Principal IGGDC appts son registrar, Court stops salary

JAMMU: Observing that Dr Romesh Singh withheld the post of registrar of Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to engage his son, the state High Court on Thursday withheld the salary of registrar for the month of June, who was engaged for the period of three years.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar was hearing a petition filed by Mandeep Sharma challenging the order passed by the Dr Romesh Singh, whereby his son has been engaged as Registrar.
The court observed that the selection and appointment of respondent has been called in question primarily on the ground that the Dr. Romesh Singh, who also happens to be the father of respondent, vide advertisement notification dated 11.09.2018, notified only two posts of Registrar in the discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and deliberately kept one post withheld, which he advertised only on 01.12.2018, when his son allegedly acquired the eligibility for the post in question.
Court further observed that the matter was first considered by this Court on 04.06.2019, when the counsel appearing vice H A Siddiqui, Sr AAG for respondent Nos. 1 & 4, was directed to inform this Court about the availability of vacancies of Registrars on the date of issuance of first Advertisement Notice dated 11.09.2018 and also the reasons as to why all the three vacancies were not notified. The respondents were also asked to indicate the legal impediment, if any, for not notifying the third vacancy along with the two, which were notified vide Notification dated 11.09.2018.
The respondents, however, have not been able to answer the queries put by this Court vide order dated 04.06.2019. They claim that it is due to paucity of time they could not get requisite information from the respondents.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar further observed that be that as it may, the fact remains that the allegations made by the petitioner in this writ petition, if ultimately proved to be correct, do raise serious questions about the fairness of selection impugned in this petition., issued notices to the respondents, Advocate General along with Mr. Banu Partap, Government Advocate appear and waive notice on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 & 4 and Adv Ashish Sharma, Advocate appears on behalf of respondent No. 3. Notice shall now go to respondent No. 2, returnable within four weeks. Requisite steps for service within one week.
Court further observed that the respondent has already filed objections. The same are taken on record. Rest of the respondents shall file objections within four weeks and shall also provide information as was requisitioned by this Court vide order dated 04.06.2019. and directed to list the matter on July 16, 2019. Meanwhile, subject to objections from other side, salary of respondent No. 3 for the month of June, 2019 shall not be disbursed.

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