Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: High Court has directed the State Government to file counter affidavit within two weeks as the appointment of Nasreen Khan as Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums has been challenged in the court of law.
Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir after hearing the counsels for both the parties directed the State Government to file the counter affidavit within two weeks. Justice Mir said that once the affidavit is filed the counsel for the petitioner can file the rejoinder within one week. The case has been listed for November 16.
The appointment of Nasreen Khan as Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums has been challenged by Mohammad Shafi Zahid, Deputy Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums. In the petition, the petitioner has submitted that Nasreen Khan is suffering from Hamparesis for quite a long period and has been unable to work in her parent Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums.
The petitioner further submitted that Nasreen Khan was attached with State Institute of Education for drawl of pay as she could not perform any teaching job nor any official duty in the institution as she needs some helper to move even to occupy a chair.
“The state level selection committee while flouting the rules of appointment of Director, Archives, Archaeology & Museums, appointed Nasreen Khan as Director, Archives in stop gap arrangement for specific period of six months. The recommendations for her promotion came from Establishment Committee which had earlier rejected the claim of Nasreen Khan on the ground that she is physically handicapped and not able to attend her office and do justice to its functions,” said Zahid in his petition.
The petitioner while referring to the committee report submitted that Nasreen Khan had no experience for the post of Director Archives and she had been posted to the College of Education since 2006. He expressed surprise over the Establishment Committee’s alleged turnabout and termed it as baffling.
Mian Abdul Qayoom argued the case on behalf of the petitioner while as M A Chashoo, Additional Advocate General and Advocate Nazir Ahmad Malik appeared for the respondents.
The petitioner filed writ petitions before the High Court which were allowed by High Court and passed speaking orders to the Government to promote the petitioner against the post of Director, Archives after considering his APRs and certificates of appreciation within two months.
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