CAT issues notice to Chandigarh Education Department

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh, has issued a notice to the UT Education Department on a petition filed by a lecturer seeking regularisation of service.

The applicant, Ravinder Singh Saini, is working as a lecturer (hotel management) at Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sector 10 since 2002 on a contract basis. He contended that he was seeking regularisation of his services in light of the Supreme Court judgment in the State of Karnataka versus Uma Devi case.

This petition assumes significance for UT teachers and lecturers as a lot of them are seeking regularisation. Saini stated in the petition that after completing the four-year degree in hotel management from the Dr BR Ambedkar College of Hotel Management, Bangalore, he joined the school. He was selected as per the recruitment rules existing at that time. The appointment of the applicant in 2002 was made in completely transparent rnanner and it cannot be labeled as a backdoor entry. The applicant is continuing his service uninterruptedly till date at basic salary and DA.

Saini’s advocate Dhiraj Chawla contended that the case of the applicant was fully covered by the judgment of the Supreme Court of India in Uma Devi’s case. All states were directed to regularise those who have continuously been working for more than 10 years and were duly qualified to be appointed to sanctioned vacant posts.

He also contended that even as per the recruitment rules, 2011, the applicant was eligible for direct appointment/regularisation to the post of vocational lecturer. He said at the age of 45, the applicant is overage for all public appointments and the respondent authorities ought to consider his claim for regularisation.