JAMMU: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled in favour of Rustam Abass, a candidate from Poonch who challenged the selection process for the post of Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics in Jammu and Kashmir, citing discrepancies in the application of eligibility criteria. The tribunal found that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) had applied revised selection criteria to certain posts but not to Abass’s case, raising concerns over fairness and possible favouritism in the recruitment process.
The case, originally filed as a writ petition before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, was transferred to CAT after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory in 2019. Abass argued that he should have been selected under the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) category after a revision in eligibility norms lowered the minimum qualifying marks. However, JKPSC did not apply this revised benchmark to his case, even though it had done so for other posts, including Medical Officers and Assistant Professors in Mathematics.
In its order, CAT found that JKPSC’s actions lacked consistency and transparency. It observed that the revised eligibility norms had been applied selectively, disadvantaging Abass. The tribunal suggested that such actions could indicate nepotism and favouritism, potentially warranting an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
CAT noted that two posts under the Open Merit category for Assistant Professors in Applied Mathematics remained unfilled due to a lack of candidates meeting the earlier benchmark. The tribunal directed JKPSC to review its selection process and reconsider Abass’s case under the revised eligibility norms.
