CAT seeks Centres view on Madhavan Nairs plea

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday sought the view of the Central Government and the Director of the Department of Space on a petition filed by former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair seeking a directive to quash the Centre’s decision to bar him from holding any government jobs.  A Bench comprising judicial member Justice P R Raman and administrative member K George Joseph issued the directive while considering Nair’s plea. Counsel for Central Government T P Ibrahim Khan sought time for submitting the view of the Centre and the Bench granted four weeks. The petitioner sought a directive to quash chapter 6 of the report of the high-level team constituted by the government to examine the facts and circumstances of the agreement between Antrix Corporation Ltd and Devas Multi Media Private Ltd on the controversial S-band deal.    Nair also challenged the government’s order excluding him from the right to re-employment, holding committee roles or any other important role under the government and its bodies and divesting him of any current assignment with  government agencies. He further submitted that terminating his appointment as a Distinguished Professor at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) was illegal. However, the Bench asked the petitioner if the plea would come under service dispute.