The Central Administrative Tribunal has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to consider appointing a mechanical engineering diploma holder from a little-known institute in Rajasthan, holding that the degree is statutorily recognised.
“The respondent authorities (DMRC) are directed to accept the diploma certificate furnished by the applicant as an appropriate one and consider him for the appointment subject to his medical fitness and other requirements,” the tribunal bench of members A K Mishra and S D Anand said.
The tribunal’s order came on a plea by Delhi resident Vikrant Shokhanda, who had cleared his entrance test and interview for appointment as a station controller-cum-train operator by DMRC and had been summoned for the medical test.
But he was not examined medically despite appearing at the test venue on slated date and time, as DMRC authorities developed a last minute doubt as to whether the diploma secured by him was recognised at all.
Mr. Shokhanda, a product of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE) in Rajasthan also known as Gandhi Vidya Mandir, a deemed university applied for the post of station controller or train operator in 2009.
The denial prompted Mr. Shokhanda to sent a legal notice to the DMRC seeking reasons for the denial. The Delhi Metro in its reply stated that it was examining whether the IASE was recognised at all.
Following this, Mr. Shokhanda approached the tribunal against DMRC’s decision.
DMRC opposed his plea contending that the diploma obtained by the applicant was not recognised.
The CAT examined various documents and certificates submitted by Mr. Shokhanda to it in support of his claim that his alma matter was duly recognised by All India Council for Technical Education and statutory bodies and was empowered to award the diploma in mechanical engineering.
“The contention of the applicant (Mr. Shokhanda) that he had a valid diploma from a recognised institute stand vindicated and we do not see any justification to sustain the objection of the respondents (DMRC),” it said.
