Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 8: In a scathing indictment of the Health and Medical Education Department, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Srinagar Bench, came down heavily on the Government Dental College, Srinagar, for allegedly targeting a female Assistant Professor through an arbitrary and discriminatory disengagement order.
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Dr Sandeep Kour, who challenged her premature termination from the post of Assistant Professor in Periodontics. Represented by Advocate Wahid Lone under the guidance of Senior Advocate R A Jan, the petitioner accused the department of selectively ending her services while sparing others appointed under the same Government order.
The contested disengagement was communicated via letter dated 01.08.2025, despite Dr Kour’s engagement being covered under Government Order No. 562-JK(HME) of 2024 dated 16.08.2024, which allows for appointment on academic arrangement basis for up to six years, as per J&K Medical and Dental Education Rules, 2020 (S.O. 364).
Calling the action a “naked violation” of Rule 4 of the said rules, Dr Kour argued that the move was in breach of the constitutional guarantees of equality of treatment and opportunity under Articles 14 and 16. The petitioner alleged that the disengagement lacked transparency and amounted to invidious discrimination, as no such action was taken against other similarly placed appointees.
The Tribunal, led by Member (Judicial) M S Latif issued notice to the Health Department, with DAG Syed Musaib appearing on behalf of the respondents. Observing the lack of any plausible justification for singling out the petitioner, the Tribunal directed that Dr Kour’s current status shall not be disturbed and restrained the authorities from replacing her “by a similar arrangement” until the next date of hearing.
The respondents have been granted six weeks to file a detailed response. The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 9, 2025.
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