Punjab-Haryana High Court
Ju D G M E N T S In He M Ra J Ka L I A vs . St A T E Of Pu N J A B An D Ot H E R S , on 3 February, 2012
IN TH E HI G H CO U R T OF PU N J A B AN D HA R Y A N A AT CH A N D I G A R H
Am e n d e d Ci v i l Wr i t Pe t i t i o n No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3
DA T E OF DE C I S I O N : Fe b r u a r y 03 , 2012
Ms . C h a n d e r Pr a b h a
... .. P e t i t i o n e r
ve r s u s
Th e St a t e of Ha r y a n a an d ot h e r s
.. . . . R e s p o n d e n t s
CO R A M : - HO N ' B L E MR . JU S T I C E RA J A N GU P T A
Pr e s e n t : Mr . A m a r Vi v e k , Ad v o c a t e fo r th e pe t i t i o n e r
Mr . D . S . Na l w a , Ad d l . A. G . , Ha r y a n a
..
RA J A N GU P T A , J. : (O r a l )
Pe t i t i o n e r ha s so u g h t a wr i t in th e na t u r e of
ma n d a m u s for gr a n t of se n i o r i t y an d al l co n s e q u e n t i a l
be n e f i t s wit h ef f e c t fr o m 22 . 4 . 1 9 7 6 wh e n sh e wa s el i g i b l e
fo r pr o m o t i o n to th e po s t of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r
(R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) . Ch a l l e n g e ha s al s o be e n ma d e to
or d e r da t e d 22 . 4 . 1 9 9 3 (A n n e x u r e P- 28) wh e r e b y
re p r e s e n t a t i o n of th e pe t i t i o n e r fo r gr a n t of pr o m o t i o n
wi t h ef f e c t fr o m 19 7 6 wa s re j e c t e d wi t h fu r t h e r ch a l l e n g e
to or d e r da t e d 2. 2 . 1 9 9 3 (A n n e x u r e P- 22 ) wh e r e b y pr i v a t e
re s p o n d e n t s we r e pr o m o t e d to th e po s t of De p u t y Di r e c t o r .
Le a r n e d co u n s e l fo r th e pet i t i o n e r co n t e n d s th a t
on e po s t of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d
Re f e r e n c e ) fe l l va c a n t in th e ye a r 19 7 7 in te r m s of th e
Ha r y a n a Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s (S t a t e Se r v i c e Cl a s s - II ) Ru l e s ,
19 7 5 (h e r e i n a f t e r re f e r r e d to as 't h e 19 7 5 ru l e s ' ) . In vi e w
Am e n d e d CW P No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3 - 2 -
of ru l e 9( d ) ( i ) of th e 19 7 5 ru l e s , th e pe t i t i o n e r wa s
en t i t l e d to be pr o m o t e d . Ho w e v e r , sh e wa s no t co n s i d e r e d ,
in s t e a d vi d e ord e r da t e d 17 . 6 . 1 9 7 7 (A n n e x u r e P- 5) on e K. K .
Ag g a r w a l was pos t e d as Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h
an d Re f e r e n c e ) . Th i s re s u l t e d in th e pe t i t i o n e r be i n g
ig n o r e d fo r pr o m o t i o n in th e re g u l a r ch a n n e l . Th e
pe t i t i o n e r wa s ul t i m a t e l y pr o m o t e d on 12. 1 2 . 1 9 8 0 . Le a r n e d
co u n s e l fo r th e pe t i t i o n e r ha s em p h a s i s e d th a t pe t i t i o n e r
wa s en t i t l e d to pr o m o t i o n wh e n po s t in qu e s t i o n fe l l
va c a n t . Du e to de n i a l of th i s op p o r t u n i t y ma r r i n g th e
pr o m o t i o n pr o s p e c t s of th e pe t i t i o n e r , sh e wa s al s o de n i e d
co n s e q u e n t i a l mo n e t a r y be n e f i t s . He ha s pl a c e d re l i a n c e on
ju d g m e n t s in He m Ra j Ka l i a vs . St a t e of Pu n j a b an d ot h e r s ,
CW P No . 7 9 9 5 of 19 9 4 , de c i d e d on 26 . 7 . 1 9 9 5 an d S. S . So d h i
vs . St a t e of Pu n j a b an d ot h e r s , 19 9 0 ( 2 ) Su p r e m e Cou r t
Ca s e s 69 4 .
Le a r n e d St a t e co u n s e l ha s , ho w e v e r , ve h e m e n t l y
op p o s e d th e pr a y e r . He sub m i t s th a t pe t i t i o n e r wa s wo r k i n g
as a St a t i s t i c a l As s i s t a n t at th e rel e v a n t ti m e wh e n po s t
of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) fe l l
va c a n t . Th e go v e r n m e n t in it s di s c r e t i o n tr a n s f e r r e d
K. K . A g g a r w a l to th e sa i d po s t . Ac c o r d i n g to hi m , rul e 9( d )
(i ) o f th e 19 7 5 ru l e s pr e s c r i b e s fo r re c r u i t m e n t to th e po s t
of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h and Re f e r e n c e ) by
pr o m o t i o n th r o u g h se l e c t i o n fr o m am o n g s t St a t i s t i c a l
As s i s t a n t s . Ac c o r d i n g to hi m , ru l e 9( d ) ( i ) of th e 19 7 5
2
Am e n d e d CW P No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3 - 3 -
ru l e s is no t at t r a c t e d to th e in s t a n t cas e as sa m e ta l k s of
re c r u i t m e n t by pr o m o t i o n . He su b m i t s th a t in ca s e th e
go v e r n m e n t ha d re s o r t e d to re c r u i t m e n t in te r m s of ru l e 9
(d ) ( i ) of th e 19 7 5 ru l e s , it wo u l d ha v e to dr a w up a pa n e l
an d ca r r y ou t a se l e c t i o n pr o c e s s and in th a t ev e n t u a l i t y
th e pe t i t i o n e r wo u l d ha v e ha d a ri g h t to be co n s i d e r e d .
Ho w e v e r , the ans w e r i n g re s p o n d e n t too k re c o u r s e to ru l e 15
of th e 19 7 5 ru l e s an d de c i d e d to po s t ano t h e r of f i c e r on
th e po s t of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d
Re f e r e n c e ) . He re f e r r e d to ru l e 15 of the 19 7 5 ru l e s to
co n t e n d th a t po s t s of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r , Ed i t o r ,
Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) an d
Di s t r i c t Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r are in t e r c h a n g e a b l e in
na t u r e an d ha v e a jo i n t se n i o r i t y lis t .
I ha v e he a r d le a r n e d co u n s e l fo r th e pa r t i e s an d
gi v e n ca r e f u l th o u g h t to th e fa c t s of th e ca s e .
At th e ou t s e t , it ma y be re l e v a n t to re f e r to th e
ru l e s wh i c h ha v e be e n ci t e d be f o r e th i s co u r t . Ru l e 9( d ) ( i )
of th e 19 7 5 ru l e s re a d s as fo l l o w s : -
" 9. Re c r u i t m e n t to th e Se r v i c e sh a l l be ma d e -
... .. .... . .... . .... .
(d ) in th e ca s e of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r
(R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) -
(i ) by pr o m o t i o n th r o u g h se l e c t i o n fr o m
am o n g s t th e St a t i s t i c a l As s i s t a n t s . "
Ru l e 15 of th e sa i d ru l e s re a d s as fo l l o w s : -
3
Am e n d e d CW P No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3 - 4 -
" 15 . T h e jo b s of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r s ,
Ed i t o r s an d Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h
an d Re f e r e n c e ) an d Di s t r i c t Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s
Of f i c e r s sh a l l be in t e r c h a n g e a b l e and al l th e
Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r s sh a l l ha v e jo i n t
se n i o r i t y . "
Pe t i t i o n e r jo i n e d se r v i c e on 13 . 4 . 1 9 7 1 as
St a t i s t i c a l As s i s t a n t . In th e ye a r 19 7 7 , a po s t of Pu b l i c
Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) fe l l va c a n t .
Or d e r (A n n e x u r e P- 5) wa s pa s s e d by th e Di r e c t o r , Pu b l i c
Re l a t i o n s , Ha r y a n a , po s t i n g on e K. K . Ag g a r w a l as Pu b l i c
Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r ag a i n s t th e sa i d po s t . Th e op e r a t i v e pa r t
of th e or d e r re a d s th u s : -
" Co n s e q u e n t up o n th e pr o m o t i o n / a p p o i n t m e n t
of Sh r i De v i Sh a n k a r Pr a b h a k a r , Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s
Of f i c e r (R & R ) as De p u t y Di r e c t o r (R & R ) Sh r i K. K .
Ag g a r w a l , Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r is po s t e d as
Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R & R ) .
Sd / -
Di r e c t o r Pub l i c Re l a t i o n s ,
Ha r y a n a . "
As a re s u l t of sa i d po s t i n g , th e po s t be c a m e un a v a i l a b l e
an d no ef f o r t wa s ma d e by th e an s w e r i n g re s p o n d e n t to fi l l
up th e sa m e by wa y of pr o m o t i o n . Th e pe t i t i o n e r wa s ,
ho w e v e r , pro m o t e d as Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Off i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d
Re f e r e n c e ) in th e ye a r 19 8 0 wh e n tw o ad d i t i o n a l po s t s we r e
cr e a t e d . Ad m i t t e d l y , th i s pr o m o t i o n wa s ma d e in acc o r d a n c e
wi t h th e pro c e d u r e pr e s c r i b e d un d e r ru l e 9( d ) ( i ) of th e
19 7 5 ru l e s . Cl a i m of th e pe t i t i o n e r is th a t sh e de s e r v e d to
4
Am e n d e d CW P No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3 - 5 -
be pr o m o t e d in th e ye a r 197 7 . As op p o r t u n i t y wa s no t
gr a n t e d to he r in th e ye a r 19 7 7 fo r pr o m o t i o n to th e sa i d
po s t , th i s re s u l t e d in de n i a l of du e se n i o r i t y an d
co n s e q u e n t i a l be n e f i t s ov e r re s p o n d e n t s No . 4 to 19 . Th e
st a n d of the St a t e is th a t no n e of re s p o n d e n t s No . 4 to 19
wa s ju n i o r to pe t i t i o n e r . Th e pe t i t i o n e r wa s wo r k i n g as
St a t i s t i c a l As s i s t a n t wh i l e re s p o n d e n t s No . 4 to 19 we r e
al r e a d y wo r k i n g as Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r at th e re l e v a n t
ti m e . Ev e n K. K . Ag g a r w a l , wh o wa s pos t e d vi d e or d e r
(A n n e x u r e P- 5) wa s al r e a d y a Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r . Th e
cl a i m of the pe t i t i o n e r is, of co u r s e , ba s e d on th e pr e m i s e
th a t in ca s e sh e ha d be e n pr o m o t e d on th e po s t of Pu b l i c
Re l a t i o n s Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d Re f e r e n c e ) in th e ye a r
19 7 7 , sh e wo u l d ha v e st o l e n a ma r c h ov e r re s p o n d e n t s No . 4
to 19 . Ad m i t t e d l y , th e pe t i t i o n e r wa s pr o m o t e d in th e
me a n w h i l e an d sh e ca n on l y cl a i m no t i o n a l pr o m o t i o n an d
co n s e q u e n t i a l be n e f i t s .
It is , th u s , ev i d e n t th a t th e cl a i m of th e
pe t i t i o n e r is ba s e d on l y on th e fo r t u i t o u s ci r c u m s t a n c e
th a t ha d the po s t of Pu b l i c Re l a t i o n Of f i c e r (R e s e a r c h an d
Re f e r e n c e ) wh i c h fe l l va c a n t in 19 7 7 , be e n fi l l e d by wa y of
pr o m o t i o n , sh e wo u l d ha v e be e n in the con s i d e r a t i o n zo n e .
Ho w e v e r , sam e wa s fi e l d up by po s t i n g one K. K . Ag g a r w a l wh o
wa s ad m i t t e d l y se n i o r to th e pe t i t i o n e r . Th e po s t i n g of
sa i d of f i c e r wa s do n e in ac c o r d a n c e wi t h th e ru l e s . Th u s ,
pl e a of th e pe t i t i o n e r is ba s e d on ve r y we a k fo o t i n g . Th e
ju d g m e n t s re l i e d up o n in He m Ra j Ka l i a ' s ca s e an d S. S .
So d h i ' s ca s e ca n n o t he l p th e ca s e of the pe t i t i o n e r . Th e
5
Am e n d e d CW P No . 5 2 3 6 of 19 9 3 - 6 -
pe t i t i o n is, th u s , wi t h o u t an y me r i t an d de s e r v e s to be
di s m i s s e d .
Di s m i s s e d .
Febr u a r y 03, 2012 ( RAJA N GUP T A )
pc/r a j p a l JUDG E
6
