HC directs SSB to Ensure logical conclusion of selection process within month
HC directs SSB to Ensure logical conclusion of selection process within month
Srinagar, Dec 14 : The High Court (HC) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Monday directed the Service Selection Board (SSB) to take the selection process of Assistant Information Officers (AIO) posts to its logical conclusion within a month.
A division bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Mohammad Akram Chowdhary directed the SSB to take the selection process of AIO posts to its logical conclusion within one month in tune with the mandate of the judgment of the court passed on May 01, 2013.
The court passed the direction after perusing a latest status report and noted that it transpires that the respondents are in the process of taking the selection process in question to its logical conclusion.
" In the event, the petitioner, after lapse of the aforesaid specified time period, still has any grievance regarding the implementation of the judgment, he shall be at liberty to approach this court again in appropriate proceedings," the bench directed.
Earlier, the court had underscored that the judgment passed by the division bench way back in 2013, has not been complied with, despite attaining finality.
" The board ought to have proceeded with the selection of Assistant Information Officers Grade-II," it said.
It further pointed out that the process of selection for the posts had remained pending for more than eight years.
" The board has not shown any progress in this matter till date," the bench said.
The court had also pointed out that the previous report filed by the respondents revealed that the SSB had conducted the written examination on December 20, 2020, and no further progress is shown except reference is made of some representations of candidates regarding the answer key, which has been referred to the Committee of experts.
It further underscored that the board took eight long months to see the result of the representations, which amounts to delay in implementation of the direction passed by this court.
“ Delay itself amounts to contempt of the court," it had held.
Today, when the matter came up for hearing, the government counsel, when asked by the court, submitted that the respondents are taking every possible step to ensure that the selection process is taken to its logical conclusion as early as possible.
The bench with the consensus of both the parties closed down the contempt plea with the direction to the respondents to conclude the process of selection for the said posts within a month.
