2026) invoked provisions of Article 311 to terminate the service of a government school teacher accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in the Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar district.

“After considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the material available on record, the competent authority was satisfied that the activities of the teacher warranted imposition of a major penalty,” reads the order.

It said the competent authority considered it “not reasonably practicable” to hold a departmental inquiry in the case and invoked Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, which permits dispensing with an inquiry in specified circumstances.