HC notice to govt on plea against cancelled hiring for 181 SCB posts

Cuttack: Orissa high court has issued notice to state authorities on a plea seeking quashing of the order cancelling the recruitment process for 181 Group D posts of attendants of SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack.
Amit Kumar Swain (38), an applicant included in the draft merit list and whose document verification was completed, filed the petition on Aug 12.
According to HC’s Sept 18 order, advocate Ramakanta Sarangi, representing Swain, submitted “the impugned decision to cancel the entire recruitment process is illegal as it has violated the petitioner’s fundamental right and principles of natural justice”.
“Considering the grounds stated in the petition, the court is inclined to issue notice to the commissioner-cum- secretary, health & family welfare department, and superintendent of SCBMCH to file responses,” the single-judge bench of Justice R K Pattanaik said on Tuesday and fixed Nov 7 “for final hearing and orders”.
The superintendent of SCBMCH had published an advertisement inviting applications on Dec 17, 2016. Of the 181 vacant posts, 102 were reserved for scheduled tribe, 34 for scheduled caste and 45 for SEBC candidates.
The recruitment process was cancelled by an office order issued by the superintendent on May 17 this year followed by a corrigendum on July 3. By then, the recruitment process had not been completed and no appointment letter was issued.