NC seeks rollback of order shifting service matters to CAT Chandigarh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU Apr 30: Assailing the decision with regard to transfer of pending cases with regard to service matters of the Jammu and Kashmir government employees to Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh, National Conference today sought revocation of the order and allowing the prevailing mechanism to continue.
“The order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India is uncalled for and almost a punishment for the aggrieved employees of Jammu and Kashmir, who will be required to proceed to Chandigarh for redressal of their grievances”, a joint statement issued by the National Conference said, calling for its abeyance forthwith in the larger interest of the employees.
The senior National Conference leaders lamented that by virtue of the order over 30,000 cases pending in Jammu and Kashmir High Court, at its wings in Srinagar and Jammu, would stand transferred to CAT Chandigarh, entailing an unwarranted and avoidable burden on the employees. The new mechanism will serve as a deterrent for the aggrieved employees who may be required to seek redressal in their service matters in future as well. The cumbersome process and hearing far away in Chandigarh will ultimately prove a demoralizing factor for the employees, the statement added.
The statement added that the decision has directly impacted thousands of employees, who mostly comprise non-gazetted and Class IV employees, daily wagers, casual, consolidated and contractual work- force, who cannot afford the litigation far away in Chandigah.
“The decision also foils the commitments made by governments from time to time to ensure door-step justice to the people and in this case the employees”, the statement said, urging the government to rollback the order in the larger interest of the state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, the signatories to the joint statement included Senior Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta, Advocate D. S Chauhan, Advocate Kashmira Singh, Advocate Surinder Singh Bunty and others.