CAT overturns appointment of IAS officer as director general of civil aviation

New Delhi: The country's civil aviation regulatory office, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), finds itself caught on the wrong foot with the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) quashing the ministry of civil aviation's appointment of an IAS officer as the next head of the office, even though he failed to meet required standards.

The ministry had appointed IAS officer, Naseem Zaidi, for this highly technical post overlooking rules that a non-specialist must have atleast 12 years of experience in the field before being considered for appointment as a director general.

Moving on a petition filed by joint-director general, AK Chopra, who was overlooked for the top post, CAT issued a restraining order on Wednesday and also asked the ministry to consider the complainant for selection to the post.

According to ministry sources, the government is now seeking legal opinion on the order. They said the government has options such as appealing against the order or beginning the selection process anew by considering DGCA joint DGs for the post. A final decision will be taken shortly, they said.

The extended term of the current DG Kanu Gohain, who retired last June, is ending at the end of the  month.