The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed government not to terminate or cancel the controversial appointments of candidates made in J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) to the posts of assistant executive officers, publicity officers and junior statistical assistants except under due process of law.
The court issued the directions after hearing the joint petition filed by seven appointees.
These appointees, represented by advocate MM Dar, quoted the media reports about the submission of Goyal probe committee report which was tasked to look into the dubious recruitment. As per media reports, government is mulling to cancel all these alleged dubious appointments in KVIB.
“Appointment of petitioners which have been made pursuant to proper selection process cannot be cancelled by the government unilaterally without even complying with principles of natural justice,” advocate MM Dar submitted before the court.
On 19 March 2018, PDP-BJP government led by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had constituted a high-level probe panel to conduct an inquiry into the selections made by the KVIB against these posts after the PDP leadership in particular drew harsh criticism when Aroot Madni, nephew of Mehbooba Mufti and son of PDP vice-president Sartaj Madni was appointed as executive officer in the KVIB.
RK Goyal, principal secretary to the government, Home Department was appointed as the chairman of the probe committee and principal secretary , health and medical education department Pawan Kotwal and then secretary school education department Farooq Ahmad Shah were appointed as the committee members.
“The whole selection process, which culminated in our appointments, was transparent yet on some complaints the Government constituted a high-level committee”, the petitioners submitted.
After hearing counsel for the petitioners, Justice Sanjeev Kumar issued notice to the government and said: “In the meanwhile, subject to objections and till next date of hearing before the bench, appointments of petitioners on their respective posts shall not be cancelled/terminated in pursuance or otherwise of report, if any, submitted by the High-Level Inquiry Committee, constituted vide Government Order no.462-GAD of 2018 dated 19th March 2018, otherwise than by following due process of law.”