Pulwama, March 31: The Anti-Corruption Court Pulwama, presided over by Special Judge Dr. Noor Mohamad Mir, on Tuesday convicted five persons, including Hamida Akhter, in a decades-old case related to a fraudulent government job appointment.
The convicted individuals include Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, Bashir Ahmad Shah, Syed Showkeen Andrabi, Mohammad Ashraf Khan, and Hamida Akhter. The case pertains to the незакон appointment of Akhter as a teacher at Government High School Goripora in Pulwama.
The case originated in 1998 following information received by the Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau), which revealed that the appointment had been secured through forgery and criminal conspiracy involving officials and others.
After investigation, a chargesheet was filed in October 2000. Following prolonged judicial proceedings, the court delivered its verdict on March 31, 2026.
The court sentenced the convicts to:
Five years’ simple imprisonment and fines under provisions of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and forgery-related offences
Additional imprisonment of three years under cheating charges (Section 420 RPC), along with fines
The court also specified further imprisonment in case of non-payment of fines.
The conviction underscores the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s continued efforts to ensure accountability and curb corruption in public services.
