CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL JAMMU BENCH, JAMMU (RESERVED)

Hearing through video conferencing Transfer Application No. 243/2025 & 175/2025 Reserved on: - 07.08.2025 Pronounced on: - 20.02.2026 HON’BLE MR. RAJINDER SINGH DOGRA, MEMBER (J)

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

1. TA/243/2025 Ajay Kumar, age 37 years S/o Sh., Gopal Dass, R/o H. No 38/3 Greater Kailash, Jammu.

…Petitioner (Advocate: - Mr. A.K. Sawhney)

Versus

1. Sher-e-Kashmir, University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chatha Jammu. through its Registrar.

2. Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir, University of Agricultural and Technology, Chatha Jammu.

…Respondents (Advocate:- Mr. Anil Khajuria, ld. Counsel for SKUAST University)

2. TA/175/2025 Ajay Kumar, age 33 years S/o Sh., Gopal Dass, R/o H. No 39 Lane No. 3 Greater Kailash, Jammu.

…Applicant (Advocate: - Mr. A.K. Sawhney)

Versus

1. Sher-e-Kashmir, University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chatha Jammu through its Vice-Chancellor.

2. Registrar, Sher-e-Kashmir, University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu Chatha …Respondents (Advocate:- Mr. Anil Khajuria, ld. Counsel for SKUAST University)

ORDER Per: - Rajinder Singh Dogra, Judicial Member

1. These cases were transferred from the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu and was registered as T.A No.243/2025 &

175/2025 respectively by the Registry of this Tribunal.

2. The present matter was filed before the Hon’ble High Court seeking following relief: - 1. TA/243/2025 “KEEPING IN VIEW THE SUBMISSIONS MADE AND THOSE TO BE URGED AT THE TIME OF HEARING; THE HON'BLE COURT MAY KINDLY BE PLEASED TO ISSUE A WRIT OF PROHIBITION; RESTRAINING THE RESPONDENTS FROM FILLING UP OF ONE POST OF ASSISTANT PROJECT PLAINING AND MONITORING OFFICER (APPMO) IN THE SKUAST-J BY DEMOTING/ DEGRADING AND DIVESTING THE PETITONER OF THE CHARGE AND DUTY OF THE ASSISTANT PROJECT AND PLANNING AND MONITORING OFFICER.

FURTHER TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS; DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO RELEASE THE CHARGE ALLOWANCE TO THE -PETITIONER FROM THE DATE IT IS DUE.

FURTHER TO PASS ANY WRIT ORDER OR DIRECTION THE HON'BLE COURT DEEMS FIT IN ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE.

2. TA/175/2025 i) “Quashing the said amendment of the University statutes /notification No:1 of 2012 particularly Annexure-3, whereby the Head Assistants, Senior Stenographers has been made eligible for the post of Assistant Project Planning and Monitoring Officer by changing the mandatory qualification of post graduation in Statistics/Agri.Stat/Agri.Economics by inserting the word preferably instead of mandatory.

ii) Quashing the notification No: 1 of 2012 Annexure-14 whereby the period for grant of next higher grade from the post of Statistical Officer has been fixed as eight year service as Statistical Officer, whereas for next grade to all other posts, the period has been fixed as two to five years.

MANDAMUS;

i) Commanding the respondent to include the post of Statistical Officer in the zone of consideration by amending the qualification for the post of APP&MO in University statutes and notification alongwith Sr.Stenographers/Head Assistants and delete the word preferably also and promote the petitioner as Assistant Project Planning and Monitoring Officer by deleting the word preferably from the said Statutes and notification No: 1 ii) Commanding the respondents to grant the next higher scale to the petitioner from the date he completed five years of service as Statistical Officer.

AND Prayer for issuance of any other interim or final relief as the Hon'ble Court may deem fit an appropriate in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case.

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

a) The petitioner Ajay Kumar was appointed as Statistical Officer in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) pursuant to Notification No. 1-Est of 2003 dated 09.04.2003. After undergoing due selection process, he was appointed vide Order No. 218 (Est.) of