Letika Saran challenges CAT order on DGP post

CHENNAI: Letika Saran has moved the Madras High Court with an appeal challenging the order dated May 31 last of the TN Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which quashed her appointment as DGP of Tamil Nadu.Originally, while passing orders on an application from R Nataraj, former Director of Fire and Rescue Services, the CAT had set aside an order dated January 8, 2010 of the Chief Secretary appointing Letika as the DGP. The order also directed authorities to consider the claim of Nataraj for the post of DGP with effect from November 27, 2010, since he was the senior most person and ranked No 1 in the panel drawn up by the UPSC and that the petitioner was on leave due to which the post was lying vacant. Hence the present appeal. She contended that the CAT had overlooked the fact that the government had independently examined the panel along and their service records and had also taken into consideration the length of service, record and experience. Being a senior or first in the list/panel did not confer any right on Nataraj for appointment to the post, she said, and sought to quash the May 31 order. Her interim prayer was to stay its operation.