Govt order on ReT scheme closure challenged in HC

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 6

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday issued notices to the government in a bunch of petitions challenging the recent government order on the formal closure of the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme and cancellation of all advertisement notices issued for engagement of the ReTs or panels.

The respondents have been asked to file their response/objections within four weeks.

While issuing notices to the respondents, including the education department, which issued the order on the cancellation of the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme on November 16, 2018, following approval by the State Administrative Council headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik, the court in its interim orders on Thursday observed that the cancellation orders appeared to be violative of |the previous court judgments/orders.

“While appreciating the contention raised by me, the court on Thursday said the panels which have already been constituted with regard to the petitioners who have approached the High Court and earned the judgment, will stay alive,” said senior HC lawyer and former Advocate General Jahangir Iqbal Ganai.

Ganai on Thursday represented nearly 60 petitioners who had approached the court, challenging the government order with regard to the cancellation of the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme.

The HC directed the respondents, including the J&K Government through the Chief Secretary, Secretary, school education department, and others, to file their response in the petition within four weeks.

As submitted by the petitioners, the High Court in its previous directions had directed the respondents to complete the process of selection and engage the petitioners in question as the ReTs.

“Notwithstanding the direction issued by the honourable court, the respondents have issued an order dated November 16, 2018, in terms of which all advertisement notices and panels prepared have been deemed to have been cancelled. The order has an effect of overreaching the orders/judgments of the High court in letter and spirit,” the petitioners submitted, while praying for the quashment of the government order of November 16.

Response sought in a month

Senior HC lawyer Jahangir Iqbal Ganai on Thursday represented nearly 60 petitioners who had approached the court against the government order. The Chief Secretary and school education department secretary have been told to file their response in the petition within four weeks.