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Tribunal Order on Railway Selection Case

The Central Administrative Tribunal addressed a case involving Ashok Kumar Pandey against the Railway Board regarding changes in the selection process for Group-B posts. The tribunal rejected the applicants' prayer for interim relief, stating that the selection process would allow candidates based on their written examination scores and a quota system for promotions. The case is scheduled for further consideration on October 13, 2025.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
17 views3 pages

Tribunal Order on Railway Selection Case

The Central Administrative Tribunal addressed a case involving Ashok Kumar Pandey against the Railway Board regarding changes in the selection process for Group-B posts. The tribunal rejected the applicants' prayer for interim relief, stating that the selection process would allow candidates based on their written examination scores and a quota system for promotions. The case is scheduled for further consideration on October 13, 2025.

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CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH

61/35, COPERNICUS MARG,NEW DELHI-110001

Order Sheet
Item no.: 36
O.A./2699/2025 (DELHI)
[ SELECTION ]
With
Court No.: 3
No of Adjournment: 1

Order Dated: 30/07/2025


ASHOK KUMAR PANDEY
Vs
RAILWAY BOARD

For Applicant(s) Advocate : Mr. Shubham Chaturvedi

For Respondent(s) Advocate : Mr. Gyanendra Singh for Ms. Nidhi Rai with Mr. Munni Raj
Meena, CLA, Izzatnagar

Order of The Tribunal

1. Learned counsel for the applicants prays for grant of interim relief. He
draws attention to the order passed by the Tribunal on 18.07.2025. The
said order is reproduced below:-
"The applicant is aggrieved by RBE No. 10/2025 dated 03.02.2025, whereby it is
claimed that the rules of selection process have changed in between. The notification for
filling up Group-B posts was issued on 15.11.2024, and thereafter, by the impugned
order dated 03.02.2025, the respondents have changed the rules mid way.

Issue notice.

Ms. Nidhi Rai, learned counsel appearing on advance service, accepts notice on behalf
of the respondents. She presses for Interim Relief as set forth in para 9 of the Original
Application, which is reproduced hereinbelow:-

"a) Direct the Respondents to conduct the entire selection process, in accordance to
notification dated 15.11.2024, 04.11.2024, 13.11.2024, 07.11.2024, 08.11.2024,
28.11.2024, 08.11.2024 and 18.11.2024 issued by North Eastern Railways, Western
Railways, Northeast Frontier Railways, East Coast Railways, North Western Railways,
South Eastern Railways and Eastern Railways respectively, strictly in accordance with
the eligibility criteria, grading system ("Good" and "Outstanding"), and
b) Issue further direction to the respondents to process with the exam as per provisions
of RBE 93/2024 dated 08.10.2024, which was issued prior to notifications of exam and
to call the qualified candidates for viva-voce in order of merit, and/or.

c) Pass any other ad-interim or interim relief as this Hon'ble Tribunal may deem fit and
proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice."

Learned counsel for the respondents shall file a short reply or in the alternate, seek
instructions on the prayer of the Interim Relief.

List on 30.07.2025 for consideration on the prayer of Interim Relief.

List before the Principal Registrar's Court on 13.10.2025 for completion of pleadings. "

2. Short reply on the prayer of interim relief has been filed by Ms. Nidhi
Rai, learned counsel for the respondents.

3. Mr. Gyanendra Singh for Ms. Nidhi Rai, learned counsel for the
respondents, upon instructions from Mr. Munni Raj Meena, CLA,
Izzatnagar, Eastern Railway, relies on para ‘f’ and ‘i’ of the short reply.

4. He submits that under the scheme of examination 70% quota is


assigned for promotion by selection through seniority which comprises of
written examination, viva voce and assessment of APAR. The marks after
adding each of the three components are consolidated and the result is
prepared. The marks are arranged in the order of merit and then
promotions are extended.

5. He clarifies that in the present facts in order to fill the maximum


vacancies an open invitation was extended to all eligible and willing
persons to participate in the selection process. The applicants have been
allowed to participate in the written examination pursuant to the
notification dated 03.02.2025. However, the number of vacancies
multiplied by 6 times (X*6) would be the number of candidates, who
would be called for viva voce. He submits that in case the marks obtained
by the applicants are within this zone (X*6) of consideration they would
be allowed to participate in the viva voce. He submits that inadvertently
in the counter reply in some places it mentions (specifically in para ‘i’)
the word ‘seniority’ as against ‘the marks obtained by the applicants in
the written examination’.

6. In view of the above, the prayer for interim relief of the applicants is
rejected.

7. List on 13.10.2025.

Chhabilendra Roul Pratima K Gupta


Member (A) Member (J)

/dd/

Common questions

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The reasons for rejecting the interim relief included the respondents' clarification on the process and criteria, where despite the discrepancy in the counter-reply, the tribunal found that the process had sufficient grounds and adherence to procedural requirements as submitted by the respondents. The tribunal did not find compelling cause to alter the ongoing selection protocol .

The change in rules affected the selection process by modifying the criteria midway, as originally set by the notification issued on 15.11.2024. The Tribunal noted this grievance and considered the requests for interim relief to conduct the selection process under the original notification terms. However, the Tribunal ultimately rejected the prayer for interim relief .

To ensure the filling of maximum vacancies, the Railway Board extended open invitations to all eligible and willing candidates to participate in the selection process. They allowed participation in the written examination and planned to call candidates for viva voce in a ratio of six times the number of vacancies .

The discrepancy concerned a rule change notified on 03.02.2025, after the initial notification on 15.11.2024 for the selection process. The applicant argued this change was mid-way, affecting fairness. This was addressed by the tribunal through consideration for interim relief, though ultimately, the relief was denied .

The tribunal's decision reflects on procedural fairness by scrutinizing the changes in rules post-notification and the need for transparency and consistency in selection criteria. While acknowledging the grievances related to mid-way change, the rejection of interim relief underscores the tribunal’s balanced approach in ensuring both procedural adherence and administrative discretion .

The tribunal noted that candidates would be called for viva voce based on their marks in the written examination, specifically if they were within a zone calculated as six times the number of vacancies (X*6).

The tribunal planned to handle the respondents' representation by requiring them to file a short reply regarding the interim relief request or seek instructions on the matter. This plan was outlined in the proceedings, setting a date for further considerations and listing for completion of pleadings .

The applicant requested interim relief to ensure the selection process adhered to the original notifications and eligibility criteria, and to conduct the exam in accordance with RBE 93/2024, with a call for qualified candidates for viva-voce based on merit. The outcome was that the tribunal rejected this request for interim relief .

The discrepancy identified in the Railway Board's counter-reply was the inadvertent mention of 'seniority' instead of 'marks obtained by the applicants in the written examination'. This error had the potential to misrepresent the selection criteria, however, the tribunal proceeded to reject the interim relief requested by the applicants, suggesting it did not critically impact the proceedings .

The main components for promotion in the Railway Board's selection process included a written examination, viva voce, and assessment of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APAR), with the results consolidated based on these criteria .

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