SRINAGAR: An anti-corruption court in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, has convicted five individuals in a long-standing case of fraudulent government teacher appointments. The court sentenced the convicts to jail terms and imposed fines for their involvement in corruption and forgery, marking a significant development in the region’s efforts to tackle malpractice in public service.
Court Delivers Verdict in Decades-Old Case
The Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Pulwama, Noor Mohamad Mir, delivered the verdict on Tuesday, convicting Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, Bashir Ahmad Shah, Syed Showkeen Andrabi, Mohammad Ashraf Khan, and Hamida Akhter. The case, initially registered as FIR No. 110/1998, pertains to the fake appointment of Hamida Akhter as a teacher at Government High School Goripora in Pulwama district.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the case involved Sections 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Sections 468, 471, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). These charges relate to corruption, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Background of the Fraudulent Appointment
The investigation by the then Vigilance Organisation of Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau) began on September 15, 1998, following credible information that Hamida Akhter had been working fraudulently as a teacher. The court found that the fake appointment was facilitated by the criminal involvement of the other accused individuals. Assad Ullah Lone, also accused in the case, has since expired.
A charge sheet was filed by the police on October 14, 2000, initiating the judicial process. After years of legal proceedings, the court found the accused guilty of the charges leveled against them.
Sentencing and Penalties
The court pronounced sentences on March 31, 2026. For the offence under Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, the convicts were sentenced to five years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional year of simple imprisonment.
Furthermore, for offences under Sections 468, 471, and 120-B of the RPC, they received a five-year simple imprisonment term and a fine of Rs. 30,000. Non-payment of this fine would lead to a further three months of simple imprisonment.
Additional sentences were handed down for the offence under Section 420 of the RPC. Mohammad Ashraf Khan and Hamida Akhter were sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 20,000 each, with an additional three months of simple imprisonment for default in payment. The same Section 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the JK P.C Act and Sections 468/471 RPC also saw Mohammad Ashraf Khan and Hamida Akhter receive a five-year simple imprisonment and Rs. 50,000 fine, with an additional year for default. For Section 420 RPC, they were also sentenced to three years imprisonment and a Rs. 20,000 fine, with a further three months for default.
Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Stance
Officials stated that this conviction represents a notable achievement in the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s ongoing mission to ensure integrity and accountability within public service in Jammu and Kashmir. The verdict is expected to serve as a deterrent against corrupt practices in recruitment processes.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
