PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday set aside the April 2015 seniority list of government officers that had been challenged by Swapnil Naik, Elvis Gomes and Menino D’Souza.
The officers had challenged the seniority list by which three officers were inducted into the IAS. Sandip Jacques and Arun Desai have already received IAS postings, whereas Naik is waiting a posting.
As per the original seniority list Naik was at first place, followed by Gomes, Jacques, D’Souza, Desai and Melvyn Vaz.
The trio petitioned the High Court, stating the government had changed the seniority list and placed Jacques at number one followed by Desai, Naik, Gomes, D’Souza and Vaz.
As per the notification only the top three officers would be inducted into the IAS and based on the new list Jacques and Desai have already been elevated and posted.
The HC’s quashing of the seniority list will affect Desai, who is fifth on the original list, while Jacques who is third will retain the IAS posting but be third in seniority.
The petitioners have welcomed the order and said that the seniority list was manipulated to favour a few officers and induct them in the IAS.
Gomes, currently posted as Inspector General of Prison, said the seniority list that cannot be changed was changed by the government and the court has rightly given its order.
All three petitioners were appointed into the Goa Civil Service on a junior scale in 1998, and on a senior scale in 2005 and the seniority list drawn in 2006.
