Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 30: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has directed the Public Works Department not to make further promotions of Junior Engineers (JEs-Civil) till further orders.
The CAT was hearing the plea of aggrieved JEs appointed under Prime Minister’s Special Package Scheme (PMSS) seeking quashing of orders vide No.148-PW(R&B) of 2021 dated 19.04.2021, Order No.156-PW(R&B) of 2021 dated 27.04.202 whereby various JEs have been promoted to the post of I/C Assistant Engineers Civil (AEs).
The CAT after hearing the advocate Altaf Mehraj on behalf of aggrieved JEs directed not to make promotions to remaining JEs who are hundreds in number. The CAT bench also issued notice to Government through Commissioner/Secretaries to Govt, General Administration Department, Public Works (R&B) Department, Department of Disaster Management, Relief , Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir for filing of their reply.
The Bench also issued notice to promoted I/C AEs for filing their reply explaining as to how their promotion is genuine as the aggrieved candidates are seeking quashing of the promotion of those Engineers. Earlier the CAT while hearing the plea of JEs (Mechanical) appointed under PMSS stayed the seniority list where-under the JEs in Mechanical were promoted as AEs excluding those JEs who were appointed under PMSS.
Aggrieved JEs submitted before the CAT that they had migrated in early 90s from Valley of Kashmir to rest parts of the Country in view of the deteriorated law and order situation as a consequence of the outbreak of militancy in Kashmir and Government of India in order to safeguard and protect the lives of the migrants has made provisions for registration of all such persons.
“In this respect, the Secretary Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction came to be specifically entrusted with the job of registering all such persons so that different benefits and Schemes for their welfare could be provided to them in order to provide special benefits to the migrants has formulated a Special Package known as “Prime Minister’s Package for Return & Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir valley”, read the petition
The Applicants (Aggrieved JEs) after applying for the post of JE came to be appointed in terms of Government order No.360-PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 03.12.2010 and upon the recommendation of the J&K Services Selection Board appointed order came to be issued by the Commissioner/Secretary R&B (PW) in their favour.
They pleaded that a bear perusal of the impugned orders would reveal that their case of Promotion has been deferred and has been subjected to the decision of the Committee constituted vide Order dated 31.03.2021 and have been denied the benefit of Promotion to the Post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) by the Respondent Department.
The Orders of Promotion dated 19.04.2021& 27.04.2021 would further reveal that private respondents who were junior to the aggrieved JEs in the Final Seniority List have been promoted and placed as Incharge Assistant Engineers (Civil).
Follow our WhatsApp channel
