PANAJI
According to reports, the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes had issued an advertisement inviting applications to the post of CTIs to fill up proposed 21 vacancies, although only 13 vacancies were available on the date of issuance of advertisement.
There were claims that 45 vacancies were sought to be filled up, more than double the posts advertised.
The entire selection process was carried out and letters of offer of appointment were issued on the eve of the Model Election Code of Conduct by the erstwhile government.
After the elections, it was found that the entire selection process was illegal and the government cancelled the offers of appointment. Aggrieved over the cancellation of appointments, the petitioners had moved the high court, which upheld the State government's order to cancel the offers of appointment and held the entire selection was illegal and in violation of rules of business.
The high court had also held that as on date of advertisement, there were only 13 vacancies by way of direct recruits available and the advertisement itself, therefore, was illegal as vacancies therein were much in excess of the clear vacancies available as on that date.
The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court, which had placed the matter for final hearing and disposal on Wednesday. The petitioners had contended that the BJP government had cancelled the appointments for political reasons.
The arguments for the State government were led by Additional Solicitor General of India Atmaram Nadkarni along with Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande and Addl Government Advocate S S Rebello.
After hearing both parties, the apex court upheld the order of the high Court and consequently upholding the state's action, dismissed the SLP filed by the petitioners.
