-CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL JAMMU BENCH, JAMMU (RESERVED)

Hearing through video conferencing Original Application No. 779/2024 Reserved on: - 09.04.2025 Pronounced on: -09.12.2025 HON’BLE MR. RAJINDER SINGH DOGRA, MEMBER (J)

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

Mastrr Dheeraj Rampaul, Age 46 years S/o Sh. Baldev Singh R/o Village, Maralian, PO Miran Sahib, Tehsil R.S.Pura and District Jammu. (Pin Code 181101).

...Applicant (By Advocate: - Mr. Intikhab Shah)

VERSUS

1. Commissioner/Secretary to Government Forest, Environment and Ecology Department, Civil secretariat, Srinagar/Jammu. (Pin Code:-180001)

2. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (W/L)/ Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Manda Hill Jammu (Pin Code:-180001)

3. Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu Manda Hill Jammu (Pin Code:-180001)

4. Secretary Service Selection Board Sehkari Bhawan, Rail Head Complex, Jammu.

(Pin Code:-180012).

5. Nadim Ahmad Dar S/o Mohd Ashraf Dar R/o Bulbul Nowgam, Anantnag. (Pin :-192210)

6. Mukhtar Ahmad Dar S/o Mohd amin Dar R/o Monghall, Anantnag. (Pin:-192101)

7. Yashbir Singh Langeh S/o Amar Singh Langeh R/o Saraswati Vihar, Ward No. 16, Kalibari, Kathua.

(Pin:-184121).

8. Lalit Kumar S/o Bal Krishan R/o Vilage Nagni, Tehsil Bhaderwah and District Dodag (Pin:-182221).

…Respondents.

(By Advocate: - Mr. Sudesh Magotra, AAG, Mr. Hunar Gupta, DAG, Mr. Rahil Raja)

ORDER Per: - Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member

1. The applicant has filed the present Original Application under Section

19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following reliefs: -

a) “Quash the final seniority list of Foresters, Department of wildlife Protection issued by respondent no. 2 vide No:-CWW- Estb/2024/950-63 dated 18/07/2024 which pertain to the inter-

se seniority of the applicant and the respondents nos. 5 to 9;

b) Direction to the respondents nos. 1 & 2 to fix the inter- se seniority of the applicant and respondents nos. 5 to 9 as Foresters in the order of the merit obtained by them in the selection process after preparation of a combined merit list of the candidates selected pursuant to advertisement notices nos. 03 of 212 dated 28.12.2012, 06 of 2013 dated 10.05.2023, and

01 of 2014 dated 13.08.2014.

c) Direct the respondent no. 2 to accordingly re-issue the final seniority list by placing applicant and respondents nos. 5 to 9 according to the merit obtained by them in the selection process.

d) Any other relief which this Hon'ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may also be granted in favour of the applicant and against the respondents.”

2. The facts of the case as averred by the applicant in his pleadings, are as follows: -

a) The case arises out of a series of recruitment notifications issued for the post of Wildlife Forester in the Department of Wildlife Protection, wherein three different advertisement notices—Notification No. 03 of 2012 dated 28.12.2012, Notification No. 06 of 2013 dated 10.05.2013, and Notification No. 01 of 2014 dated 13.08.2014—were issued by respondent no. 4 (J&K Service Selection Board). Under Advertisement No. 03 of 2012, four posts were advertised for Divisional Cadre Kashmir; under Advertisement No. 06 of 2013, one SC post was advertised for Kashmir and three posts (OM/RBA/SC) were advertised for Jammu; and under Advertisement No. 01 of 2014, four posts were advertised for Kashmir and one OM post for Jammu. The combined break-up of the posts across all three advertisements was OM–06, RBA–03, SC–03, ST–01, totalling

13 posts.

b) The applicant submitted his application pursuant to Advertisement No. 01 of 2014, whereas private respondents 5 to 7 applied under Advertisement No. 03 of 2012, and respondents 8 and 9 under Advertisement No. 06 of 2013. Since the recruitment process for all three notifications had remained pending, the respondents conducted one common OMR-based written examination for all candidates from all advertisements on 24.12.2017, and on the basis of the OMR result, the candidates were shortlis