Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: High Court has directed the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Jammu) not to fill up the post of Assistant Project Planning and Monitoring Officer (APPMO) and maintain status quo in regard to the petitioner.
This direction was passed by Justice Janak Raj Kotwal in a writ petition filed by Ajay Kumar, who is working as Incharge Assistant PPMO in the University through Advocate Aseem Sawhney.
During the course of arguments, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that in terms of the rules governing the recruitment to various posts in Project Planning and Monitoring Office of SKUAST Jammu there is no avenue for promotion of a Statistical Officer, on which the petitioner was appointed in 2003, and not even to the post of Assistant Project Planning and Monitoring Officer, which the petitioner is holding as its incharge pursuant to order dated 24.10.2008 issued by the Registrar of SKUAST.
“The petitioner is challenging the arbitrary action of the respondents whereby the SKUAST has initiated the process and is contemplating to divest the petitioner of the charge of Assistant Project Planning and Monitoring Officer and thereby demoting/ degrading the petitioner”, he said, adding “the respondents are also contemplating to grant promotion to certain officials of the grade of Head Assistants/ Senior Stenographers over and above the petitioner who is in the selection grade of Statistical Officer and holding the charge of APPMO since last about 8 years”.
It was also submitted that as a result of arbitrary action the petitioner would met with humiliation and disgrace as the officials of the rank of Head Assistants or Senior Stenographers who were below in grade than the petitioner would become senior to the petitioner.
After hearing counsel for the petitioner, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal observed, “prima facie case for indulgence is made out”. Accordingly, High Court issued notice which was accepted by AAG W S Nargal. As an ad interim relief, the court directed that the post of APPMO shall not be filled up subject to objections and till next date before the bench and status quo be maintained in regard to the petitioner.
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