Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: Several KAS officers affected from impugned seniority list have urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik to pass directions for its immediate withdrawal.
In a meeting held at Udyog Bhawan, the officers discussed the issue of seniority and demanded intervention of Governor and Chief Secretary for the settlement of the long pending issue.
It is pertinent to mention that there is no firm seniority list and the State is suffering due to non-induction of KAS officers into Indian Administrative Service (IAS). There are around 50 vacancies under promotion quota but the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India is not in a position to clear inductions.
The dispute arose when Madhav Lal was the Chief Secretary and M S Khan was Secretary to Government, General Administration Department, who finalized seniority in association with some beneficiaries who dealt the case in the GAD and issued the list in total contravention of Rules of 1979 and 2008, said the KAS officers.
They further said that the tentative list issued on the basis of these Rules relied on yearly vacancies and availability of slots to various feeding services was distorted by wrong interpretation of Rules and judgments.
“About 110 officers out of the list of 235 were affected compelling 40 to 50 officers to file petitions and the Single Bench of the High Court quashed the list partially by directing placement of 49 irregularly appointed officers at bottom of list and reviewing cases of petitioners to restore their positions”, the officers said.
However, the GAD preferred not to implement the decision of the court and instead file appeal. The Division Bench, however, didn’t stay the decision of the Single Bench and directed the State to work out yearly vacancies. But State approached Supreme Court and delayed the case.
The Supreme Court finally asked the DB to decide case within two months and meanwhile ensure that HoDs are posted only as per seniority list affirmed by the Single Bench.
“However, the State in brazen violation has posted even junior officers as HoDs violating court orders. Surprisingly, Government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of B B Vyas, the then Planning Commissioner to work out a roadmap for settlement of issue. The committee has also noticed large scale bungling in the seniority list”, the KAS officers claimed.
In view of the brazen violations, the KAS officers who attended the meeting have made an appeal to the Governor and the Chief Secretary to order withdrawal of the list and refix the same without any delay.
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