Application for collective representation granted; respondents to consider promotion claims expeditiously.

The applicants, consisting of eleven individuals ranging in age from 34 to 58, filed an Original Application seeking promotion to the post of Senior Assistant without the prerequisite of the Secretariat Assistants Training Course (SATC)

They sought a direction to the respondents to consider their promotion in accordance with the Jammu & Kashmir Sheep Husbandry (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, 1987, specifically SRO 389 dated August 3, 1987

They also requested that the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) be convened to consider their cases based on seniority

The applicants' counsel stated that they would be satisfied if the OA was treated as a representation for consideration and decision within a stipulated timeframe

Whether the applicants should be granted permission to join and pursue the Original Application collectively

Whether the respondents should be directed to consider the applicants' cases for promotion to Senior Assistant without insisting on the Secretariat Assistants Training Course (SATC) qualification

Whether the respondents should be directed to convene a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) and consider the applicants based on their seniority

Whether the Original Application should be treated as a representation and the respondents directed to pass a reasoned and speaking order within a stipulated timeframe

The Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987, Rule 4(5) governs permission for applicants to join and pursue an Original Application collectively

The Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, Section 19 provides the statutory basis for filing Original Applications

The Jammu & Kashmir Sheep Husbandry (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, 1987, issued by Notification SRO 389 dated August 3, 1987, are the governing recruitment rules for promotion to the post of Senior Assistant

The Tribunal also referred to its previous judgments in "Jagmeet Singh and Ors. Vs. UT of J&K and Ors.", dated 10.07.2025, in OA 1241/2023 (Annexure A5) and "Nissar Ahmed Vs. State of J&K", dated 15.12.2025, in TA 1898/2020 (Annexure A6), as precedents for considering similar cases

The Court first addressed the procedural matter of collective participation, allowing the Miscellaneous Application under Rule 4(5) of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987

For the substantive reliefs, given the limited prayer by the applicants' counsel to treat the OA as a representation, the Tribunal decided to dispose of the Original Application with specific directions

The court did not delve into the merits of the promotion criteria or the SATC requirement but instead directed the respondents to consider the applicants' cases by treating the OA as a formal representation

This consideration was mandated to culminate in a reasoned and speaking order, taking into account the principles established in the previously cited judgments of "Jagmeet Singh and Ors. Vs. UT of J&K and Ors." and "Nissar Ahmed Vs. State of J&K"

This approach delegated the initial decision-making to the respondents while providing a framework for their consideration.

The Original Application No. 196/2026 was disposed of with the direction that the respondents treat the OA as a formal representation of the applicants

The respondents were ordered to pass a reasoned and speaking order after considering the applicants' cases in light of the judgments in "Jagmeet Singh and Ors. Vs. UT of J&K and Ors." (OA 1241/2023) and "Nissar Ahmed Vs. State of J&K" (TA 1898/2020)

This entire exercise is to be completed within a period of eight weeks

The OA stands disposed of with no costs