HC relief for 378 OCS officers as court quashes SAT order

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today quashed a previous order of State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) regarding nullification of appointment of 378 Odisha Civil Services (OCS) officers made in 2010.

Pronouncing its final verdict, the HC today declared appointment of 378 OCS officers, in several cadres, including Odisha Administrative Services (OAS) and  Odisha Financial Services (OFC), as valid.

“The court stated that there was no violation of Article 14 and 16 as was mentioned in the petition challenging the Government’s earlier decision to promote these officers to Class I,” informed OPSC advocate Pradipta Kumar Mohanty.

In May 2014, SAT had quashed appointment of 378 OCS officers made in 2010 on the grounds that the officers, who were recruited in Class II posts with basic pay of Rs 6, 500, were promoted to Class I rank with basic pay of Rs 15, 000 in 2010 in contravention of rules. The SAT’s order had come in response to a petition filed by an OCS aspirant in 2010 questioning the legality of 2006 OCS examination.

Also Read: Odisha HC Stays SAT Decision To Annul Appointment Of 378 OAS Officers  

Petitioner Surabhi Mohanty had alleged that OPSC, in a 2006 advertisement, invited applications from eligible candidates to fill up 378 Class II posts in several cadres, including OAS and OFS, but later appointed selected candidates in Class I category. The recruitment process was completed in 2010.

Stating that the candidates could not be employed as Class I officers as they gave the test for Class-II posts, Mohanty termed the entire selection process as illegal and urged SAT to quash the appointments.

In June 2014, the HC, however, had stayed the tribunal’s decision.