‘Only God can save country’ if cops skip duty over threats: Jammu and Kashmir High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ruled that if a police officer ceases to report for duty due to fear of militant threats, "only God can save this country," dismissing a former special police officer's request to reinstate his services. Justice Sanjay Dhar stated that even if the petitioner had the right to a hearing before his termination, his admission that he refrained from duty due to threats from militants was sufficient reason for his dismissal.

The August 10 ruling emphasized that a police officer, regardless of rank, failing to attend his duties out of fear from militants poses a threat to the country's safety, making it impossible for "only God" to save it. The petitioner, appointed as a special police officer in 2012, claimed he was on medical leave in 2015 when militants threatened his life, preventing him from returning to duty.

However, when he attempted to rejoin his posting, his request for reinstatement was denied. The high court dismissed his petition, stating that SPOs do not have the same rights as ordinary police officers, and granting him an opportunity to present his case prior to his disengagement would have been an empty formality.