* Seeks separate benches at Jammu, Srinagar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 30: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today vehemently objected to a Central Government order by virtue of which all aggrieved employees of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are henceforth supposed to approach Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Chandigarh for redressal of their grievances.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari took a strong exception to the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training Government of India dated April 29 by way of which CAT has been reconstituted and its jurisdiction extended to J&K employees who were brought within the ambit of Central services on October 31, 2019 because of the UT status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Instead of establishing two tribunals one at Jammu and another in Srinagar for the aggrieved employees of J&K UT, shifting above 30,000 service matters pending against J&K UT to the CAT Chandigarh for adjudication is simply a travesty of justice,” Bukhari said while demanding immediate withdrawal of controversial order in the interest of welfare of employees and unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the new order does not only deprive the aggrieved employees of J&K of speedier and cost effective justice delivery but also deny these rights to the job aspirants of J&K who would like to approach judicial system with their grievances regarding the fairness and other anomalies, if any, in government conducted recruitment processes.
“There are above 30,000 services matters pending in Jammu and Srinagar wings of J&K High Court awaiting disposal. These matters pertain to various claims like promotions, pensions, retirement benefits, transfers, suspensions, disciplinary actions, quashment of selection lists, stays and other similar matters. Once these cases are shifted to CAT in Chandigarh, it is bound to prove a tedious and a costly affair for almost all these litigants which will surely defeat the purpose of constitutionally guaranteed justice at doorstep to the citizens of the country,” Bukhari remarked.
JKAP president said that the a huge chunk of service matters filed before the J&K high court pertain to daily wagers, casual labourers, consolidated workers, ITI and skilled workers, contractual and adhoc appointees, Class IV besides other low paid employees of both divisions of J&K who can hardly afford the litigation costs, fee for lawyers, and travel and stay expenditures if their litigations are shifted to CAT in Chandigarh.
“By establishing two separate wings of CAT in twin capitals of J&K, justice will get speedier, cheaper and the litigants will have a choice to engage local lawyers and save their expenses on travel and stay besides the average time spent on pursuing a hearing in their matters will be reduced substantially,” he opined. He solicited the personal intervention of Union Home Minister to order establishment of two designated CAT wings at Jammu and Srinagar.
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