Kishtwar headmaster dismissed over minor's abuse, death after failed abortion

A government school headmaster in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district has been dismissed from service in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a minor tribal girl, which led to her pregnancy and her death following a failed abortion attempt.

The teacher, who had already been suspended, has been in judicial custody for the past month. He is the second government employee to be removed over the case. Earlier, the administration terminated the services of a sanitation worker at the Kishtwar district hospital, who police say helped the accused obtain the girl's ultrasound and gave her abortion medication.

The School Education Department issued the dismissal order on Monday after the competent authority concluded that the conduct attributed to the teacher warranted a major penalty. The government invoked sub-clause (b) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution, read with Rule 30(viii) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, holding that a regular departmental inquiry was not reasonably practicable in the circumstances. The order also stated that the teacher's continued employment would be detrimental to the interests of the government and could erode public trust in government institutions.

Following his dismissal, the teacher is disqualified from future employment in any department of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

According to police, the teenager was allegedly abused by the headmaster over several months. She died on August 20 after a failed abortion attempt. She was seven months pregnant and died on the way to Jammu, near Udhampur, after her condition deteriorated following a stillbirth in Kishtwar.

The case surfaced in August when the girl complained of stomach pain and was allegedly taken to a local health centre, where her pregnancy was confirmed. She was later moved to local medical facilities, where a fatal abortion attempt allegedly weakened her and labour was induced, resulting in a stillbirth.

After her death, the accused arranged a private ambulance to transport both bodies to her village. As the bodies arrived, villagers erupted in protest, and the next day the town under which her village falls observed a complete bandh.