241 aspirants who have crossed the age to appear for the selection process of sub inspectors in Jammu and Kashmir

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Saturday directed the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board to allow 241 above-age aspirants to participate in the selection process for sub-inspectors in the police department.

CAT directed JKSSB to allow 241 above age aspirants to participate in SI selection process

However, the Jammu bench of CAT comprising Rajinder Singh Dogra (Judicial Member) and Ram Mohan Johri (Administrative Member) also said that the results of these applicants will be kept in a sealed cover by the board pending further orders from the commission. court, said Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs.

The JKSSB conducted the sub-inspector recruitment exam on March 27, 2022, but the shortlist of 1,200 candidates, along with 1,300 junior engineers and 1,000 financial assistants, was canceled by the J&K administration in July following allegations of paper leak and malpractice

The CBI, which was entrusted with the case, filed a charge sheet against 33 persons on 12 November 2022.

Dismissing the application filed by 241 unemployed graduates who sought a single relaxation period, the CAT Jammu directed the JKSSB to allow the applicants to participate in the selection process for the posts of sub-inspector notified last month.

The tribunal also ordered that the applicants’ participation be at their own risk and responsibility and their results be kept in a sealed envelope pending further orders from the tribunal.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argued that public employment is a national treasure and all eligible candidates have a fundamental right to participate in the competition, but in this case, the maximum age of participation was restricted to 28 years and 241 candidates before. The tribunal became exasperated by the “inaction on the part of the indenting department (Home Department) as the notification was issued after the lapse of more than three years since the last selection process,” Ahmad said.

He said they also pointed to a government order of 2005, which directed all administrative secretaries of the J&K government to send year-by-year vacancies by January 15 to the J&K Public Service Commission and JKSSB.

Ahmed said that the tribunal was also informed about an earlier order given by the J&K and Ladakh High Court that the JKSSB should allow the petitioners to participate in the selection process at their own risk and responsibility.