In a major embarrassment for Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Srinagar, has stayed the recruitment process for the post of Cameraman following serious allegations of favoritism, manipulation of eligibility criteria, and abuse of official position.
The recruitment process, initiated to fill two Cameraman posts, has come under judicial scrutiny after Zahid Ahmad Sheikh of Tangmarg approached the Tribunal challenging the provisional selection list issued by the university.
In his petition, Sheikh described the entire selection process as “shabby, arbitrary and tailor-made” to accommodate a favoured candidate. He alleged that despite being declared ineligible during the recruitment process, a candidate was mysteriously brought back into contention and ultimately selected.
The petitioner has further alleged that the dramatic turnaround was not accidental but the result of undue influence exercised by senior officials.
The crux of the petitioner’s grievance lies in the qualification relied upon by the selected candidate. Rather allegedly possesses a Diploma in Cinematography from Bharat Sevak Samaj (BSS), an organisation whose recognition status has been questioned by courts and whose activities have come under the scanner of law enforcement agencies.
According to the petition, the University had constituted an Equivalence/Relevance Committee to assess the eligibility of candidates whose qualifications did not exactly match the prescribed nomenclature. The Committee explicitly resolved that candidates must possess diploma certificates issued by recognised universities or institutions. Despite this, Rather was considered eligible on the basis of a ‘non-recognised diploma’.
According to the petition, the selected candidate allegedly lacked the mandatory qualification prescribed in the advertisement notice. The petitioner claimed that objections regarding the candidate’s eligibility were ignored and that repeated representations highlighting the alleged irregularities were brushed aside by the university authorities.
The petitioner further contends that Rather does not possess the requisite experience as a cameraman in short films, documentaries, and news packages, an essential requirement under the advertisement notification.
The case has raised disturbing questions about transparency and fairness in recruitment within one of Jammu and Kashmir’s premier institutions. The petition alleges that eligibility records were altered without explanation and that established procedures were compromised to ensure the selection of a preferred candidate.
Aggrieved by the University’s failure to consider his representation dated May 25, 2026, Sheikh approached CAT under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. The Tribunal has now stayed the recruitment process pending further verification.
The case highlights the growing concern over the use of unrecognised qualifications in public recruitment and raises serious questions about the verification mechanisms employed by universities and other public institutions.
Taking note of the allegations, the Central Administrative Tribunal has stayed further proceedings relating to the appointment, effectively halting the recruitment process until the matter is examined in detail.
When contacted Deputy Registrar, SKUAST-K, Mir Rashid, he didn’t received call from this reporter despite many attempts.
The controversy has triggered widespread debate among job aspirants, many of whom view the case as a litmus test for accountability and transparency in public recruitment.
The matter will be heard next on July 22, 2026.
