CAT order on RCT posts advert upheld

The Madras High Court has upheld an order of the TN Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dismissing a petition from an advocate seeking to quash an advertisement inviting applications for the posts of Vice-Chairman and Members (Judicial) at various benches of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) in the country.

A division bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M Venugopal upheld the CAT’s order last week, while dismissing a writ petition from PN Peruvazhuthi, an aspirant to one of the posts.

The Railway Ministry issued a notification in June 2005 to fill up the existing and prospective vacancies of the posts of Vice-Chairman and Member (Judicial) at RCT’s various benches. Peruvazhuthi, who submitted his application, was not selected. By an RTI Act application, he came to know that his candidature was not considered on the ground that his income was below Rs two lakh. Contending that this condition was not found in the notification, he moved the CAT challenging the selection of the candidates. The CAT rejected the plea on question of maintainability. Hence, the present writ petition, which was also dismissed.