Jammu & Kashmir High Court
Tariq Ahmed Kakroo vs State Th.G.A.D.And Anr. on 22 July, 2015
HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT
JAMMU
SWP No. 160/2015
MP Nos. 1079/2015 & 166/2015
Date of decision: 22.07.2015
Tariq Ahmed Kakroo vs. State and another
Coram:
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Judge
Appearing counsel:
For petitioner (s): Mr. G. A. Lone, Advocate
Mr. Abhinav Sharma, Advocate
For respondent(s): Mr. Vishal Sharma, AAG
(i) Whether to be reported in
Press, Journal/Media : Yes/No
(ii) Whether to be reported in
Journal/Digest : Yes/No
1. This is a writ petition, seeking a writ of certiorari
for quashing Government Order No. 47-GAD of
2015 dated 15.01.2015, whereby petitioner has
been ordered to report back to the J&K State Power
Development Corporation (for short, the
Corporation) and the Corporation has been
directed to take steps for revival of petitioner's lien
against the post held by him prior to his deputation
as OSD in the Chief Minister's Private Office vide
Government Order No. 301-GAD of 2009 dated
21.02.2009. Besides, petitioner seeks writ of
mandamus for directing respondents to allow the
2
petitioner to serve in the Chief Minister's
Secretariat as OSD or to adjust him on some other
suitable equivalent post in the General
Administration Department. Petitioner also seeks
writ of mandamus commanding the respondents to
re-designate the petitioner as Deputy Secretary in
the Government in accordance with proposal/
recommendation made by the Chief Minister's
Secretariat and to pay him salary and other
allowances available as OSD in Chief Minister's
Secretariat.
2. Heard. I have perused the record.
3. A few facts, which are not disputed, require to be
stated. Pursuant to Vacancy Notice No.
PDC/Estt./Legal/1470-1475 dated 09.07.2008
issued by the Corporation/respondent No.2,
petitioner on the recommendation of the Selection
Committee was appointed vide Order No.
PDC/133 of 2008 dated 18.10.2008 as Deputy
General Manager (Legal) in the Corporation. The
appointment of the petitioner initially was on
probation for two years and the appointment order
provided also that service conditions of the
petitioner will be governed in accordance with rules
followed by the State Government for their
3
employees till such time as the Corporation adopts
its own rules.
4. The State Government vide Government Order No.
301-GAD of 2009 dated 21.02.2009 issued by the
General Administration Department (GAD)/
respondent No.1, transferred the petitioner and
posted him as OSD in the Chief Minister's Private
Office at Srinagar on deputation basis. In
compliance with this order the Corporation relieved
the petitioner from the Corporation on 25.02.2009
to enable him to join his new place of posting.
Respondent No. 1 in continuation with the
transfer-cum-deputation order dated 21.02.2009
issued Government Order No. 765-GAD of 2009
dated 15.06.2009, whereby sanction was accorded
to creation of a temporary post of OSD in the pay
scale of Rs.10,000-15,200 (pre-revised-non-plan) in
the Chief Minister's Private Office at Srinagar for
the purpose of the drawal of salary of the petitioner
against the post so created. This order was issued
with a condition that:
"The post shall cease to exist after
transfer of Shri Tariq Ahmed from
the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Office
either by way of his repatriation to
parent organization or otherwise."
5. The Managing Director of the Corporation vide his
communication No. JKSPDC/ADM/EG-103/CJ/4052
4
dated 05.02.2010 addressed to the Administrative
Secretary of the General Administration
Department/respondent No.1 requested for
repatriation of the petitioner to the Corporation for
the reason that the Corporation was confronted
with many court cases and other legal issues. The
Managing Director also requested the
Administrative Secretary that if the services of the
petitioner are required by the GAD, the same may
be communicated to his office so that the
Corporation is able to make alternate arrangement
by making fresh recruitment of Deputy General
Manager (Legal). The respondent No.1 vide his
Communication No. GAD(Ser)Genl/29/2009 dated
26.03.2010 addressed to the Managing Director of
the Corporation turned down the request for
repatriation of the petitioner by intimating that
"the request was placed before the Competent
Authority (Hon'ble Chief Minister) who has directed
that Sh. Tariq Kakroo's services are required as
OSD."
6. Pursuant to and consequent upon the refusal of its
request for petitioner's repatriation, the
Corporation issued order No. PDC/CJ/65 of 2010
dated 20.04.2010, whereby with the approval of
the Chairman of the Corporation viz. the Chief
Minister, the lien of the petitioner from the
5
Corporation was ordered to be terminated w.e.f.
19. 04. 2010. The respondent No.1 on its part vide
Government Order No. 1056-GAD of 2010 dated
16.09.2010, deleted that portion of Government
Order No. 765-GAD (supra) whereby the post of
OSD created in the office of the Chief Minister was
made coterminous with the exit of the petitioner by
providing that the same shall cease after transfer of
the petitioner from the Chief Minister's office
either by way of repatriation or otherwise. Later
the Special Secretary, Chief Minister's Private Office
vide Communication No. SS/HCM/POS/1753 dated
10.10.2011 intimated the Financial Advisor/CAO of
Chief Minister Secretariat that the petitioner has
successfully completed the period of probation on
18.10.2010 so necessary entries are required to be
made in his Service Book.
7. The General Administration Department/
respondent No.1 issued Government Order No.
46-GAD of 2015 dated 15.01.2015, whereby it was
ordered inter alia that "the officials posted/
deployed in private office of former Chief Minister
at Srinagar (Annexure-D) shall report to the I/C
Winter Secretariat Srinagar/their parent
departments wherefrom they have been drawn
respectively till further orders." Annexure-D to this
order which contained the list of all such officials
6
did not include the name of the petitioner.
Respondent No.1, however, on the same day issued
Government Order No. 47-GAD of 2015 dated
15.01.2015 in continuation with Government No.
46-GAD (supra), whereby it has been ordered that
the petitioner "Mr. Tariq Ahmed Kakroo, OSD in the
Chief Minister's Private Office, Srinagar shall report
back to his parent organization i.e. J&K State Power
Development Corporation." It has been ordered
further that the Corporation shall draw the salary of
the petitioner against any available post and take
further steps for revival of his lien against the post
held by him in the Corporation prior to his
deputation in Chief Minister's Private Office at
Srinagar vide Government Order No. 301-GAD
(supra). Petitioner feels aggrieved by issue of
Government Order No.47-GAD (supra). Hence this
writ petition.
8. Petitioner has questioned his sending back
(repatriation) to the Corporation and seeks
quashing of the impugned Government Order No.
47-GAD of 2015 dated 15.01.2015 on the grounds
that with the termination of his lien the
Corporation has ceased to be his parent
department/organization, that he has been
permanently absorbed in the post of OSD in the
Chief Minister's Private Office under the control of
7
the General Administration Department and that
there is no provision in the J&K Civil Services
Regulation, 1956 (CSR) for revival of lien.
9. Case set up by the petitioner is that with the
termination of his lien as Deputy General Manager
(Legal) from the Corporation vide order dated
20.04.2010 (supra) the petitioner ceased to be an
employee borne on the cadre of the Corporation
and the relationship of employer and employee
which existed between the petitioner and the
Corporation prior to the said order came to an end.
It is averred that even after termination of his lien
from the Corporation the petitioner could not have
been absorbed against the post of OSD which he
was holding on deputation basis for the reason that
the said post vide Government Order No.
765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.06.2009 was created on
temporary basis coterminous with the exit of the
petitioner on repatriation to his parent organization
or otherwise. In order to overcome this anomalous
situation, respondent No.1 had decided to create a
post of OSD in the office of the Chief Minister on
permanent basis and therefore, vide Government
Order No. 1056-GAD of 2010 dated 16.09.2010, the
condition that the post was coterminous with his
exit was deleted. With the issue of Government
Order dated 16.09.2010, the post of OSD in Chief
8
Minister's Office became a permanent post and is
held by the petitioner on permanent basis. The
petitioner thus got permanently absorbed in the
Private office of the Chief Minister's Secretariat,
which is part of the General Administration
Department, against the post of OSD by necessary
implication and his relationship with the
Corporation came to an end. The Corporation,
therefore, no longer remains the parent
organization of the petitioner. It is averred further
that petitioner completed his probation period
after his absorption as OSD in the Chief Minister's
Secretariat and necessary entries in his Service
Book were got effected vide Communication No.
SS/HCM/POS/1753 dated 10.10.2011 (supra). It is
contended by the petitioner that with a view to
provide promotional avenues to the petitioner, the
Chief Minister's Secretariat somewhere in
March, 2014 submitted a proposal to the
Competent Authority to re-designate the petitioner
as Deputy Secretary in the said Secretariat. The
Establishment Committee constituted by
respondent No. 1 appears to have considered the
proposal but deferred the decision on the ground
that issue required further examination.
10. It is contended by the petitioner also that with the
imposition of Governor's Rule in the State after the
9
elections to the State Assembly held in
December, 2014, the office of Chief Minister ceased
to function so respondent No.1 vide Government
Order No. 46-GAD of 2015 dated 15.01.2015
ordered repatriation of staff posted/deployed in
personal sections of the former Chief Minister and
the Ministers. Petitioner, however, was not covered
by that order as the same did not apply to
permanent staff in the Chief Minister's Office and
therefore, his name did not figure in Annexure-D,
which related to officials posted/deployed in the
private office of the former Chief Minister at
Srinagar. In regard to the impugned Government
Order No. 47-GAD dated 15.01.2015 the petitioner
has alleged that he has been the victim of a
conspiracy hatched at some level in the
administration. To buttress his allegation, petitioner
has contended that respondent No.1 despite being
well aware that petitioner's lien in the Corporation
had since been terminated and he had been
regularly absorbed as OSD in the Chief Minister's
Office, yet issued the impugned order of
repatriation of the petitioner. It is contended by the
petitioner that the Corporation was compelled to
terminate petitioner's lien after respondent No.1
declined its request to repatriate the petitioner to
the Corporation and that with a view to utilize the
10
services of the petitioner in the Chief Minister's
Office, the temporary post of OSD was converted
into a permanent post and petitioner allowed to
hold the said post. It is contended by the petitioner
that the permanent staff of Chief Minister's
Secretariat is on the strength of and subject to
administrative control of the General
Administration Department. It is alleged by the
petitioner that instead of allowing the petitioner to
continue at the post held by him or adjusting him
on some equivalent post in the General
Administration Department, respondent No.1
decided to ease out the petitioner from the services
of the Government by sending him back to the
Corporation, which had already ceased to be his
parent organization with the termination of his lien
as Deputy General Manager (Legal). The petitioner
seeks quashing of the impugned order on the
grounds that he is not liable to be repatriated as he
had been holding the post of OSD in substantive
capacity and the order impugned is impregnate
with malice in law. The impugned order cannot
sustain in law also for the reason that same is
inconsistent and contrary to well established
principles of service jurisprudence. Respondent
No.1 has failed to appreciate that an officer whose
lien in his erstwhile department has been
11
terminated and who has been permanently
absorbed in the borrowing department cannot be
repatriated. The petitioner has pointed out that the
scribe of the impugned order was aware that
petitioner had ceased to be the employee of the
Corporation and therefore, it was provided in the
order that the Corporation shall take steps for
revival of his lien against the post earlier held by
him in the Corporation. Petitioner has contextually
alleged that the impugned order besides being
actuated by mala fide considerations is not
sustainable in law for the reasons that there is no
provision in the CSR for revival of lien. Petitioner
has also questioned the jurisdiction of respondent
No.1 to direct the Corporation to take a particular
decision in view of the complete autonomy in the
matter of administration granted to the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. Petitioner has
contended also that the impugned order more than
order of repatriation is an order of reversion as the
petitioner as he at the time of his deputation was
holding the post of Deputy General Manager (Legal)
in the pay scale of Rs.9000-14,100 but was
absorbed as OSD in the Chief Minister's Secretariat
in the pay scale of Rs.10, 000-15,200 (pre-revised).
The impugned order, therefore, has been issued in
violation of Article 311 of the Constitution of India
12
and the principles of Natural Justice, a concomitant
of Article 14 & 16 of the Constitution.
11. It is contended by the petitioner that he had been
appointed in the Corporation on the basis of his
qualification as a post graduate in law after a
selection process conducted by duly appointed
Selection Committee. He was taken on deputation
in the Chief Minister's Secretariat and subsequently
in view of his efficiency at work he was
permanently absorbed as OSD in the pay scale of
Deputy Secretary to the Government. All these
orders were passed in the interest of
administration. The petitioner could have ventured
to find some alternate avocation in life but he was
satisfied when he became a permanent employee
in the Chief Minister's Secretariat and when a
proposal was mooted by his department for his
re-designation as Deputy Secretary in the
Government. The petitioner was legitimately
expecting that even if he is not re-designated as
Deputy Secretary, he would be entitled to be
inducted in J&K Administrative Services in
accordance with the J&K Administrative Service
Rules, 2008. The order impugned has not only
deprived him of his right to march ahead in life
legitimately but has the effect of putting him to
very disadvantageous position by reducing him in
13
rank as well as reducing his salary. The impugned
order has put him in a very anomalous situation
inasmuch as he at present neither is a member of
Chief Minister's Secretariat nor that of the PDC.
12. Respondent No.1 has opposed the writ petition. At
the outset, respondent No.1 has termed the pleas
raised by the petitioner as 'misdirected and
misconceived'. It is contended that law is well
settled that a deputationist has no right to claim
permanent absorption in the post on which he is
sent on deputation.
13. While reiterating the factual position in line with
the resume given in initial paragraphs of this text,
stand of respondent No.1 is that the basic order of
deputation dated 21.02.2009, which restricted
petitioner's transfer on deputation basis only, has
neither been modified nor rescinded even after
deletion of the condition relating to creation of the
post of OSD on temporary basis vide Government
Order No. 765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.06.2009. The
post of OSD was created merely for the purpose of
payment of salary to the petitioner, which cannot
be filled up by permanent absorption of a person
brought on deputation. The deletion of the
condition contained in Government Order No.
765-GAD would in no way change the basic fact
14
that the post created in Chief Minister's Private
Office was only a temporary creation for drawing
salary of the petitioner. It is contended also that
personal staff of Ministers and the Chief Minister is
provided through deputation from different
departments, this arrangement subsists till the time
these dignitaries hold the office and after that the
staff is reverted back to their parent departments
where they hold the lien. Respondent No. 1 has
thus refuted petitioner's claim that by necessary
implication he has been permanently absorbed in
the Chief Minister's Private office against the post
of OSD.
14. In regard to the communication dated 26.03.2010
(supra), whereby respondent No.1 declined request
of the Corporation for repatriation of the
petitioner, it is contended that respondent No.1
had only conveyed that services of the petitioner
were 'still' required. By conveying merely that the
services of the petitioner were 'still' required
respondent No. 1 had not authorized the
Corporation to terminate the lien of the petitioner
and as the termination of the lien was inconsistent
with service rules, respondent No. 1 has ordered
revival of his lien by the Corporation. It is
contended that lien of an employee is governed by
15
Article 37-A to 37-J of the CSR, which provide for
the manner in which an employee acquires lien on
a post to which he is appointed and the procedure
to be followed for termination of lien on the
adjustment against another post outside his
cadre/organization. It is contended in this context
that the petitioner, when his lien was terminated by
the Corporation, was still on probation so he had
not acquired the lien on the post by that time and
therefore, the order of termination of the lien by
the Corporation is non est and in no way can
facilitate the cause of petitioner. The petitioner
therefore, continued to be borne on the
establishment of the Corporation till the date he
has been repatriated vide the impugned order. The
petitioner cannot be allowed to jump the ladder
and seek absorption as a matter of right against the
temporary post of OSD created merely for the
purpose of drawal of his salary during the period of
his deputation. Creation of the post or any other
condition imposed in the creation order will not
change the nature and substance of the basic
deputation order. It is further contended by
respondent No.1 that lien cannot be terminated in
such a manner that the officer is left without any
lien against any post. It is alleged by respondent
No.1 that a bare perusal of grounds taken by the
16
petitioner reveals that petitioner aspires for
entering into Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS)
against the post of Deputy Secretary through lateral
entry, notwithstanding that the Corporation
employees are not eligible to be inducted into the
KAS. Respondent No.1 has contended in this regard
that having been appointed against a post of
Deputy General Manager (Legal) in pay scale of
Rs.9000-300-14,100, petitioner is aspiring to be
absorbed against the post of OSD created
temporarily in the office of the Chief Minister in pay
scale of Rs.10,000-15,200 equivalent to the pay
scale of the Deputy Secretary/equivalent level. It is
contended by respondent No.1 that the unilateral
decision of the Corporation to terminate the lien of
the petitioner, that too when he had not acquired it
by not having completed two years of service,
would normally tantamount to discharging him
from the service as termination of lien in such a
situation without having acquired the same carried
no meaning.
15. The Corporation/Respondent No.2 in its counter
affidavit has averred that the Corporation had
sought repatriation of the petitioner as it was
confronted with several legal issues including
many court cases. In its request letter dated
17
05.02.2010 to respondent No.1 for repatriation of
the petitioner the Corporation had made it clear
that in case the services of the petitioner
are indispensable and required in the GAD, the
same may be communicated to it to enable it to
make alternate arrangement by making fresh
recruitment on the post of the Dy. General
Manager (Legal). The Corporation in the counter
affidavit has pointed out that as it does not have
its own rules so it was made clear in the order of
appointment of the petitioner that his service
conditions would be governed in accordance with
the rules applicable to the employees of the State
Government called the Civil Service Regulation. It
is averred further that because of the refusal to
repatriation of the petitioner by respondent No.1,
the Corporation terminated the lien of the
petitioner and taking notice that the post of
DGM held by the petitioner became substantially
vacant and that petitioner was no longer on the
rolls of the Corporation, the termination of lien was
acted upon. The Corporation has thus opposed the
writ petition stating that the petitioner has since
ceased to be the employee of the Corporation.
16. Question in regard to a deputationist's right to
claim absorption in the borrowing department is no
18
longer res integra even though it is noticed that
such a question has not been mooted for debate in
this case. Such a question, if raised, would not
have had any substance as there is no quarrel with
the well-settled principle of law that a
deputationist has no legal right to be absorbed in
the post to which he is deputed and he can at
any time be repatriated to his parent
department/organization. At the same time,
however, possibility of absorbing a deputationist
permanently in the borrowing organization is not
ruled out. Supreme Court in Union of India and
another v Ramakrishanan and others, (2005) 8 SCC
394, while restating the general principle that a
deputationist has no legal right to continue or to be
absorbed in the post, has held also that there is no
bar thereto as well.
17. Petitioner by the medium of this writ petition is not
claiming absorption in the post of the OSD to which
he was transferred on deputation from the
Corporation. Petitioner rather questions his
sending back (repatriation) to the Corporation by
the impugned order on the grounds that he has
already been permanently absorbed in the
borrowing department, that his relationship with
his parent organization has ceased to exist with the
19
termination of his lien by the Corporation and that
his repatriation dehors the service rules.
18. Mr. G. A. Lone, learned counsel for the petitioner
submitted that with the refusal of respondent
No.1 to repatriate him at the time when
repatriation was sought by the Corporation and
termination of his lien by the Corporation coupled
with deletion of the coterminous nature of the
post of OSD held by him, the petitioner stood
absorbed against the said post of OSD and no
longer remained an employee of the Corporation
nor the Corporation can be treated as parent
department of the petitioner. Dilating his point,
Mr. Lone argued that with the issue of Government
order No.1056-GAD of 2010 dated 16. 09.2010,
the post of OSD held by the petitioner no longer
remained a temporary post nor coterminous
with petitioner's exit from that post on
repatriation or otherwise. Mr. Lone submitted that
respondent No.1's refusal to petitioner's
repatriation to the Corporation and issuing of
Government Order No.16.09.2010 thereby deleting
conditionality from the post of OSD which the
petitioner was holding had amounted to creation
of an isolated post of OSD in the Chief Minister's
Office under the control of the GAD to
20
permanently absorb the petitioner against that
post. In support of his arguments, Mr. Lone read
out para 113 of the contemporaneous record in
relation to passing of order dated 16. 9. 2010
placed on the file of the case on behalf of the
respondent No. 1. Mr. Lone submitted further that
the impugned order dehors service rules and is
illegal for the reason that rules in general or the
CSR in particular do not provide for repatriation of a
deputationist after he has been permanently
absorbed in the borrowing department nor do the
rules provide for revival of the lien after it has been
terminated.
19. Per contra, Mr. Vishal Sharma, learned AAG,
submitted that termination of petitioner's lien by
the Corporation was illegal inasmuch as no lien was
acquire by the petitioners during his probation
period. Mr. Sharma submitted that petitioner, who
is an employee of the Corporation, wants to be
inducted into Government service in indirect way
and argued vehemently that a deputationist has no
legal right to claim absorption in the borrowing
department. Mr. Sharma argued also that status of
the petitioner vis a vis respondent No. 1 did not
change even after deletion of the conditionality
21
from the order whereby only a temporary post was
created for drawing the salary of the petitioner.
20. For resolving the debate the four orders/
communication issued in succession after the
Government Order No.301-GAD of 2009 dated
21.2.2009, whereby petitioner was transferred
and posted on deputation as OSD in the private
office of the Chief Minister, have been noticed.
These are; i) Government Order No. 765-GAD of
2009 dated 15.06.2009, whereby a temporary post
of OSD was created in the Private Office of the
Chief Minister with a condition that the same shall
cease to exist after transfer of the petitioner either
by repatriation or otherwise, ii) communication
No. GAD-(Ser)Genl/29/2009 dated 26.03.2010,
whereby respondent No.1 conveyed refusal to
repatriation of the petitioner which was sought by
the Corporation, iii) Order No. PDC/CJ/165 of 2010
dated 20.04.2010, whereby the Corporation
ordered the termination of the lien of
the petitioner from the Corporation and
iv) Government Order No.1056-GAD of 2010
dated 16.09.2010, whereby the condition
contained in order dated 15.10.2009 (supra) that
the post of OSD shall cease to exist after exist of
petitioner from that post was deleted. These
22
four orders/communication for handiness are
reproduced below in their substance in the similar
order:
i) "Reference: Cabinet Decision No. 68/6/2009
dated 13.06.2009
Government Order No. 765-Gad of 2009
Dated: 15.06.2009
In continuation to Government Order No.
301-GAD of 2009 dated 21.02.2009,
sanction is hereby accorded to the creation
of a temporary post of OSD in the pay scale
of Rs.10, 000-15,200 (pre-revised-non plan)
in the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Private
Office at Srinagar for drawl of salary of Shri
Tariq Ahmad. The post shall cease to exist
after transfer of Shri Tariq Ahmad from the
Hon'ble Chief Minister's office either by
way of his repatriation to parent
organization or otherwise.
By order of the Government of Jammu
and Kashmir.
Sd/-
(Ahmadullah Shah)
Special Secretary to Government
General Administration Department
Dated:15.06.2009"
ii) "NO. GAD (Ser)Genl/29/2009 Dated
26.03.2010
Subject: Posting of Shri Tariq Ahmad Kakroo,
Deputy General Manager (Legal).
Sir,
I am directed to refer your letter
No. JKSPDC/ADM/EG-103/CJ/4052 dated
5.2.2010 whereunder you have requested
for repatriation of Shri Tariq Ahmad Kakroo,
Deputy General Manager (Legal), presently
23
on deputation as OSD in the Hon'ble Chief
Minister's private Office at Srinagar to
attend the court cases and other legal issues
in the State Power Development
Corporation. You have further requested
that in case the services of Shri Kakroo are
required by the Government, the same may
be intimated to enable the Corporation to
make alternate arrangements for filling up
of the post of Deputy General Manager
(Legal).
Your request was placed before the
Competent Authority (Hon'ble Chief
Minister) who has directed that Shri Tariq
Kakroo's services are required as OSD.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
Deputy Secretary to Government,
General Administration Department"
iii) Subject :-Termination of lien of Sh. Tariq
Ahmed
Kakroo, DGM (Legal) from JKSPDC.
ORDER NO.PDC/CJ/165 FO 2010
DATED: 20- 04- 2010
Whereas,.........................................................
.............
Whereas......................................................... ............
Whereas,......................................................... .............
Whereas,......................................................... ............
Whereas vide letter No.GAD (Ser) Genl/29/2009 dated 26.03.2010 it was communicated by General Administration Department that the PDC request was placed before the competent Authority 24 (Hon'ble Chief Minister) who has directed that Shri Tariq Kakroo's services are required as OSD.
Whereas, .......................................................................
Now, therefore, in view of above, it is hereby ordered that the lien of Sh. Tariq Ahmed Kakroo Deputy General Manager (Legal) is terminated from JKSPDC w.e.f. 19.04.2010.
Sd/-
( B.R.Sharma) IAS Managing Director"
iv) "Government Order No. 1056-GAD of 2010 Dated : 16.09.2010 It is hereby ordered that the following condition appearing in Government Order o. 765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.05.2009 shall be deemed to have been deleted:-
"The post shall cease to exist after transfer of Shri Kakroo from the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Office either by way of his repatriation to parent organization or otherwise."
By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sd/-
(Ahmadullah Shah) Special Secretary to Government General Administration Department."
(Underlining by me)
21. It is seen that the position did not change with addressing communication dated 26.03.2010 (supra) by respondent No.1 to the Corporation 25 because in its plain language what was conveyed to the Corporation is that the services of the petitioner were required as OSD meaning thereby that Corporation's request for his repatriation was declined. The simple aftermath of this communication was that petitioner had to continue on deputation against the coterminous temporary post of OSD created vide order No. 765-GAD (supra). Things, however, changed remarkably in quick succession thereafter giving a clear glimpse of the intention and purpose, as they were. Pursuant to and consequent upon communication dated 26.03.2010, the Corporation vide order dated 20.04.2010 (supra) terminated the lien of the petitioner from the Corporation. Endorsements on this order would show that its copy among others was sent to the GAD, that is, respondent No.1. It is obvious that respondent No.1 did not raise any objection to or question the Corporation's action in terminating the lien of the petitioner, whose services had been borrowed by respondent No.1 on deputation basis only and it is not stated why it was not. By opting not to take up the matter with the Corporation, respondent No.1 in fact had expressed its no objection to the termination of the lien of the petitioner from the Corporation.
2622. Contextually, it is important to note that lien on appointment of a government servant as defined in Rule 21 of the CSR, which apply to the employees of the Corporation, is a privilege given to him by the Government 'to hold substantively either immediately or on the termination of a period or periods of absence, a permanent post, including a tenure post, to which he has been appointed substantively.' Lien of a government servant is directly related to his absence for a long duration for reasons such as deputation to another department and preserves his right to join that post after the period of absence or repatriation. With the termination of his lien by the Corporation pursuant to refusal of respondent No.1 to repatriate him, petitioner lost his right of joining in the Corporation against the post he was appointed against and the silence of respondent No.1 in this regard was no less indication of its intention not to repatriate the petitioner in future. Respondent No. 1 had not only refused the repatriation of the petitioner but had virtually consented to termination of his lien by the Corporation. Had the intention not been so, respondent No.1 would not have remained silent and left the petitioner to his fate without any lien 27 and chance of returning home. Intention of respondent No.1, however, became clearer with the issue of order No. 1056-GAD (supra), whereby the condition that creation of temporary post of OSD in the office of Chief Minister was coterminous with exit of petitioner was deleted. By deleting this condition Respondent No.1 virtually made clear not to repatriate the petitioner to the Corporation and had indirectly absorbed him against the post of OSD. Not only that, the Chief Minister's Secretariat confirmed the services of the petitioner by directing the Financial Advisor/CAO of the Secretariat vide communication No. SS/HCM/POS/1753 dated 10. 10. 2011 that the petitioner, who by that time was still on probation, 'has successfully completed the period of probation on 18 10. 2010' so necessary entries are require to be made in his service book'. Petitioners' confirmation by the Chief Minister's Secretariat in turn confirms that petitioner was permanently absorbed against the post of the OSD. The legality of the impugned order will have to be discussed and determined in this backdrop.
23. It is noticed with surprise that respondent No.1 in his counter affidavit instead of explaining as to why it did not object to the termination of lien of the 28 petitioner by the Corporation has questioned the legality of the termination of lien. Instead of explaining as to what was the intention and purpose behind refusing repatriation of the petitioner, deleting the condition that the post of OSD was coterminous with the exit of the petitioner vide Order No. 1056 of GAD (supra) and confirming the petitioner because of completion of probation, the stand of respondent No. I is that vide communication dated 26.03.2010 (supra), the Corporation was informed only that the services of the petitioner were 'still' required as OSD and was not authorized to terminate the lien of the petitioner. The respondent No. 1 has questioned legality of the termination of the lien also on the ground that petitioner was on probation so his lien could not have been terminated and has further sought to make out that even after termination of lien and passing of Order No. 1056 of GAD the basic order of deputation, which restricted petitioner's transfer on deputation basis only, has neither been modified nor rescinded and petitioner continued to be on deputation and has refuted petitioner's absorption in the post of OSD .
24. Respondent No. 1 has thus raised a question in regard to his own action of refusing the repatriation 29 of the petitioner and passing Government Order No. 1056-GAD of 2010 dated 16.09.2010, whereby the condition attached to Government Order No. 765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.06.2009 was deleted. Having regard to the stand taken by respondent No. 1, it needs to be stated that in judicial proceedings a statutory/executive authority is not expected to support, justify or explain an order passed by him on the grounds other than those available from the order itself or the connected record and not to set up a contrary case in its pleadings. Reference in this regard is made to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. v Darius Shapur Chenai, AIR 2005 SC 3520, where Their Lordships have held:
28....When an order is passed by a statutory authority, the same must be supported either on the reasons stated herein or the grounds available there for in the record. A statutory authority cannot be permitted to support its order relying on or on the basis of the statements made in the affidavit dehors the order or for that matter dehors the record."
25. Be that as it may, questions raised by respondent No. 1 are required to be resolved first. Mr. Lone pointed out and rightly so that respondent No. 1 in his counter affidavit is not correct in asserting that 30 by its communication dated 26.03.2010 respondent No. 1 had conveyed only that services of petitioner were 'still' required as OSD and had not authorized the Corporation to terminate his lien. Had it been so the meaning of the letter could have been that petitioner's repatriation as at that time was refused. This communication as reproduced above on its plain look would show that word 'still' does not figure in its text. Text of the letter of its own, however, may also not make it clear whether the refusal to repatriation of the petitioner was for the time being only or for ever. The true intent and purpose behind refusal of repatriation and Government Order No. 1056-GAD (supra) and their implication are exposed when the refusal letter and Order No. 1056-GAD are read in context and juxtaposition with the Corporation's letter of request for repatriation of the petitioner dated 05.02.2010 (supra).
26. The Corporation vide its letter dated 5. 2. 2010 had requested respondent No.1 not only for repatriation of the petitioner but had also disclosed the necessity of seeking the repatriation and had further requested to communicate if the services of the petitioner are require by the GAD so that the Corporation is 'able to make alternate arrangement 31 by making fresh recruitment of Deputy General Manager (Legal)'. By its communication dated 26.03.2010, respondent No. 1 cannot be said to have refused repatriation for the time being only but with sufficient implication had also consented to filling up of the post held by the petitioner in the Corporation by fresh recruitment, which could have been possible only after terminating the lien of the petitioner. The respondent No. 1 had thus not only refused the repatriation of the petitioner but had also consented to termination of his lien from the corporation. The cumulative effect and implication of refusing the repatriation of the petitioner to his parent organization, consenting to filling up of the post held by him in the parent organization by fresh recruitment and issuing Order No. 1056-GAD thereby deleting the condition that the post held by the petitioner in the borrowing department was coterminous with his exit can be nothing other than that the Government/respondent No. 1 had absorbed the petitioner permanently in the post of OSD in the Chief Minister's Private Office. Doubt, if any, in this regard would be set at rest when the entire sequence of events is examined in backdrop of the contemporaneous record placed on the file on behalf of respondent No. 1 which is the main source of information for looking into the intent of 32 an administrative or statutory decision and can be examined by this court as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court in East Coast Railway v Mahadev Appa Rao, AIR 2010 SC 2794 where Their Lordships have observed:
"8.There is no quarrel with the well settled proposition of law that an order passed by a public authority exercising administrative/executive or statutory powers must be judged by the reason stated in the order or any record or file contemporaneously maintained...."
27. Termination of petitioner's lien by the Corporation pursuant to refusal of his repatriation by respondent No.2 was taken cognizance in the office of the GAD/ respondent No.1 vide paragraph No. 89 of the contemporaneous record and response of respondent No.1 is contained in paragraph No.
90. These two paragraphs along with connected paragraph No. 88 are reproduced hereunder:-
"88. The issue regarding repatriation or otherwise of Shri Tariq Ahmad Kakroo to JKSPDC on the request of Managing Director, JKSPDC (page 54 cf) was placed before the Hon'ble Chief Minister. The Hon'ble Chief Minister in his observations at note para 82 directed that Shri Kakroo's services are required as OSD. The decision of the competent authority was conveyed to Managing Director, JKSPDC on 26.3.2010 (page 56 cf).33
89. Pursuant to the above decision, J&K State Power Development Corporation terminated the lien of Shri Tariq Ahmad Kakroo from JKSPDC vide Order No. PDC/CJ/65 of 2010 dated 20.04.2010 (placed on cf).
90. As Shri Kakroo has been left without a lien, it would be in the fitness of things to delete the following clause from Government Order No.765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.06.2009 so that he can acquire lien on the post of OSD in the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Private Office:-
'The post shall cease to exist after transfer of Shri Tariq Ahmed from the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Office either by way of his repatriation to parent organization or otherwise. "
(underlining by me)
28. After exchange of proposals/opinions between the GAD and the Finance Department, record whereof is contained in paragraphs- 92 to 117 of the contemporaneous record, ultimate proposal made by the GAD is contained in paragraph No. 118, which reads:
"118. Since the proposal to adjust Shri Tariq Ahmad Kakroo against an ex- cadre post of OSD would not adversely effect the service career of any officer in any other service, we may, in the aforementioned background, submit the case to the HCM for consideration and approval to the continuation of the post of OSD held by Shri Kakroo on 34 permanent basis deleting the condition imposed by the Finance Department, to enable the officer to acquire lien on the said post, as proposed at para 114. NF."
(underlining by me)
29. Contextually, it is relevant to refer to paragraph 114 as also the connecting paragraph 113, which read:
"113. Since Shri Kakroo's services are required as OSD in the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Private Office, directed for his continuation in private office, the opinion of the Finance Department is not favoured. The continuation of Shri Kakroo as OSD on a permanent basis is not going to impinge upon the service career of any officer in any manner. He will be holding an isolated post which will not form a part of any organized cadre.
114. Keeping in view the aforesaid position, may approve deletion of the following condition from Government Order No. 765-GAD of 2009 dated 15.06.2009 to pave way for adjustment of Shri Kakroo as OSD in the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Private Office and acquisition of his lien on the said post:
'The post shall cease to exist after transfer of Shri Kakroo from the Hon'ble Chief Minister's Office either by way of his repatriation to parent organization or otherwise. "
(underlining by me) 35
30.The proposal contained in paragraph 118 (supra) seems to have been approved by the Chief Minister in the month of September, 2010 and pursuant thereto Government Order No. 1056-GAD of 2010 dated 16.09.2010 (supra) was issued.
31. What clearly emerges from perusal and analysis of the contemporaneous record is that intention and purpose of the GAD/respondent No.1 in issuing Government Order No. 1056-GAD dated 16.09.2010 (supra) was to create a permanent post of OSD in isolated cadre in the Chief Minister's Office to pave way for absorbing the petitioner in that post on permanent basis and to enable him to acquire lien on the said post. It being so, GAD/respondent No.1 neither is justified in nor can be heard taking a stand that even after issuing the said Government Order, the basic Government Order No. 301-GAD of 2009 dated 21.02.2009 which restricted petitioner's transfer on deputation basis only has neither been modified nor rescinded or to say that petitioner was still on deputation with respondent No.1.
32. The crucial question that now comes up for debate is whether a Government servant after his permanent absorption in the borrowing 36 department/organization and termination of his lien in the parent organization can still be repatriated to his parent organization. Connected question mooted by respondent No. 1 is weather the termination of lien of the petitioner by the Corporation was illegal and non est because the Corporation should not have terminated the lien during probation period of the petitioner as no lien is acquired by a probationer.
33. Rule 21 of the CSR defines the "lien" of a Government servant. The connotation "lien" came to be interpreted by the Supreme Court in Ram Lal Khurana v. State of Punjab, AIR 1989 SC 1985. The Supreme Court ruled: 'Lien is not a word of art. It just connotes the right of a civil servant to hold the post substantively to which he is appointed'. Rules 37-A to 37-J of the CSR deal inter alia with acquisition, suspension and termination of lien. As per Rule 37-A a Government servant shall acquire lien on a post on his substantive appointment to a permanent post. There is nothing in the rules to show or even to indicate by implication that a government servant when appointed to a permanent post shall not acquire lien to that post during his probation period. If a Government servant is transferred on 37 deputation to or is holding a post in another cadre or department/organization his lien shall revive as soon as he ceases to hold the post in that other cadre or department/organization and is repatriated. Note below Rule 37-C provides that when it is known that a Government servant on transfer to a post outside his cadre is confirmed in that post, his lien on the parent post shall terminate in his parent office. The Corporation cannot be said to have committed any illegality in terminating the lien of the petitioner after respondent No.1 refused his repatriation and consented to termination of his lien. Service rules in general and CSR in particular do not contain any provision to enable the Government or the parent department to revive lien once terminated. Once the lien of a Government servant on a particular post comes to an end, it cannot be revived. This being the rule position, contention of respondent No. 1 that termination of petitioner's lien by the Corporation was illegal or non est has , no substance and is liable to be rejected.
34. The legal position, thus, emerging is that once a Government servant on deputation is absorbed in the borrowing department/organization and his lien in the parent department/organization is 38 terminated his repatriation dehors service rules and is illegal. The impugned order whereby the petitioner has been ordered to be sent back (repatriated) to the Corporation, therefore, dehors rules and is illegal. Even otherwise, respondent No.1, once having deliberately paved way for absorbing the petitioner in the post of OSD in the Chief Minister's office and acquire lien against that post cannot after five years be heard questioning the termination of lien and justifying direction for revival of the lien.
35. For all that said and discussed above, the irresistible conclusion to be drawn precisely is and I hold that with the refusal of the petitioner's repatriation to the Corporation and issue of Government Order No.1056-GAD of 2010 dated 16.09.2010 respondent No.1 has permanently absorbed the petitioner in the post of OSD in an isolated cadre created in the private office of the Chief Minister. He has acquired lien against the said post and therefore, he cannot be asked to report back (or repatriated) to the Corporation where his lien to appointment has since been terminated. The impugned order, therefore, dehors the service rules and is liable to be quashed.
36. Petitioner, in addition, has also sought a direction to the respondents to re-designate him as Deputy 39 Secretary in the Government in accordance with the proposal/recommendation made by the Chief Minister's Secretariat, decision whereon is said to have been deferred on 11.03.2014. In this regard, it is contended in paragraph 8 of the writ petition that after permanent absorption of the petitioner as OSD, the Chief Minister's Secretariat in the month of March,2014 with a view to provide promotional avenues to the petitioner, submitted a proposal to the competent Authority to re-designate the petitioner as Deputy Secretary in the said Secretariat. The Establishment Committee constituted by respondent No.1 for the purpose appears to have considered the proposal but deferred the decision on the ground that issue required further examination. Respondent No.1 in its reply to paragraph 8 of the writ petition in the counter affidavit has not addressed to this aspect of the matter and has contented by saying that petitioner had never been appointed against the post of OSD. Whatever contended by the petitioner, however, is supported by the contemporaneous record produced on behalf of respondent No.1. The Chief Minister's Secretariat seems to have mooted a proposal to GAD/ respondent No.1 "to examine the feasibility and desirability of re-designating Shri Kakroo as Deputy 40 Secretary in HCM's Secretariat to enable his placement on a Sustainable Career Progression Path over long term." No case for issuing any direction in this regard, however, is made out as cause of action for filing this writ petition arises only by the issue of the impugned Government Order No. 47-GAD dated 15.01.2015 (supra) whereby respondent No.1 directed sending back the petitioner to the Corporation.Changing designation of the petitioner for the purpose of his placement on 'Sustainable Career Progression Path', is a contemplated administrative decision about which no mandamus or direction can be issued by this Court at this stage.
37. Viewed thus, this writ petition insofar as it relates to the impugned Government Order No. 47-GAD of 2015 dated 15.01.2015 has merit and is allowed in terms that :
i) by issue of a writ of certiorari, the impugned Government Order No. 47-GAD of 2015 dated 15.01.2015 whereby the petitioner has been ordered to 'report back to his parent organization i.e. J&K Power Development Corporation' is quashed;
and 41
ii) by issue of a writ of mandamus, the Government/respondent No.1 is directed to allow the petitioner to continue in the service as OSD (supra). It would, however, be open for the Government to adjust the petitioner against any other equivalent post, if so desired.
38. Disposed of.
(Janak Raj Kotwal) Judge Jammu:
22.07.2015 Pawan Chopra