HC issues notice to govt in petition challenging cancellation of 101 job appointments in KVIB
Srinagar, Jul 30: In petition challenging the government decision that cancelled the selection of 101 candidates for different posts in Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), the High Court issued a notice to the authorities to show cause as to why the appeal be not admitted in the matter.
“Issue notice to the respondents to show cause as to why the appeal be not admitted,” directed a two judge bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar.
B A Dar, the additional advocate general of the state, accepted the notice and submitted that he may be permitted to file an affidavit clarifying the stand of the respondents.
Based on a report by a high-level probe panel, the Governor administration recently cancelled the selection of candidates for 101 posts made in KVIB during the PDP-BJP coalition government in 2017.
The aggrieved candidates assailed the court order of 16th of this month that upheld the Governor administration order No. 127-IND of 2019 dated 28.6.2019 regarding cancellation of 101 appointments in the Board.
The appellants claimed that pursuant to the selection process, which commenced by issuance of advertisement notice No. KVIB/1 of 2016 dated 8.10.2016, they came to be selected and appointed on different posts with the respondents.
They said that they rendered their services to the respondents for one and a half years on probation after proper participation in the selection process.
Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Navin Kumar Choudhary in a seven page order had cancelled the appointments made in 2017 for the advertisement notification issued in August 2016.
“The KVIB will provide opportunity of being heard to all candidates appointed to different category of posts pursuant to the advertisement notice dated 08.10.2016 and fulfill all formalities required under law before cancelling the appointment of these candidates,” the order read.
The aggrieved appellants said that they were deprived of an opportunity in the process of inquiry conducted by the government.
A high-level inquiry committee was tasked to enquire into the complaints relating to the alleged unfair selection by KVIB against various posts.
The selection process came under condemnation over the appointment of the son of then PDP vice-president (Sartaj Madini) as an executive officer in the KVIB.
The PDP had termed the selection as fair.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
