UNION OF INDIA Vs. MEENA KUMARI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) THE petitioner i.e. the Railway Recruitment Board, Gorakhpur is aggrieved by the order dated 14.12.2004 passed in O.A. No. 528 of 2004 by Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna (hereinafter to be referred to as 'the CAT '). The challenge thrown by the petitioner to the impugned order of the CAT is based on the fact that the private respondent, Meena Kumari, did not have the requisite qualification to be appointed as a Teacher on the post of P.G.T. (Home Science), but despite the accepted position, the CAT has directed them to issue a letter of appointment in her favour within the specified time indicated in the order. The Railway Recruitment Board through its Chairman, Gorakhpur invited applications for appointment of qualified candidates for the post of P.G.T. Teachers for the Railway Schools operating under them. The recruitments were to be effected on various post like Home Science, English, Maths, Sanskrit etc. In this regard advertisements were issued as per employment notice dated 29.3.2003 in Employment News, Rojgar Samachar and various local daily newspapers.

(3.) IN the advertisement dated 29.3.2003 of the "Employment News", in column 23, relating to RG. T (Home Science), the minimum qualification was indicated as B.Sc. in Home Science or B.A. in Home Economics or B.A. in Domestic Science, whereas in all other advertisements the qualification laid down for RG.T.(Home Science) was B.Sc. trained in Home Science or B.A. trained in Home Economics or B.A. trained in Domestic Science. When the authorities discovered the discrepancy in the advertisement contained in "Employment News" dated 29.3.2003 vis -a -vis other advertisements in Hindi, they immediately issued a corrigendum on 31.3.2003. This corrigendum was not only published in the "Employment News ' but many other newspapers national and regional Hindi and English totalling 37 in number. In other words at the shortest possible time i.e. within two days widest publicity with regard to the error contained in 'Employment News ' with regard to minimum qualification for appointment on the post of P.G.T. (Home Science) was given by the petitioner herein.