Akhouri Dhananjay Kumar Sinha v. State Of Jharkhand
2018-07-11
PRAMATH PATNAIK
body2018
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT Pramath Patnaik, J. - In the captioned writ application, the petitioner has inter alia prayed for quashing memo dated 07.06.2013 (Annexure-11), whereby the claim of the petitioner for grant of Ad-hoc promotion to the post of Superintendent of Excise and thereafter Assistant Commissioner of Excise, has been rejected and further prayer has been made for direction upon the respondents not to give effect to the order dated 07.06.2013 and also for quashing letter dated 03.11.2015 (Annexure-12), whereby the claim of the petitioner for promotion has been rejected. 2. The brief facts, as delineated in the writ application, is that petitioner was appointed on 13.03.1989 as an Excise Inspector and thereafter in the year 1999, the petitioner was made In-charge Excise Superintendent and since then he is continuing on that post. It has further been averred that in the provisional seniority list dated 11.12.2007 the name of the petitioner was placed at serial no. 5, but the person junior to him has been promoted vide notification dated 02.12.2008. It has further been averred that in the meeting of ''Departmental Promotion Committee'' held on 27.07.2010, the case of the petitioner was considered and the committee decided to adopt sealed cover procedure as Vigilance Case No. 34 of 2003 was pending against the petitioner. It has further been averred that again the meeting of ''Departmental Promotion Committee'' was held on 30.07.2012, after lapse of two years but sealed cover was not opened and during that period several persons junior to the petitioner have been promoted vide notification dated 29.06.2011 to the post of Excise Superintendent. It has further been averred that vide notification dated 06.12.2012 further promotion to the post of Assistant Commissioner of Excise was given to the persons junior to the petitioner and the petitioner was left out. Aggrieved thereof, the petitioner knocked the door of this Court by filing W.P. (S) No. 5257 of 2012, which was disposed of vide order dated 5.11.2012 with the consent of parties, as the case of the petitioner was squarely covered by the judgments delivered in W.P. (S) No. 4971 of 2007 and W.P. (S) No. 4689 of 2007. But, even after that no formal order of promotion was passed in favour of petitioner, hence the petitioner left with efficacious, alternative remedy approached this Court for the redressal of his grievances. 3. Heard Mr. Saurav Arun, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.
But, even after that no formal order of promotion was passed in favour of petitioner, hence the petitioner left with efficacious, alternative remedy approached this Court for the redressal of his grievances. 3. Heard Mr. Saurav Arun, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Atanu Banerjee, learned G.A being assisted by Mr. Kaustav Panda, Associate Counsel to learned G.A for the respondents. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted with vehemence that though in the meeting of ''DPC'' dated 27.07.2010, the authorities adopted the sealed cover procedure after taking into consideration the resolution dated 20.11.2008 but did not follow the provision of opening of sealed cover after lapse of two years, as per resolution dated 20.11.2008. It has further been submitted that on the one hand the respondent considering the legal aspect of the matter adopted sealed cover procedure but on the other violated the proviso as contained in resolution dated 20.11.2008, which provides opening of sealed cover after lapse of two years. It has further been submitted that after passing of order dated 5.11.2012 in W.P. (S) No. 5257 of 2012, the respondentsauthorities passed order dated 7.06.2013 without considering resolution dated 20.11.2008 and further in the impugned order there is no whisper to the effect that the charges are so grave that he should not be given promotion and no reason has been assigned whether in future the criminal case pending against the petitioner shall be concluded or not. In support of his submission, learned counsel for the petitioner referred to the decision rendered in the case of State of Jharkhand & Ors Vs. Vinod Mani Diwakar & Ors , (2010) 2 JLJR 89 and also order dated 09.08.2017 passed in W.P. (S) No. 3472 of 2011. 5. As against this, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that Vigilance Case No. 34 of 2003 dated 24.11.2003 was lodged against the petitioner, in which, charge-sheet has also been submitted on 20.01.2004 and said case is still pending. In the case at hand, since criminal proceeding is pending against the petitioner, in such eventuality the respondents-authorities have rightfully adopted sealed cover procedure. It has further been submitted that no employee has right to promotion rather has right to be considered for promotion, which depends upon several circumstances.
In the case at hand, since criminal proceeding is pending against the petitioner, in such eventuality the respondents-authorities have rightfully adopted sealed cover procedure. It has further been submitted that no employee has right to promotion rather has right to be considered for promotion, which depends upon several circumstances. The respondents-authorities have rightfully considered the case of the petitioner and adopted sealed cover procedure as enunciated by Hon''ble Apex Court in the case of Union of India Vs. K.V. Jankiraman & Ors , (1991) 4 SCC 109 . Hence, there is no illegality in the impugned order passed by the respondents-authorities and it needs no interference by this Court. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties at length and on perusal of the documents available on record, I am of the considered view that the petitioner has been able to make out a case for interference for the following facts and reasons: (i).From the pleadings available on record, it appears that in the meeting dated 27.07.2010 of ''Departmental Promotion Committee'' held for promotion to the post of Excise Superintendent from Excise Inspector, the case of the petitioner was considered along with others, but due to pendency of Vigilance Case No. 34 of 2003 dated 24.11.2003, the respondents-authorities decided to adopt sealed cover procedure against the petitioner. From perusal of record, it further appears that after completion of two years of meeting offirst DPC, another DPC was held in the year 2012 but the sealed cover was not opened and later on also meeting of DPC was held but the respondents in a very casual manner, even after passing of order dated 5.11.2012 in W.P. (S) No. 5257 of 2012 the respondents did not act in consonance with the order or with the spirit of said resolution rather they took it in a very casual manner and passed the impugned order without considering resolution dated 20.11.2008. (ii).For better appreciation, the relevant clause 5 of resolution dated 20.11.2008 is reproduced herein below: (iii).From the pleadings available on record, it further appears that the criminal proceeding, which was initiated against the petitioner in the year 2003 is still pending and as per the statement made at bar it appears that there is no likelihood of conclusion of case in near future, which attracts the provisions for grant of ad hoc or provisional promotion, as envisaged in the aforesaid resolution.
At the relevant point of time, the respondents adopted sealed cover procedure but from perusal of impugned order, it appears that the respondents have failed to justify in not granting at least ad hoc promotion to the petitioner after lapse of considerable period. 7. As a logical sequitur to the aforesaid facts and reasons the impugned order as contained in memo dated 07.06.2013, as also letter dated 03.11.2015 are hereby quashed and set aside. Resultantly, the respondents are directed to take a fresh decision for grant of ad hoc/regular promotion of the petitioner, as per resolution dated 20.11.2008 as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt/production of copy of this order in accordance with law. 8. With the aforesaid observations and directions, the writ petition stands disposed of.