vineet pal vs RAIL BHAWAN on 5 November 2026

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ALLAHABAD Order Sheet Item no.: 3 O.A./1271/2026 (ALLAHABAD) [ APPOINTMENT ] With M.A./5950/2026 JOINT APPL Court No.: 3 No of Adjournment: Order Dated: 05/11/2026 VINEET PAL Vs RAIL BHAWAN

For Applicant(s) Advocate :

For Respondent(s) Advocate : Order of The Tribunal Shri R.B. Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and Shri Anil Kumar, learned counsel for the respondents no. 1&2 along with Shri Chakrapani Vatsyayan learned counsel for the respondents no. 3 & 4, are present. M.A. No. 5950/2026 (Joint Application). This is an application filed under section 4(5) filed by the counsel for the applicants seeking permission to pursue the case jointly. Since the cause of action and relief claimed by all the applicants are similar, therefore, M.A. No. 5950/2026 u/r 4(5) is allowed accordingly, the applicants are permitted to pursue the case jointly. Order in OA Learned counsel for the applicants submitted that the applicants had applied for the post of Junior Engineer in different departments of the Railway Establishment pursuant to Employment Notice No. CEN/03/2024 issued by the Railway Recruitment Board. He further submitted that, despite having successfully cleared all the stages of the selection process, the applicants' diplomas issued by the Directorate of Air Veterans have been questioned mechanically by the respondents, merely on the ground that the approval for the said diploma was granted for a period of five years, commencing from 2002–2003, whereas the diploma certificates were issued in the years 2025. Learned counsel further submitted that the applicants had completed their Diploma in Electronics Engineering in the years 2004 and 2006, respectively, and the certificates issued by the Directorate of Air Veterans clearly indicate that the said diploma course was recognised by the Government of India, Ministry of Education, Social Welfare (Department of Education), in terms of O.M. dated 26.05.1976 and 10.03.2003. He further submitted that the Railway Recruitment Board had been duly apprised, from time to time, that the diplomas obtained during the service period are treated as equivalent to a three-year diploma and have been recognised by the AICTE. In support of his submissions, learned counsel drew attention to Annexure A-15, being the letter dated 04.12.2019 issued by the Director General (Resettlement), Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, as well as the letter dated 10.03.2003 issued by the AICTE granting approval to the said course. He also referred to letter No. AIR HQ/99799/10/1/DAV/WEL (A&N) dated 03.09.2025, whereby the query raised by the Railway Recruitment Board was clarified, stating that the Diploma in Electronics Engineering was conducted by the Communication Training Institute, Air Force Station, Jalahalli (West), Bengaluru. He further submitted that the Directorate of Air Veterans had categorically clarified that the said diploma is treated as equivalent to the AICTE-recognised qualification. Matter requires consideration. Admit. Four weeks' time is granted to respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to file their counter affidavit.

Respondent Nos. 3 and 4 are also directed to furnish the relevant documents pertaining to the Diploma in Electronics Engineering conducted by the aforesaid institute, particularly with regard to its duration of three years and whether the said diploma course was recognised by the AICTE. Thereafter, the applicants may file rejoinder affidavit, if any, within two weeks. List this matter on 03.12.2026.

Ms Manju Pandey Member (A) Rajnish Kumar Rai Member (J) Ashish Kumar ( )