Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: High Court has quashed the appointment of Ajiaz Masood as Research Officer in the Public Works Department.
After hearing Advocate S K Shukla appearing for the petitioner Dr Amit, who challenged the appointment on various grounds, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal observed, “benefit of four years’ research experience, said to have been gained by Aijaz Masood while working in the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, prior to obtaining the Master’s Degree, cannot be counted against the ‘research experience’ as contemplated under the first category of eligibility clause under the Rules”.
“Without going into sufficiency of the ‘research experience’ said to have been so gained by Aijaz Masood, these four years are to be excluded and in that situation the experience of five years and four months as calculated by the PSC is reduced far below the requisite experience of three years. Therefore, Aijaz Masood cannot be held possessing requisite ‘research experience’ to fulfill the eligibility criteria”, High Court said.
Justice Kotwal said that PSC does not seem to have shown sufficient seriousness while determining the eligibility of Aijaz Masood. “Though no ground for commenting upon the manner of functioning of the PSC is available but one may not resist saying that the question relating to experience gained prior to eligibility qualification should have been dealt with more seriousness and by a speaking order”, Justice Kotwal added.
With these observations, Justice Kotwal allowed the petition with the direction that selection of Aijaz Masood for the post of ‘Research Officer’ in terms of Select List dated 19.05.2010 issued pursuant to Vacancy Notification No. 9-PSC of 2009 dated 17.03.2009 shall stand quashed. Justice Kotwal also directed PSC to declare the petitioner as selected candidate.
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