CAT order to UT on food safety officer’s plea for appointment

Chandigarh, February 14

In an order passed today, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today directed the UT Administration to consider the UT’s senior-most food safety officer for appointment as designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act and fill the post on a regular basis in three months than filling it by way of deputation. 

The CAT disposed of the application filed by Food Safety Officer Sukhwinder Singh, who had moved the tribunal in 2011, seeking direction to the UT administration for considering him for the post. He had challenging the UT Administration move to fill the post by way of deputation.

Singh had claimed that he was the senior-most food safety officer, thus was eligible to be appointed a designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

In his application in September 2011, He had submitted: “The post of designated officer is being occupied by an official who has come on deputation, in addition to his own duties. He is on deputation for medical services as SMO from Haryana whereas as per the Act and rules, a whole-time officer is required to be appointed designated officer for performing duties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed thereunder in 2011.”