CAT quashes appointment of PGI assistant purchase officer

The Chandigarh Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal has quashed an eight-year-old order of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, appointing Yogesh Kumar Sharma as an assistant purchase officer and directed to consider a claim of an applicant Pardeep Singh for the post.

The Bench comprising member (A) Anjali Bhawra and member (J) Ramesh Singh Thakur passed the order on the application filed by Pardeep, before the Tribunal through advocate Barjesh Mittal.

Pardeep prayed before the Bench to quash the notice dated January 29, 2016, whereby he had been declared as not eligible for the post of assistant purchase officer at the PGIMER.

He also prayed to quash the notice dated August 3, 2016, whereby Yogesh had been declared qualified for the post of assistant purchase officer and order dated August 10, 2016, whereby Yogesh had been selected and appointed as the assistant purchase officer ignoring his merit.

Pardeep said he possessed all qualifications required for the post of assistant purchase officer, which was advertised on June 15, 2013.

He applied for the post and appeared for written exam on October 8, 2013. The recruitment cell of the respondent institute declared seven candidates as successful and Pardeep was one of them.

However, he was declared ineligible as his experience certificate was before possessing an MBA degree. He said nowhere in the recruitment rules it had been mentioned that the experience acquired before obtaining MBA degree would not be considered.

He said he obtained all relevant documents under RTI Act, 2005. While Pardeep scored 50 marks out of 85 and secured top position, Yogesh obtained only 35 marks.

In its reply, the PGIMER said during scrutiny, it found that the applicant had not annexed the relevant experience certificate as required under the recruitment rules and his candidature was rejected by the competent authority as he was not found eligible.

After hearing, the Tribunal quashed the result dated January 29, 2016, and August 3, 2016 and order dated August 10, 2016.

The Bench directed the PGIMER to consider the claim of the applicant for the post of assistant purchase officer by following relevant rules and if found eligible, appoint him with effect from the date Yogesh was appointed with all consequential benefits.