HC stays order by Commission for Scheduled Castes

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31

Acting on a petition filed by the PGI, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed further proceedings before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in a selection matter.

The stay order by Justice Alka Sarin came after senior advocate Amit Jhanji, appearing for the institute, contended that a respondent in the present petition approached the High Court by filing a writ petition, ‘Professor Narendra Kumar versus PGI and another’.

Among other things, directions were sought against treating different departments and specialties as separate units for reserving posts. Taking up the petition in February, the Bench admitted the matter after observing that it required detailed consideration.

Jhanji added the same issues were raised by the respondent, along with the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Employees Welfare Association, by approaching the respondent commission. The selection process was stayed by the commission vide order dated June 21.

Jhanji, referring to the Rules of Procedure of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, submitted that the rules said no action would be taken on subjudice matters. Hence, subjudice matters were not to be referred to the commission as complaints. Before parting with the case, Justice Sarin also issued a notice of motion for November 18.