LAWS(DLH)-2023-2-4

KARANTI GOYAL Vs. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

Decided On February 07, 2023
Karanti Goyal Appellant
V/S
Ministry Of Environment Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole petitioner, Karanti Goyal, filed this present petition challenging the order dated January 13, 2021 of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi ( 'Tribunal ', for short) in Original Application being O.A. 1078/2015, whereby, the Tribunal has dismissed the O. A, as being without merit.

(2.) The Original Application was filed by two applicants including the petitioner herein. The petitioner, a physically disabled candidate, had taken part in the Indian Forest Service Examination, 2014. He appeared in the Preliminary and Main Examination and was selected for Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The Recruitment Rules for IFoS, stipulate a walking test of 25 kilometers of distance to be covered in four hours by male candidates and 14 kilometers in four hours by female candidates. The petitioner appeared for the walking test and was not able to cover the distance within the stipulated time. He was given another opportunity, as provided for under the Rules, but he was not successful and as such was not included in the list of selected candidates.

(3.) It was the case of the petitioner before the Tribunal that, wherever any requirement is stipulated with reference to time, the relevant rules provide for compensatory / extra time for candidates with physical disability, but in the case of the petitioner, such a facility was not extended. It was also the case of the petitioner that, the requirement stipulated by the respondents with regard to the walking test is contrary to the guidelines framed by the Ministry of Social Justice.