Biju K vs DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ANERGY on 29 October 2026

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CHENNAI Order Sheet Item no.: 8 O.A./1230/2026 (CHENNAI) [ EXAMINATION ] Court No.: 1 No of Adjournment: 1 Order Dated: 29/10/2026 BIJU K Vs DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ANERGY

For Applicant(s) Advocate : MR. RAVI ANANTHA PADMANABHAN, SR COUNSEL FOR MR.S.DAYANAND

For Respondent(s) Advocate : MR.SU.SRINIVASAN,SCGSC Order of The Tribunal Heard Mr. Ravi Anantha Padmanabhan, learned senior counsel for Mr. S. Dayanand, CFA. Admit. The learned senior counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is working as F Grade Scientific Assistant in Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for more than 21 years. He submitted that the applicant had a Diploma in Instrumentation when he was recruited to BARC. Later the applicant obtained additional qualification by completing B.E., Degree in Electronics and Instrumentation from MIT, Chennai affiliated to Anna University. He submitted that to be promoted to the higher post of Technical Officer (TO), one should clear the departmental exam known as STPT (Scientific Technical & Proficiency Test). He drew our attention to clause 7.5 of the guidelines dated 08.04.2015 which reads as under: “7.5 Accordingly, immediately after acquiring additional qualification, the employee is required to apply either for appearing for STPT or specifically opting out from appearing in the forthcoming STPT. Illustration for GEN/OBC candidates: If an employee acquires relevant additional qualification in April 2015, he will have two attempts for appearing for STPT in three years (in case of SC/ST Employees 3 attempts within five years), i.e. from 2015 to 2017. In case the employee opts out from appearing from STPT in 2015, he/she is required to avail the two attempts within next two years, i.e 2016 and 2017.” He submitted that originally the applicant appeared for the STPT examination in the year 2025 under the stream of Instrumentation, but he was not successful. He further submitted that in the year 2026, the applicant sought for Instrumentation stream, but the stream was defined as Electronics. Therefore, he submitted that it is a settled law that after the start of the game, rules of the game cannot be changed. The applicant has sought the following relief: “(i) To call for the records relating to the STPT 2026 examination notification, the Applicant's discipline allocation, the impugned order No.TC/201/STPT/2026/115247 dated 15.04.2026, final list of candidates screened in for the STPT 2026 examination dated 22.09.2026, impugned order No. T.C/201/STPT/2026/125795 Dated 07.10.2026, and impugned order No. T.C/201/STPT/2026/125866 Dated 08.10.2026,

ii) Quash or set aside the impugned orders dated 15.04.2026, 07.10.2026 & 08.10.2026 along with the consequential decisions/lists, insofar as they Assign the Applicant in the Electronics discipline and deny his request for assessment in the Instrumentation discipline and stipulate that his final permissible attempt will be deemed exhausted if he does not appear for the examination

(iii) Direct the respondents to permit the Applicant to appear for STPT 2026 in the Instrumentation discipline, consistent with his approved B.F. qualification and treatment of his candidature in 2025.

(iv) Direct the respondents to quash and set aside the note appended to Paragraph A, under the heading "List of Disciplines In Engineering Permitted For Acquiring Additional Qualification of B.E/B.Tech/Diploma," in Annexure III of the notification dated 18.03.2026, produced as Annexure A-5 to the present Original Application, insofar as it adversely affects the Applicant's right to appear for the STPT 2026 appear for STPT 2026 in the Instrumentation discipline.

(v) Pass such other orders or directions as this Tribunal deems fit and proper in the interest of justice.” The applicant has now sought for the following interim relief: “to grant an INTERIM DIRECTION directing the Respondents not to treat the Applicant's final permissible attempt as exhausted solely on account of his non- appearance in the disputed examination, and to preserve his final permissible attempt pending consideration and disposal of the present Original Application and pass such further or other orders as may be deemed fit and proper.” Mr. Su. Srinivasan, SCGSC takes notice on behalf of the respondents and objected for the grant of interim relief. Be that as it may, in the interest of justice, it is for the applicant to opt out from the present examination (2026) and the same will not be considered as an attempt. However, this Tribunal is not interfering in Clause 7.5 of the guidelines dated 08.04.2015. All other contentions raised by the applicant will be decided subject to the outcome of the present OA. Post the matter before the Registrar Court for completion of pleadings on 23.11.2026 and thereafter post before the Bench. Issue order copy today. M.L.Srivastava Member (A) M.SWAMINATHAN Member (J) P Aruna Sowbhagya ( steno 'c' )