PRIYESH KUMAR VERMA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present writ petition has been filed by the writ petitioner for setting aside the order dated 21.10.2020 passed in O.A.No.050/00287/2020 (Shashi Nandkeolyar Vs. The Union of India and Ors.), by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna, whereby the said O.A. has been admitted for hearing, rejecting the preliminary objection raised by the present petitioner.

(2.) Heard learned counsels for the parties and perused the record.

(3.) The dispute relates to the appointment to the post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of Forest Force), Jharkhand. The selection process was initiated for selection and appointment to the said post, by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the State of Jharkhand. The said committee, vide its recommendation dated 17.02.2020, as contained in Annexure-4 to the writ application, recommended the names of three persons, i.e. one Lal Ratnakar Singh, Shashi Nandkeolyar, the respondent No. 5, and Priyesh Kumar Verma, the present writ petitioner. On culmination of the selection process, finally the present writ petitioner had been appointed to the post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of Forest Force), Jharkhand, vide notification dated 24.06.2020, as contained in Annexure-9 (Srs.) to the writ application. This appointment was objected by the present respondent No. 5 by filing representation to the Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi, on 30.06.2020. It appears that thereafter, the matter has been brought to the litigation by filing O. A. No. 050/00287/2020 before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna, (hereinafter referred to as the 'Tribunal'). As per the present petitioner, this O.A. has been filed on 16.07.2020. Filing of this O.A. by the respondent No. 5 has been objected by the present petitioner raising preliminary objections mainly on two grounds: