CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL JAMMU BENCH, JAMMU (RESERVED)

Hearing through video conferencing Transfer Application No. 8643/2020 Reserved on: - 29.07.2025 Pronounced on: - 24.12.2025 HON’BLE MR. RAJINDER SINGH DOGRA, MEMBER (J)

HON’BLE MR. RAM MOHAN JOHRI, MEMBER (A)

Sonu Singh, Aged 35 years, S/o Late S. Harbajan Singh R/o Camp Gole Gujral, Talab Tillo, Jammu.

…Petitioner (Advocate: - Mr. Abhinav Sharma, Ld. Sr. Advocate)

Versus

1. State of Jammu and Kashmir through Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Planning & Development Department, J&K Government, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.

2. Director, Economics & Statistics Department, J&K, Srinagar.

3. Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board, Srinagar, Zam Zam Hotel, Rambagh, Srinagar, through its secretary.

4. Rakesh Singh S/O Sh. Pritam Singh R/O Paloura, Janipur, Jammu.

5. Neetu Raina W/o Naresh Kumar R/O Kotli, Galabana, R. S Pura, Jammu.

6. Vikas Rampaul S/o Pawan Kumar RO Maralia, R. S Pura, Jammu.

7. Sanjeev Singh Bhau S/O Shri Thoru Ram Bhau R/O Chakkara, Tehsil Akhnoor, District Jammu.

…Respondents (Advocate:- Mr. Sudesh Magotra, ld. AAG, Mr. Hunar Gupta, ld.

DAG, Mr. Rajesh Thapa, ld. AAG)

ORDER Per: - Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member

1. The SWP No.1517/2017 was transferred from the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu and was registered as T.A No.8643/2020 by the Registry of this Tribunal.

2. The present matter was filed before the Hon’ble High Court seeking following relief: -

a) “WRIT OF CERTIORARI quashing the selection of Respondents No. 4 to 7 as Key Punching Operators in Planning Department, especially when the Respondents No. 4 to 7 have obtained their One Year Diploma Courses in Office Automation and Internet from the institutes which are neither recognized by the DOEACC, University of Jammu, All India Council for Technical Education or J&K Board of Technical Education and the selection of Respondents No. 4 to 7 suffers from illegality and arbitrary exercise of powers by the Selection Committee, whereby, the merit position of the Writ Petitioner has been converted into demerit;

b) WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing and commanding the Respondents No. 1 to 3 to select and appoint Writ Petitioner as Key Punching Operator in Planning & Development Department on the basis of his possessing better percentage in the academic merit as well as on the basis of his excellent performance in the process of interview qua the Respondents No. 4 to7;

c) Any other Writ, Order or Direction which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, may kindly be passed in favour of the Writ Petitioner.

The costs of the Writ Petition (Service) be also awarded in favour of the Writ Petitioner and against the Respondents.

An affidavit in support of this Writ Petition (Service) duly sworn by the Writ Petitioner is filed herewith.

3. The facts of the case as pleaded by the petitioner in his pleadings are as follows: -

a) The petitioner, Sonu Singh, a permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir, assailed the selection and appointment of private respondents (respondent Nos. 4 to 7) to the post of Key Punching Operator (KPO) in the Planning & Development Department, pursuant to Advertisement Notification No. 09 of 2013 dated 21.06.2013, issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).

b) Under the said advertisement, applications were invited for Divisional Cadre posts of Key Punching Operators, prescribing the minimum eligibility qualification as Bachelor’s Degree with one-year Diploma in Application Software / Office Automation Software from a recognized institute. The advertisement further clarified that degrees/diplomas obtained through distance mode would be acceptable only if they were in consonance with Government Order No. 252-HE of 2012 dated

30.05.2012.

c) The petitioner holds a Bachelor of Science (Information Technology) degree from Punjab Technical University, obtained in September 2005, and claims to possess superior academic merit. He qualified the