New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the attorney general (AG) to look into the suspension of a lecturer by the Jammu and Kashmir Education Department after he appeared before the court in the Article 370 hearings.Senior advocate Kapil Sibal apprised the court of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat’s suspension. He said that the academic had taken leave for two days to appear in the matter and had been suspended on his return. “This is unfair, I am sure the AG will look at it,” Sibal was quoted by LiveLaw as saying.Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud told AG R. Venkataramani to look into the matter when solicitor general Tushar Mehta interjected, saying, “I have checked up after having read in the newspapers. What is reported in the newspapers may not be the whole truth.”Sibal pointed out that the August 25 order made a reference to Bhat’s appearance in the case.Also read: Article 370 Hearing: SC Told Extreme Examples Are Necessary To Solve Extreme CasesMehta argued that Bhat appears in various courts and that there were “other issues”. “Then he should have been suspended earlier, why now? This is not fair. This is not the way democracy should function,” Sibal responded.“Talk to the Lieutenant Governor and see what has happened. If there is something apart from this, then it is different. But why this in close succession to him appearing in the matter?” CJI asked.Justice Kishan Kaul said that if the letter of suspension has reference to his appearance, then “there is a problem”.Justice BR Gavai, who is also on the five-judge bench hearing the Article 370 petitions, said that the government action may be a retribution, ”What happens to so much freedom then… if it has happened due to appearance here then it is indeed retribution,” he said.Bhat, also an advocate who teaches political science at the Srinagar school, had told the apex court, “It is a challenging situation for educators like me when we teach the principles of this beautiful constitution and the ideals of democracy to our students in Jammu and Kashmir. Students often pose a difficult question – are we still a democracy after the events of August, 2019? Answering this question becomes extremely complex and challenging for me.”The J&K administration, which is run directly by the Union government, suspended Bhat for allegedly violating the provisions of J&K Civil Service Rules, J&K Government Employees (Conduct) Rules,1971, according to an order issued by the J&K’s Principal Secretary, School Education, Alok Kumar.“Pending enquiry into his conduct, the delinquent officer … is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect. He shall remain attached in the office of Director School Education, Jammu,” the order stated, while appointing Subah Mehta, Joint Director, School Education, Jammu as inquiry officer.According to Section 16 of J&K Government Employees (Conduct) Rules,1971, it is “not necessary” for an employee to “obtain permission for initiating proceedings in a Court of law in matters other than vindication of his official act.”Section 18 of the act bars employees from criticising the government in “any public utterance”, which, according to sub-section 1 of Section 18, “has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Government of India, Government of Jammu and Kashmir or any other State Government.”Bhat’s suspension evoked a sharp reaction from National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti who said that the action of J&K administration was “just the tip of the iceberg”.“Since the illegal abrogation of Article 370, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have to choose. Either be mute spectators and watch their livelihood, jobs and land being snatched or face the music for raising their voice. It’s a Hobson’s choice laden with deadly consequences. Every Kashmiri can’t afford to knock on the doors of the SC,” Mehbooba posted on X (formerly Twitter).Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah thanked Sibal for raising the issue of Bhat’s suspension in the apex court. ”Grateful to Kapil Sibal for raising the issue of Zahoor Bhat in the Supreme Court. Zahoor is a lecturer who was suspended immediately after he returned to the valley having argued his petition in front of the Constitution Bench against the events of Aug 5, 2019,” Omar posted on X.With inputs from Jehangir Ali.