Satpal Singh v. Hindustan Insecticide Limited and Ors

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-1-INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo 114o o o o o o o CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:o14.09.2023o SatpaloSingho o o o o o o o ,Petitionero Versuso HindustanoInsecticideoLimitedoandoOtherso o ooooo,Respondentso CORAM:oooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoJAGMOHANoBANSALo o Present:-oo Mr.oAmanoPriyeoJain,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o Mr.oVipinoMahajan,oAdvocateoforotheorespondentsoo ***o JAGMOHANoBANSAL,oJ.o(Oral)o

1.k o Theo petitioner,o througho instanto petitiono undero Articleso 226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oisoseekingosettingoorderoofodatedo

05.08.2014o(AnnexureoP-28)oandoorderodatedo16.03.2016o(AnnexureoP-33)owherebyopetitionerohasobeenodeniedopromotionotootheopostoofoQualityo ControloOfficero('QCO').oTheopetitioneroisofurtheroseekingosettingoasideo ofomemorandumodatedo29.10.2012o(AnnexureoP-20)owherebyopetitionero wasograntedopunishmentoofoCensure.o

2.k o Mr.oVipinoMahajan,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondents,oato theooutset,opointedooutothatopetitionerohasofiledocommonopetitionowitho respectotootwooindependentocauses.o

3.k o Facedo witho this,o learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero seekso permissiono too withdrawo hiso prayero witho respecto too settingo asideo ofo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-2-memorandumodatedo29.10.2012o(AnnexureoP-20)owitholibertyotooavailo independentoremedyoasopermissibleobyolaw.o oo o Theopetitionowithorespectotoochallengeotoomemorandumodatedo

29.10.2012oisodismissedoasowithdrawnowitholibertyoaforesaid.o

4.k o Respondento No.1o iso ao Centralo Governmento Publico Sectoro Undertaking.oTheopetitioneroono03.09.1990owasoappointedoasoanoAnalysto whichoisolowestotechnicalopostoinotheorespondent-organization.oAsopero RulesoandoRegulationsoofotheorespondent,oanoemployee,oonocompletionoofo 6oyears'oregularoservice,oisoentitledotoohigheropayoscaleoirrespectiveoofo availabilityoofotheohigheropost.oTheoStagnationoBenefitoSchemeo(foroshorto 'SBS')ohasobeenointroducedotoogetoridoofostagnation.oTheopetitioneroino 1996ocompletedo6oyears,othus,oheowasoextendedobenefitoofofirstostagnation.o Thereowasoanotheroemployee,onamelyoA.K.oSinha,owhoowasoappointedoaso Analysto ono 06.07.1990.o A.K.o Sinhao waso noto extendedo benefito ofo stagnationo ino 1996o becauseo heo couldo noto completeo 6o years'o regularo service.o A.K.o Sinhao completedo regularo serviceo ofo 6o yearso ino 1997,o accordingly,oheowasoextendedobenefitoofoSBSoino1997.oTheopetitioneroino 2002ocompletedonexto6oyears,othus,oheowasoextendedobenefitoofosecondo SBS.oItoisoaptotoonoticeothatopetitionerowasograntedohigheropayoscaleoono accounto ofo stagnation,o however,o heo waso noto promotedo ono theo postoofo SenioroAnalyst.oA.K.oSinhaowasopromotedoasoSenioroAnalystoino2003o whereasopetitionerocameotoobeopromotedotootheosaidopostoino2008.oTheo petitioner,oatothisostage,odidonotoraiseoobjection.oA.K.oSinhaocameotoobeo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-3-furtheropromotedotootheopostoofoStatisticaloQualityoControloSupervisoro ('SQCS')oono03.02.2010.oTheorespondentoono26.09.2011oadvertisedooneo postoofoQCO.oTheopostowasotoobeofilledothroughoopenocompetition.oTheo petitionerowasonotoconsideredoforotheopostoofoQCOobecauseoheowasonoto workingoonotheopostoofoSQCS.oo

5.k o TheopetitioneropreferredoCWP-6287-2014obeforeothisoCourto seekingodirectionotoorespondentsotoograntohimopromotionofromotheopostoofo Senioro Analysto too QCO.o Thiso Courto video ordero datedo 01.04.2014o disposedo ofo theo saido petitiono witho libertyo too theo petitionero too moveo representationobeforeorespondentoNo.3otherein,owithinotwooweeksoforotheo reliefo soughto ando respondento No.3o therein,o waso directedo too decideo representationo ofo theo petitionero expeditiouslyo ando preferablyo withino 3o monthsofromotheoreceiptooforepresentation.oTheorelevantoextractsoofotheo saidoorderoreadoas:o "Petitionerohasofiledothisopetitionoseekingoaodirectionotoo theorespondentsoforograntoofopromotionofromotheopostoofo SenioroAnalystotooQualityoControloOfficer.oo Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasosubmittedothato withoregardotooreliefoinoquestion,opetitionerohasobeeno approachingo theo authoritieso buto noo actiono haso beeno takenoonohisorepresentationsosoofar.o AoperusaloofoAnnexureoP-24orevealsothatopetitionerohado movedo ao representationo quao variouso grievanceso includingo theo reliefo soughto byo theo petitionero ino theo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-4-Accordingly,o withouto advertingo too theo meritso ofo theo case,othisopetitionoisodisposedoofowithoaodirectionothatoino caseopetitioneromovesoaorepresentation,oquaotheoreliefo soughto byo him,o beforeo respondento No.o 3o withino twoo weekso fromo theo receipto ofo theo certifiedo copyo ofo thiso order,otheosameowillobeodisposedoofobyorespondentoNo.o 3,o expeditiously,o ino accordanceo witho law,o preferablyo withinothreeomonthsofromotheoreceiptoofotheocopyoofotheo representation."o

6.k o Theopetitionerofiledorepresentationodatedo14.04.2014obeforeo RattanoLal,oDeputyoPersonneloManagero(I/C).oItoisoaptotoomentionohereo thato Rattano Lalo ono theo saido dateo waso noto holdingo posto ofo Deputyo PersonneloManagero(I/C).oHeowasomanoofofinanceoandoworkingoinotheo FinanceoDivision.oTheopetitionerovideoletterodatedo21.04.2014orequestedo DeputyoPersonneloManagero(I/C)otoocomplyowithotheoorderoofothisoCourt.o Atothatopointoofotime,otheopostoofoDeputyoPersonneloManagero(I/C)owaso lyingo vacanto ando Unito Heado markedo theo petitioner'so representationo too RattanoLalowhoopassedoorderodatedo06.06.2014owherebyoheopromotedo petitioneroasoQCOowithoeffectofromo25.12.2011.oRattanoLaloinohisoordero noticedo thato heo waso assignedo additionalo temporaryo chargeo ofo Deputyo PersonneloManagero(I/C)oforoaoshortospanoi.e.o01.04.2012otoo15.07.2013o ino additiono too hiso originalo departmento ofo Financeo ando Accounts.o Heo prayedotoothisoCourtothatoheohasohonouredotheoassignmentoandoheomayonoto beocalledoforoanyostatutoryocomplianceoforoanyodiscrepancyooroanomalyooro ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-5-anyo othero grievanceo relatingo too personnelo department.o Theo relevanto extractsoofoorderodatedo06.06.2014oreadoas:o o "Ito willo beo pertinento too mentiono hereo thato basicallyoIoamotheomanoofoFinanceostreamow.e.f.o myojoiningotheocompanyoi.e.o30.03.1982otillonowoIo hadobeenogivenotheoadditionalotemporaryochargeo ofoDPM/ICoforoaolittleospanofromo01.04.2012otoo

15.07.2013oinoadditionotoomyooriginalodeptt.oofo FinanceoandoAccountsoasoDy.oFinanceoManager.o Henceforth,o Io amo noo moreo ino theo Personnelo Departmento aso Io relinquishedo theo sameo ono

15.07.2013o aso mentionedo aboveo ando Io haveo resumedo myo originalo worko ofo Financeo &o AccountsoinotheoUnitow.e.f.o16.07.2013.o o o Io prayo too theo Hon'bleo Higho Courto ofo PunjaboandoHaryana,oatoChandigarhothatoasopero theodirectivesoIohaveohonoredotheoassignmentoaso required,o Io mayo noto beo called/askedo foro anyo statutoryo complianceo foro anyo discrepancyo oro anomaly,o oro anyo othero grievanceo relatedo too PersonneloDepartmentoinofuture."o

7.k o Theo copyo ofo theo aforesaido ordero datedo 06.06.2014o waso forwardedotooCMD.oItowasorealizedobyomanagementothatopetitionerohaso beenowronglyopromotedoandohisopromotionoisoaboinitioovoid.oTheoCMDo directedo Unito Heado too passo ano appropriateo ordero witho respecto too promotiono ofo theo petitioner.o Theo Unito Heado aftero consideringo theo representationoofotheopetitioneropassedoorderodatedo05.08.2014owherebyo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-6-heoconcludedothatopetitioneroisonotoentitledotoopromotionoonotheopostoofo QCOobecauseopetitionerowasoneveroappointedoonotheopostoofoSQCS.oTheo petitionerowasopromotedoasoSenioroAnalystoino2008owhereasoA.K.oSinhao wasopromotedoino2003oandopetitionerohasoneverochallengedopromotionoofo A.K.o Sinha.o Theo petitionero waso revertedo too hiso originalo positiono i.e.o SenioroAnalyst.oTheopetitioneropreferredoanoappealobeforeoCMDowhicho cameotoobeodismissedovideoorderodatedo16.03.2016.oItoisoaptotoonoticeohereo thatorespondentoinitiatedoproceedingsoagainstoRattanoLaloforopassingoordero beyondohisojurisdiction.oTheorespondentoimposedopenaltyouponoRattanoLalo byowayoofostoppingohisooneoincrement.oo

8.k o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerointeroaliaocontendsothato RattanoLalopassedoorderoinoviewoofodirectionoissuedobyoUnitoHead.oTheo petitionero movedo ano applicationo beforeo Rattano Lalo aso wello aso Deputyo PersonneloManageroforotheoredressaloofohisogrievance.oTheopostoofoDeputyo Personnelo Managero waso lyingo vacanto ando Unito Heado markedo hiso applicationotooRattanoLalowhoowasoholdingochargeoofoDeputyoManagero (Finance).oRattanoLaloinoviewoofoorderoofoUnitoHeadopassedoorder.oTheo orderopassedobyoRattanoLalocouldonotobeorecalledobyoUnitoHeadobecauseo RattanoLalohadoexercisedopoweroconferredouponoUnitoHead.oUnitoHeado delegatedohisopowerotooRattanoLaloi.e.oaoSubordinateoOfficeroandoanoordero passedo byo ao Subordinateo Officero exercisingo powero ofo Senioro Officero cannotobeorecalledobyoSenioroOfficerobecauseoitoamountsotooreviewobyotheo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-7-o o Theo petitionero waso grantedo benefito ofo stagnationo ino 1996o whereaso A.K.o Sinhao waso grantedo benefito ofo stagnationo ino 1997,o thus,o petitionerowasoseniorotooA.K.oSinhaoforotheopurposeoofopromotionotootheo nextopost.oThoughopetitionerodidonotochallengeopromotionoofoA.K.oSinhao tootheopostoofoSenioroAnalystoino2003oandoacceptedoownopromotionoino 2008oyetoheohasorightotooclaimohisopromotionotootheopostoofoSQCSoando QCOopriorotoopromotionoofoA.K.oSinha.oTheopetitionerowhileograntingo benefito ofo secondo stagnationo waso consideredo too beo promotedo ono theo managerialo post,o thus,o heo waso entitledo too promotiono aso QCO.o Theo respondentowronglyodidonotocallopetitioneroforointerviewoandoappointedo anotheroperson.o

9.k o Perocontra,olearnedocounseloforotheorespondentosubmitsothato promotionoofotheopetitionerobyoRattanoLalowasoperoseovoid.oAnoordero whicho iso voido abo initioo cano beo seto asideo ato anyo stage.o Theo petitionero representedo beforeo thiso Courto thato Deputyo Personnelo Managero iso competento authorityo too promoteo himo ando thiso Courto directedo Deputyo PersonneloManagerotoopassoorderowithorespectotoorepresentationoofotheo petitioneroseekingopromotion.oTheoorderowasonotopassedoinotheopresenceo oforespondent.oTheopostoofoDeputyoPersonneloManagerowasolyingovacanto andothisoCourtohadodirectedotoopassoorderoinoaccordanceowitholaw.o'Ino accordanceowitholaw'omeansotheoofficeropassingoorderomustobeocompetento ando persono claimingo benefito musto beo entitledo ino lawo too thato benefit.o Neithero theo officero passingo ordero waso competento noro petitionero waso ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-8-eligibleotoobenefitoofopromotion.oTheopetitionerowasoindubitablyograntedo benefitoofostagnationopriorotooA.K.oSinha,ohowever,oheowasojuniorotoohimoo whichoisoevidentofromotheofactothatoA.K.oSinhaowasopromptedoino2003o whereasopetitionerowasopromotedoino2008oonotheopostoofoSenioroAnalyst.o TheopetitionerodidonotochallengeopromotionoofoA.K.oSinhaoonotheopostoofo SenioroAnalyst.oA.K.oSinhaowasofurtheropromotedoonotheopostoofoSQCSo ando petitionero dido noto challengeo hiso promotion.o Theo petitionero waso promotedo ono theo posto ofo Senioro Analyst,o however,o heo waso nevero promotedoonotheopostoofoSQCS,othus,othereowasonooquestionotoopromoteo himotootheopostoofoQCO.oTheopetitioneroinotheoadvertisementoofo2011owaso notoconsideredobecauseoheowasonotoworkingoonotheopostoofoSQCS.oTheo petitioneroneitheroassailedoadvertisementonoroatothatostageoappointmentoofo anotherocandidate.oTheopetitioneroatothisostageoisoestoppedofromoclaimingo hisoappointmentoonotheopostoofoQCO.oTheoprincipleoofoestoppelsoasowello asoacquiescenceoisoapplicableoagainstotheopetitioner.o

10.k o Iohaveoheardotheoargumentsoofolearnedocounselsoforobothotheo sidesoandoperusedotheorecordowithotheiroableoassistance.o o

11.k o Fromotheopleadingsoandoargumentsoofobothosides,ofollowingo questionsoariseoforotheoconsiderationoofothisoCourt:o i.k Whethero theo impugnedo ordero datedo 05.08.2014o recallingo ordero datedo 06.06.2014o passedo byo Deputyo FinanceoManageroamountsotooreviewoofoownoorder?o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-9-ii.k Whetherotheopetitionerowasoentitledotoopromotionofromo theo posto ofo Senioro Analysto too Statisticalo Qualityo Controlo Supervisoro w.e.f.o 02.02.2010o ando Qualityo ControloOfficerow.e.f.o25.12.2011?o

12.k o Theoconcededopositionoemergingofromotheorecordoisothatotheo petitionerojoinedorespondentoono03.09.1990oasoAnalystoandoA.K.oSinhao anotheroemployeeojoinedoasoAnalystoono06.07.1990.oTheopetitionerowaso extendedo benefito ofo SBSo ino 1996o whereaso A.K.o Sinhao waso extendedo benefitoofoSBSoino1997.oA.K.oSinhaowasopromotedoasoSenioroAnalystoino 2003owhereasopetitionerocameotoobeopromotedotootheosaidopostoino2008.o A.K.oSinhaocameotoobeofurtheropromotedotootheopostoofoStatisticaloControlo Supervisorow.e.f.o03.02.2010.oTheopetitionerodidonotochallengeopromotiono ofoA.K.oSinhaoeitheroino2003ooroino2010.oTheopetitionerowasoextendedo benefitoofosecondoSBS,ohowever,oheowasonotopromotedotootheopostoofo SQCS.oTheopetitioner,ofirstotime,ocameobeforeothisoCourtoino2014oseekingo directionotoorespondentsotoograntohimopromotionofromotheopostoofoSenioro AnalystotooQCO.oTheosaidowritopetitionowasodisposedoofovideoorderodatedo

01.04.2014oandoinotermsoofosaidoorder,otheopetitioneromadeorepresentationo too Deputyo Personnelo Managero (I/C).o Theo posto ofo Deputyo Personnelo Manager,oinotheoyearo2014owasolyingovacant.oRattanoLalowasopostedoono theopostoofoDeputyoManagero(Financeo&oAccounts).oHeoheldochargeoofo Deputyo Personnelo Managero foro ao shorto spano i.e.o fromo 01.04.2012o too

15.07.2013.o Rattano Lalo waso noto holdingo additionalo chargeo ofo Deputyo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-10-PersonneloManageroduringo2014.oUnitoHeadomarkedorepresentationoofotheo petitionero too Rattano Lalo whoo passedo ordero datedo 06.06.2014o wherebyo petitionerowasopromotedofromotheopostoofoSenioroAnalystotooSQCSow.e.f.o

02.02.2010oi.e.opriorotootheodateoofopromotionoofoA.K.oSinhaotootheoposto ofoSQCS.oTheopetitionerowasofurtheropromotedotootheopostoofoQCOow.e.f.o

25.12.2011.oo

13.k o Theo questions,o aso framedo aboveo foro consideration,o areo advertedowithoasounder:o QuestionoNo.o(i)k Whethero theo impugnedo ordero datedo 05.08.2014o recallingoorderodatedo06.06.2014opassedobyoDeputyo FinanceoManageroamountsotooreviewoofoownoorder?o o o TheopetitioneroisoclaimingothatoUnitoHeadomarkedopetitioner'so representationo too Deputyo Financeo Manager,o namelyo Rattano Lal,o thuso RattanoLalowasocompetentotoopassoorderowithorespectotoopromotionoofotheo petitionero thougho heo waso noto holdingo chargeo ofo Deputyo Personnelo Manager.oTheoactoofoUnitoHeadoamountsotoodelegationoofohisopowerotoo Deputyo Financeo Manager,o thus,o impugnedo ordero recallingo ordero datedo

06.06.2014opassedobyoDeputyoFinanceoManageroamountsotooreviewoofo ownoorder.oo o o Thereo iso substanceo ino theo contentionoofo theo petitionero thato onceoanoauthorityooptsotoodelegateoitsopowerotooitsosubordinate,otheosaido subordinateo exerciseso powero conferredo upono delegatingo authorityo ando ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-11-orderopassedobyosubordinateoofficeroisoanoorderoofoauthority/officerowhoo hasodelegatedohis/heropower.oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoRadhaoKrishano IndustriesoVersusoStateoofoH.P.;o(2021)o6oSCCo771ohasoadvertedowitho thisoquestion.oInotheosaidocase,oCommissioneroofoStateoTaxesoandoExcise,o HimachaloPradeshodelegatedohisopowerovestedobyoSectiono83oofoH.P.GSTo Act,o2017otooJointoCommissioneroofoStateoTaxesoandoExcise.oAnoordero cameo too beo passedo byo theo Jointo Commissionero ofo Stateo Taxeso undero Sectiono83oofoHPGSToAct.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldothatoordero passedo byo theo Jointo Commissionero amountso too ordero passedo byo Commissionero becauseo Jointo Commissionero haso exercisedo powero delegatedobyoCommissioner.oThus,oforotheopurposeoofofilingoappeal,otheo orderopassedobyotheoJointoCommissionerowouldobeotreatedoasoorderopassedo byo theo Commissioner.o Theo relevanto extractso ofo theo judgmento reado aso under:-o o "62oFromotheoaboveodefinition,oitoisoevidentothatotheo expressiono'adjudicatingoauthority'odoesonotoincludeoamongo otheroauthorities,otheoCommissioner.oInotheopresentocase,otheo narrationo ofo factso indicateso thato ono 21o Octobero 2020,o theo CommissionerohadoinoexerciseoofohisopowersounderoSectiono 5(3)omadeoaodelegationointeroaliaotootheoJointoCommissionero ofoStateoTaxesoandoExciseoinorespectoofotheopowersovestedo undero Sectiono 83(1).o Theo Jointo Commissioner,o ino othero words,owasoexercisingotheopowersowhichoareovestedoinotheo Commissionero undero Sectiono 83(1)o too ordero ao provisionalo attachmentoinopursuanceoofotheodelegationoexercisedoono21o Octobero 2020.o Thiso beingo theo position,o clearlyo theo ordero ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-12-passedo byo theo Jointo Commissionero aso ao delegateo ofo theo CommissionerowasonotosubjectotooanoappealounderoSectiono 107(1)oandotheoonlyoremedyothatowasoavailableowasoinotheo formoofotheoinvocationoofotheowritojurisdictionounderoArticleo 226o ofo theo Constitution.o Theo Higho Courto was,o therefore,o clearlyo ino erroro ino decliningo too entertaino theo writo proceedings."o o o Inotheocaseoinohand,otheopetitioneromadeoaorepresentationotoo DeputyoPersonneloManageroandosaidorepresentationowasomadeopursuantotoo orderopassedobyothisoCourtoinoCWPoNo.6287oofo2014.oThisoCourtograntedo libertyotootheopetitionerotoofileorepresentationobeforeoDeputyoPersonnelo Manageroandosaidoofficerowasodirectedotoodecideorepresentationoofotheo petitioneroinoaotimeoboundomanner.oThisoCourtowhileodisposingoofoCWPo No.6287oofo2014ospecificallyodirectedothatoDeputyoPersonneloManagero wouldopassoorderoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oTheopostoofoDeputyoPersonnelo Managerowasolyingovacantoduringotheoperiodoinoquestion.oDeputyoFinanceo Manageroi.e.oRattanoLalowasonotoholdingoadditionalochargeoofoDeputyo PersonneloManager.oUnitoHeadomarkedoapplicationoofotheopetitionerotoo DeputyoFinanceoManager.oo oo Theo respondento ino replyo haso contendedo thato powero ofo appointmentoandodisciplinaryoactionovestedoinoUnitoHead.oTheopetitionero iso noto disputingo saido fact,o however,o iso claimingo thato Deputyo Financeo Managerowhileopassingoorderodatedo06.06.2014oexercisedopoweroofoUnito Head.o Theo petitionero haso noto pointedo outo anyo rule,o regulationo oro ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-13-instructiono ofo respondento whicho empowerso Unito Heado too delegateo hiso powerotooanyootheroofficer.o o o Fromotheoperusalooforepresentationodatedo21.04.2014oofotheo petitioneroandomarkingooverosaidoletterobyoUnitoHead,oitocomesooutothato UnitoHeadohadosimplyomarkedotheoletterotooDeputyoFinanceoManager,o however,oheohasonotodelegatedohisopowerotoodecideorepresentationowitho respectotooclaimoofotheopetitioner.oTheoDeputyoFinanceoManagerowasonoto supposedo too passo ordero ofo promotion.o Heo himselfo ino hiso ordero datedo

06.04.2014o haso jottedo downo thato heo iso noto holdingo chargeo ofo Deputyo Personnelo Managero ando heo hado heldo chargeo ofo Deputyo Personnelo Manageroforoaoshortospanoi.e.o01.04.2012otoo15.06.2013.oo oo o Ino theo absenceo ofo anyo rule,o regulationo oro instructiono authorizingoDeputyoPersonneloManagerotoopassoanoorderoofopromotion,oito wasounjustifiedoonotheopartoofoDeputyoFinanceoManagerotoopassoorderoofo promotion.o Thereo iso noo specifico provisiono empoweringo Unito Heado too delegateohisopowerotoosubordinateoofficer,othus,oitoisodifficultotooconcludeo thatomereomarkingoofoaoletterobyoUnitoHeadotooDeputyoFinanceoManagero amountso too delegationo ofo hiso power.o Ito iso apto too noticeo hereo thato respondento initiatedo disciplinaryo proceedingso againsto Rattano Lalo ando penaltyowasoimposedouponohim.oHeohasonotochallengedopenaltyoorder.o o o Inoviewoofoaforesaidofactsoandofindings,otheocontentionoofotheo petitionerothatoactoofoUnitoHeadoamountsotoodelegationoofohisopowersoiso ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-14-unsustainableo ando cannoto beo countenanced.o Theo contentiono ofo theo petitioneroisomisconceived,othus,odeservesotoobeorejected.oThisoCourtoisoofo theo opiniono thato thereo waso noo delegationo ofo powero byo Unito Heado too DeputyoFinanceoManager,otherefore,oitoisowrongotoopleadothatoactoofoUnito Headoamountsotooreviewoofohisoownoorder.o QuestionoNo.o (ii)k Whethero theo petitionero waso entitledo too promotiono fromotheopostoofoSenioroAnalystotooStatisticaloQualityo Controlo Supervisoro w.e.f.o 02.02.2010o ando Qualityo ControloOfficerow.e.f.o25.12.2011?o o o Theo petitionero concededlyo joinedo respondento companyo ono

03.09.1990o ando A.K.o Sinhao joinedo ono 06.07.1990.o Theo petitionero indubitablyowasoextendedobenefitoofoSBSoino1996oandoA.K.oSinhaowaso grantedobenefitoofoSBSoino1997.oItoisowelloknownofactothatobenefitoofoSBSo iso extendedo too geto rido ofo stagnationo arisingo ono accounto ofo lacko ofo promotion.oTheobenefitoofostagnationowasograntedoonoregularoserviceoofo6o years.o A.K.o Sinhao joinedo respondento companyo prioro too joiningo ofo petitioner,ohowever,oheocouldonotocompleteoregularoserviceoofo6oyearsoino 1996,othus,oheowasograntedobenefitoofofirstostagnationoino1997.oItoisotrueo thatobenefitoofostagnationoisograntedoonoaccountoofolackoofoavenuesoofo promotiono buto extensiono ofo benefito ofo SBSo doeso noto amounto too promotion.oInootherowords,obenefitoofostagnationocannotobeotreatedoatoparo withopromotion.oA.K.oSinhaowasoindubitablyopromotedoino2003owhereaso petitionero waso promotedo aftero ao quiteo longo timeo i.e.o ino 2008.o Theo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-15-petitioneroneitheroino2003onoroino2008oclaimedohisopromotionopriorotoodateo ofo promotiono ofo A.K.o Sinhao whoo waso grantedo secondo promotiono i.e.o promotionofromotheopostoofoSenioroAssistantotooSQCSoono03.02.2010.o TheopetitioneroneitheroassailedopromotionoofoA.K.oSinhaotootheopostoofo SQCSonorolodgedohisoclaimoforotheosaidopost.oTheopetitionerowasonevero consideredo senioro too A.K.o Sinha.o Theo petitionero tillo 2014o dido noto challengeo twoo promotionso grantedo too A.K.o Sinhao prioro too hiso oneo promotion.oTheoclaimoofotheopetitionerotootheopostoofoSQCSopriorotootheo dateoofopromotionoofoA.K.oSinhaowasototallyounsustainable.oThisoCourto hado directedo Deputyo Personnelo Managero too decideo petitioner'so claimo becauseoitowasopetitionerowhoodeposedothatoDeputyoPersonneloManageroiso competentotoodooso.oItoisofurtheroaptotoonoticeothatoCourtohadoaskedotoopasso orderoinoaccordanceowitholawowhichomeansoorderoshouldobeopassedobyoao competento officero ando aso pero law.o Theo Deputyo Managero waso nevero competento too passo ordero ando petitionero ato thiso stageo iso claimingo thato Deputyo Financeo Managero exercisedo powero ofo Unito Heado becauseo ofo delegationoofopowerobyoUnitoHead.oOrderoofoDeputyoFinanceoManagero wasobeyondojurisdictionoandoinvalid,othus,oUnitoHeadowasocompetentotoo correctoillegalityoandoerrorocommittedobyohisosubordinate.o

14.k oo Theo respondento advertisedo oneo posto ofo Qualityo Controlo Officer.oTheopostowasotoobeofilledothroughoopenocompetition.oPersonso workingoinotheoPSUowereoalsooentitledotooapply.oInotheoadvertisemento datedo 26.09.2011o wherebyo applicationso wereo invitedo foro theo posto ofo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-16-QCO,oitowasopre-conditionoforotheocandidatesoalreadyoworkingoinoPublico Sectoro Undertakingso thato theyo shouldo possesso minimumo twoo yearso workingoexperienceoinooneostepobelowogradeoforotheorespectiveoposition.o Theorelevantoextractsoofotheoadvertisementoreadoasounder:o "Qualificationoandoexperienceorequiredoforotheopostoofo QualityoControloOfficer:o PostoGraduateoDegreeowithospecializationoinoOrganico Chemistryo oro Degreeo ino Chemicalo Engineeringo witho twoo yearso experienceo ino ao Chemicalo Factoryo ino ao technicalocapacityooutoofowhichoaboutooneoyearoshouldo haveobeenoinoAnalyticaloQualityoControloWork.oInotheo caseoofopersonsoworkingoinoCentraloGovt./oSemioGovt./o PublicoSectoroUndertakingowhooareorequiredotoosubmito theiro applicationo througho propero channelo oro shouldo produceoNOCoatotheotimeoofointerviewoandoshouldohaveo minimumo 2o yearso workingo experienceo ino oneo stepo belowogradeoinotheorespectiveoposition."o o o Fromotheoperusaloofoaboveonotedoeligibilityocondition,oitoiso evidento thato ano applicanto alreadyo workingo witho ao Publico Sectoro Undertaking,owasosupposedotoohaveotwooyearsoworkingoexperienceoinooneo stepobelowogradeoinotheorespectiveoposition.oTheopetitioneroono26.09.2011o wasoworkingoonotheopostoofoSenioroAnalystowhereasoSQCSowasooneostepo belowotheopostoofoQCO.oTheopetitionerowasonotoconsideredoforotheosaido postobecauseoheowasonotopostedoatothatopointoofotimeoonotheopostoofoSQCS.o ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-17-oo o Theopetitionerowasonotocalledoinotheointerviewoandoheodidonoto assailoactionoofotheorespondentobeforeoaocompetentocourt.oHeooptedotoo remainosilentofromo2011otoo2014.oForotheofirstotime,oheoapproachedothiso Courtoino2014obyowayoofofilingowritopetition.oTheolimitedoprayeroofotheo petitionero waso too directo Deputyo Personnelo Managero too considero hiso representationoseekingopromotion.oTheopetitionerodidonotochallengeoactiono ofo respondento noto callingo theo petitionero foro interview,o pursuanto too aforesaidoadvertisementoforotheopostoofoQCO.oo oo Ino viewo ofo principleo ofo constructiono reso judicata,o theo petitioneroisofurtheroexcludedotoolodgeoclaimoonotheopostoofoQCO.oTheo petitioneroisoestoppedofromoassailingoadvertisementoofo2011oandolodgingo hisoclaimoforotheopostoofoQCOobecauseohisoactoandoconductoamountedotoo acquiescence.oTheopetitioneroadmittedlyoino2011owasonotoholdingopostoofo SQCSo ando posto ofo QCOo iso higher/promotionalo posto ofo SQCS.o Theo petitionerowasonotocalledoforotheointerviewoandoanotherocandidateowaso selected.oo oo Theo Deputyo Financeo Manager,o aso noticedo above,o actingo beyondo hiso jurisdictiono grantedo promotiono fromo theo posto ofo Senioro AnalystotooSQCSow.e.f.o02.02.2010oi.e.opriorotoodateoofopromotionotoo A.K.oSinhaoonotheosaidopost.oByosaidoorder,oDeputyoFinanceoManagero furtherograntedopromotionotootheopostoofoQCOow.e.f.o25.12.2011.oTheo respondentoinvitedoapplicationsoforotheopostoofoQCOobyoadvertisemento datedo26.09.2011.oInoviewoofoadvertisement,oaocompleteoprocessowhicho ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-18-includedointerviewowasofollowedoatotheotimeoofofillingoupoofopostoandooneo candidateo waso selected.o Theo Deputyo Financeo Managero followingo procedureounknownotoolawoorderedotoopromoteotheopetitionerotootheoposto ofoQCOopursuantotooadvertisementothoughopetitionerowasonotoevenocalledo foro theo interview.o Ao posto whicho waso too beo filledo aftero followingo dueo procedureocameotoobeofilledobyoDFM,ofollowingoprocedureounknownotoo law.oTheopetitionerowasonotoeligibleotooparticipateoandorespondentodidonoto consideropetitioneroforotheopostoofoQCOoadvertisedoono26.09.2011.oTheo petitioneroatothatostageodidonotoassailoactionoofotheorespondent,othus,oino viewoofoprincipleoofoestoppel,oacquiescenceoandoresojudicata,oheocannoto beopromoted.oo o o Inotheowakeoofoaforesaidofactsoandofindings,othisoCourtoisoofo theoconsideredoopinionothatoDeputyoFinanceoManagerowronglyobyoordero datedo06.06.2014opromotedotheopetitionerotootheopostoofoQCOowithoeffecto fromo25.12.2011.o

15.k o Ino viewo ofo aboveo discussiono ando findings,o theo aforecitedo questionsoareoansweredoasobelow:o i.k ThereowasonoodelegationoofopowerobyoUnitoHeadotooDeputyo FinanceoManager,othus,oactoofoUnitoHeadoinopassingoordero datedo 05.08.2014o doeso noto amounto too reviewo ofo hiso owno ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:122525oo CWP-11246-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o oooo-19-ii.k Theopetitionerowasonotoentitledotoopromotionoonotheopostoofo SQCSo prioro too theo dateo ofo promotiono ofo A.K.o Sinha.o Theo petitionerowasonotopermittedotooparticipateoinotheoselectiono processoofoQualityoControloOfficerobecauseoheodidonotofulfillo eligibilityocriteriaoandoheofurtheroremainedosilentofromo2011o too2014,othus,oheowasowronglyopromotedobyoDeputyoFinanceo Managero too theo posto ofo Qualityo Controlo Officero w.e.f.o

25.12.2011.o

16.k oo Theopetitionobeingobereftoofomeritodeservesotoobeodismissedo andoaccordinglyodismissed.oo o (JAGMOHANoBANSAL)o o o o o o o o o o JUDGEoo

14.09.2023o MohitoKumaro Whetherospeaking/reasonedo Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo Yes/Noo o