Conclude selection process of AIOs within a month: HC directs SSB

Srinagar: The High Court Monday directed the Service Selection Board (SSB) to take the selection process regarding the Assistant Information Officers (AIOs) to its logical conclusion at the earliest, preferably within a month.

 

A division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice Muhammad Akram Chowdhary issued the direction after perusing the SSB’s status report indicating that the recruiting body was in the process of taking the selection process to its logical conclusion.

Counsel representing the SSB, Sajjad Ashraf submitted that the board was taking every possible step to ensure that the selection process was taken to its logical conclusion as early as possible.

“This contempt petition, with the consensus of the counsel for the parties, is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to take the selection process to its logical conclusion at the most earliest, preferably within one month from today, of course, in tune with the mandate of the Judgment of this court dated May 1, 2013,” the court said.

 

However, the court said that if the petitioner after the lapse of the time period still would have any grievance with regard to implementation of the judgment, he should be at liberty to approach the court again in appropriate proceedings.

 

While the High Court in 2013 had directed the SSB to go for a fresh selection of the AIOs, the order was upheld by the Supreme Court later.

 

The High Court had directed the selection agency to proceed with the selection process afresh in conformity with the rules.

 

 

 

The board had issued three different notifications in 2006, 2008 and 2010, inviting application for the posts of Assistant Information Officer Grade-II.