Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 29: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a writ petition filed by Maisara, a resident of Handwara, who sought her appointment as an Education Volunteer under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), holding that her claim was "misconceived" as the Education Guarantee Centre (EGS) she relied upon was sanctioned for a non-genuine habitation.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal upheld the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which had rejected Maisara's claim in September 2023. The court observed that the alleged "Hajam Mohalla, Kachloo"- for which the petitioner claimed the post- was in fact a self-created locality established by her father and a few residents, and not officially recognized.
The petitioner argued that she had been selected at the top of the panel in 2005 after due process, with her certificates verified and approval granted by the Chief Education Officer, Kupwara. However, despite sanction, a formal engagement order was never issued.
The Education Department, on the other hand, submitted that as per SSA guidelines, an EGS Centre can only be set up in school-less habitations with at least 15 children above five years of age, located one kilometre away from the nearest school. In Kachloo, the officials found a middle school and another EGS Centre already functioning, leaving no scope for creating a new one.
The Bench held that the claim was not sustainable as the habitation itself was not genuine and departmental norms barred the establishment of another centre in the area. "We find no illegality or impropriety in the Tribunal's order. The petition is misconceived and dismissed," the court ruled.
(JNF) |
