CAT directs JKSSB to allow more 145 Overaged applicants to participate in Selection Process
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a yet another significant order, a Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu comprising Member(Judicial) Rajinder Singh Dogra and Member (Administrative) Ram Mohan Johri, in three different Original Applications (O.A.’s) filed by 145 overaged unemployed graduates seeking age relaxation for participating in the ongoing selection process undertaken by J&K Services Selection Board(JKSSB) for the posts of Sub-Inspector in J&K Police, has directed the JKSSB to allow the applicants to participate in the process of selection to the said posts of Sub-Inspectors notified vide Advertisement Notice No. 02 of 2024 dated November 24, 2024.
The Bench of CAT at Jammu after hearing Advocate Mohd Zulkarnain Chowdhary with Advocates Sameena Kouser and Jamil Ahmed appearing for the 145 applicants further directed that the participation of the applicants shall be at their own risk and responsibility, however, the result of selection of the applicants shall be kept in a Sealed Cover and shall await further orders from the Tribunal.
When these Original Applications (O.A’s.) were taken up for hearing, Advocate M. Z. Chowdhary vehemently argued that the public employment is a National Resource and all eligible candidates have a fundamental right of consideration to participate in a competitive examination but in the instant case the maximum age for participation has been restricted to 28 years and 145 applicants before the Tribunal became overaged because of the inaction on the part of the indenting department (Home Department) as the Advertisement was issued after the lapse of more than 03 years from the last selection process.
Advocate M. Z. Chowdhary highlighted SRO-166 of 2005 whereby all Administrative Secretaries of J&K Govt are entrusted with the responsibility to refer the vacancies every year upto 15th of January to J&K PSC/SSB but in the present case the Home Department failed to comply SRO-166 of 2005 with the result for 03 years the vacancies could not be referred to SSB and consequently the applicants became overaged by more than 03 years.
Advocate M. Z. Chowdhary also referred to an Order passed by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu in WP(C) No. 3049/2024 titled Dinesh Singh Chib & Ors. v/s UT of J&K and Ors. whereby a Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh at Jammu comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal Wani directed the JKSSB to allow the petitioners to participate in the process of selection at their own risk and responsibility.
After considering the submissions of Advocate M. Z. Chowdhary appearing for the applicants and Deputy Advocate General Hunar Gupta appearing for Home Department and JKSSB, a Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal at Jammu directed the JKSSB to allow the 145 applicants to participate in the process of selection to the posts of Sub-Inspector notified vide Advertisement Notice No. 02 of 2024 dated November 24, 2024.
