Patna High Court
Vijay Kumar & Ors vs The Chairman And Managing Director ... on 15 February, 2016
Author: Navaniti Prasad Singh
Bench: Navaniti Prasad Singh, Nilu Agrawal
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1861 of 2014
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1. Vijay Kumar S/O Sri Mokhtar Singh TTA Under Sub Divisional Engineer
(CCN) CTO O/o The Principal General Manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited, Patna ( Bihar)
2. Ajay Kumar S/O Sri Biku Mistry TTA Under Divisional Engineer ( Mobile)
Office Of The PGMTD, Patna.
3. Sunita Kumari D/O Sri Moti Lal Das TTA Office Of The Sub Divisional
Engineer ( Transmission), BSNL, Patliputra, Patna- 13
4. Kamal Prasad Sahu S/O Ram Charitra Sahu TTA Under JTO ( CCN) Office Of
GMTD, Darbhanga.
5. Naveen Rajan S/O Sri Uma Kant Prasad TTA Office Of The Sub Divisional
Engineer (G), BSNL, Pakariverwan.
6. Rakesh Kumar S/O Late Deo Nandan Prasad Singh TTA O/O CGMT, Bihar,
Patna.
7. Dinesh Kumar S/O Sri Kishori Ram Choudhary TTA Under Sub Divisional
Engineer, Phones ( G) Aurangabad Office Of The General Manager Telephone,
District- BSNL, Gaya.
8. Rakesh Kumar S/O Sri Rabindra Kumar TTA Office Of Sub Divisional
Engineer ( G), BSNL, Daudnagar.
9. Kunwar Singh S/O Late Y. Singh TTA Under SDE (P) Navinagar, Aurangabad.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Chairman And Managing Director Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Corporate
Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpath, New Delhi.
2. The Chief General Manager, Telcom, BSNL Bihar Circle, Patna ( Bihar)
3. The Principal General Manager, Telecom, BSNL O/O The CGMT, Bihar
Circle, BSNL, Patna ( Bihar)
4. The Dy. General Manager ( Admin), Cum Examination Co- Ordination O/O
The Chief General Manager Telecom, BSNL Bihar Circle, Patna.
5. Amit Kumar S/O Sri Satyenra Pd. Singh TTA O/O SDOP, Patna City, Patna- 8
6. Manoj Sah S/O Late Saudagar Sah TTA O/O D.E. ( Trans.) PGMTD, Patna.
7. Niraj Kumar S/O Sri Jagdish Prasad TTA O/O SDE ( P) Sasaram.
8. Sushil Kumar Bihari S/O Sri Pannu Mahto TTA O/O T.D.M. Munger.
9. Okil Das S/O Garib Das TTA, O/O TDM, Munger.
10. Deepak S/O Late Yadunandan Prasad TTA, O/O TDM, Munger.
11. Ajay Kumar S/O Sri Prameshwar Prasad TTA O/O T.D.M., Bettiah.
12. Umesh Prasad S/O Sri Shiv Pujan Sah TTA, O/O T.D.M., Sasaram.
13. Kedar Nath S/O Sri Krishna Prasad TTA, O/O SDOP, Danapur.
14. Ranjeet Kumar S/O Sri R.P. Sharma TTA, O/O SDE ( Gr.) Lakhisarai.
15. Alok Kumar S/O Late Janardan Prasad TTA., T.D.M. Munger, OCBTAX,
Munger.
16. Maduranjan Kumar Jha S/O Sri Jay Kant Jha TTA, O/O GMTD, Bhagalpur,
Broad Band Section Bhagalpur.
17. Sanjay Kumar Srivastava S/O Shri Vinod Pd. Srivastava TTA, O/O T.D.M.
Bettiah.
18. Sachindra Kumar Jha S/O Shri Vinod Nand Jha TTA, O/O SDE (I) Samastipur
19. Rajiv Kumar, TTA, O/O SDE (I), Rajendra Nagar, Patna.
20. Dilip Kumar, TTA. O/O Marketing, Patel Nagar.
21. Satish Kumar Yadav, TTA., O/O T.D.M. Ara.
Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016
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22. Anil Kumar Gupta, TTA, O/O T.D.M Ara.
23. Sunil Kumar Singh, TTA, O/O SDEP, Kajpura, Patna.
24. Poonam, TTA O/O SDE ( Dotsoft), 4th Floor, Dotsoft Server Room, Patna
Main Exchange, Patna.
25. Archana Thakur, TTA, SDE ( A and P), Samastipur.
26. Kameshwar Pd. Sharma S/O Sri Mahendra Prasad TTA, SDO (P) Section, O/O
GMTD., Bhagalpur.
27. Ujjawal Kant S/O Sri Kameshwar Sharma TTA., O/O SDO West, Patliputra.
28. Ravindra Kumar S/O Sri Y.P. Goswamy, TTA O/O SDE PCM Pt., Patna.
29. Manoranjan Shrivastava S/O Sri D.C. Shrivastava TTA., O/O T.D.M.
Madhubani.
30. Rajeshwar Pd. Singh S/O Late Krishna Singh TTA, O/O GMTD, Darbhanga.
31. Amerendra Kumar S/O Sri Sadan Singh TTA, O/O SDOP ( East), Patliputra,
Patna.
32. Rama Saha, TTA D/O Sri Bramhadeo Pd. Saha O/O SED (Tax), Bhagalpur.
33. Vijay Kumar S/O Shri Bababam Prasad TTA, O/O T.D.M Ara.
34. Deepak Kumar S/O Sri K.C. Thakur TTA, Katihar, SSA.
35. Asif Hussain S/O Md. Idris TTA., Katihar, SSA
36. Md. Massihuddin S/O S.M. Nasimuddin, TTA., O/O SDE Transmission, Gaya.
37. Krishna Kumar S/O Sri Gopal Prasad, TTA. SDE (Gr), Sherghati, Gaya
38. Braj Kishore Prasad, TTA., Bikaram.
39. Arun Kumar Singh S/O Munshi Choudhary TTA., Buxar.
40. Vishnu Gupta S/O Late R.N. Gupta Sr. TOA (G), CGMT( Personal and
Banking), Patna.
.... .... Respondent/s
With
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Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 13344 of 2015
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1. Shailendra Kumar Son of late Gopal Jee Posted as T.T.A ,Office, of SDE (Gr)
Piro, Arrah, S.S.A.
2. Binod Kumar Dubey son of Sri Harihar Dubey Posted as T.T.A. office of
SDE(WLL) Main Ex-change, BSNL, Budh Marg, Patna.
3. Ravi Ranjan Son of Sri Thakur Pd. Singh Posted as T.T.A. office of
SDE(mobile) Ara SSA
4. Raj Kumar Gupta Son of Sri Niwas Prasad Gupta Posted as T.T.A. office of
SDE(Gr) Bhabhua, Kaimur , BSNL.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. through its Chairman and Managing Director,
Corporate office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpat, New Delhi.
2. The Director(HR) ,Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan Janpat, New Delhi.
3. The Assistant General Manager (Recruitment) Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar
Bhawan Janpat, New Delhi.
4. The Chief General Manager, Telecom Bihar, Circle , Bharat Sanchar Nigam ltd.
Sanchar Sadan, Budh Marg, Patna.
5. The Assistant General Manager(Estt), Bihar Circle, Bharat Sanchar Nigam ltd.
Sanchar Sadan, Budh Marg, Patna.
6. The Deputy General Manager (Admin) Bihar Circle Patna.
7. The Deputy General Manager, (Admin) Bihar Circle Patna
Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016
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8. Amti Kumar S/o Sri Satyendra Pd.Singh TTA , O/o SDOP , Patna City, Patna-8
9. Manoj Sah S/o late Saudagar Sah TTA, O/o ,D.E, (Trans), PGMTD,Patna.
10. Niraj Kumar S/o Sri Jagdish Prasad TTA, o/o SDE (P) Sasaram.
11. Sushil Kumar Bihari S/o Sri Pannu Mahto TTA, O/o T.D.M. Munger.
12. Okil Das S/o Garib Das TTA, O/o, TDM, Munger.
13. Deepak S/o late Yadunandan Prasad TTA, O/o T.D.M. Munger.
14. Ajay Kumar S/o Sri Prameshwar Prasad TTA, O/o T.D.M. Bettiah.
15. Umesh Prasad aged about 36 Yrs. S/o Sri Shiv Pujan Sah TTA, O/o T.D.M.
Sasaram.
16. Kedar Nath S/o Sri Krishna Prasad TTA, o/o SDOP, Danapur.
17. Ranjeet Kumar S/o Sri R.P. Sharma TTA, O/o SDE (Gr) Lakhisarai.
18. Alok Kumar S/o late Janardan Prasad TTA, T.D.M, Munger, OCBTAX,
Munger.
19. Maduranjan Kumar Jha S/o Sri Jay kant Jha TTA , O/o GMTD Bhagalpur,
Broad Band, Section Bhagalpur.
20. Sanjay Kumar Srivastava S/o Shri Vinod Pd. Srivastava, TTA. o/o T.D.M,
Bettiah.
21. Sachindra Kumar Jha S/o Shri Vinod Nand Jha TTA, O/o SDE (I) Samastipur.
22. Rajiv Kumar TTA, o/o SDE(I) Rajendra Nagar, Patna.
23. Dilip Kumar TTA,O/o Marketting ,Patel Nagar.
24. Satish Kumar Yadav TTA, O/o T.D.M,Ara.
25. Anil kumar Gupta TTA, O/o T.D.M,Ara.
26. Sunil kumar Singh TTA, O/o SDEP, Kajpura, Patna.
27. Poonam TTA. O/o SDE, (Dotsoft) 4th Floor, Dotsoft Sever Room, Patna Main
Exchange, Patna.
28. Archana Thakur TTA, SDE,(A & P) Samastipur.
29. Kameshwar Pd. Sharma S/o Sri Mahendra Prasad TTA, SDO(P) Section , O/o
GMTD, Bhagalpur.
30. Ujjawal Kant S/o Sri Kameshwar Sharma TTA, O/o SDO West Patliputra.
31. Ravindra Kumar S/o Sri Y P Goswamy , TTA, O/o SDE, PCM ,Pt. Patna.
32. Manoranjan Shrivastava S/o Sri D.C. Shrivastava TTA, O/o T.D.M.
Madhubani.
33. Rajeshwar Pd.,Singh S/o late Krishna Singh TTA, O/o GMTD, Darbhanga.
34. Amrendra Kumar S/o Sri Sadan Singh TTA, O/o SDOP (ESAT) Patliputra
Patna.
35. Rama Saha, TTA D/o Sri Bramhadeo Pd. Saha O/o SED (Tax) Bhagalpur.
36. Vijay Kumar S/o Shri Bababam Prasad TTA,O/o T.D.M, Ara.
37. Deepak kumar S/o Sri K.C. Thakur TTA, Katihar SSA.
38. Asif Hussain S/o Md. Idris TTA, Katihar SSA.
39. Md. Massihuddin S/o S.M. Nasimuddin TTA,O/o SDE Transmission Gaya.
40. Krishna Kumar S/o Sri Gopal Prasad TTA,SDE, (Gr) Sherghati ,Gaya.
41. Braj Kishore Prasad TTA, Bikaram.
42. Arun Kumar Singh s/o Munshi Choudhary ,TTA , Buxar
43. Arun Kumar Singh TTA, O/o TDM., ARA
44. Akhilesh Kumar Singh TTA.O/o GMTD . Chhapra.
45. Alok kumar, TTA, O/o TDM., Sasaram
46. Md. Shahid Hussain Ansari TTA, O/o TDM., Sasaram
47. Dashrath Kumar Das TTA, O/o TDM., Samastipur.
48. Manish Kumar Singh TTA, O/o TDM., ARA
49. Md. Mehdi Imam TTA, O/o TDM. Begusarai.
50. Pawan Kumar Singh TTA, O/o GMTD., Bhagalpur.
51. Sunil kumar , TTA, O/o TDM, Motihari BSNL Motihari.
52. Ajay Kumar TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016
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53. Arun kumar , Sr. Toa (G) TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
54. Viraj TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
55. Shahnawaz Akhtar TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
56. Md. Firoz Alam TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
57. Rani Kumari TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
58. Awadesh Kumar TTA, O/o PGMTD Patna
59. Manoj Kumar Prabhakar TTA, O/o TDM Saharsa.
60. Sanjeev Kumar son of Sri Kamleshwari Pd. Saha. Posted as T.TA. office of
SDE, (Gr) Jamni Munger SSA.
61. Sagir Ahmad Ansari Son of Samsul Hoda posted as T.TA. Office of SDE(P)
BSNL Bettiah SSA.
62. Raj Kishore Singh Son of late Kushahar Singh Posted as T.T.A ,Office, of
Project Vijay Aara.
63. Aftab Alam Son of Abdul Hai Posted as T.T.A. office of SDE Bara Chakia,
East Champaran.
64. Shiv Shankar Prasad Son of Manager Prasad Posted as T.T.A. office of BSNL
Bettiah.
65. Jai Prakash Gupta Son of late Bhikhari Prasad Posted as T.T.A. office of BSNL
Bettiah.
66. Ranveer Kumar Son of Sri Gangandeo Pandey Posted as T.T.A ,Office, of SDE
(Gr) Motipur BSNL, Muzaffarpur.
67. Wasim Ahmad Son of Md. Taslimuddin Posted as T.T.A. office of BSNL
Rajauli Nawada.
68. Vinay Kumar Singh Son of late Kameshwar Prasad Singh Posted as T.T.A.
Office of SDE (P) Khajpura BSNL Patna.
69. Anjar Alam Son of Md. Moinuddin Posted as T.T.A. office of BSNL
Kishanganj.
70. Jai Shankar Kokil son of Sri Udit Narayan Yadav BSNL Haveli Kharagpur,
Munger.
71. Sanjay Kumar son of Late. S.N. Srivastava Posted as T.T.A ,Office, of SDE
(FTTH) BSNL Patna.
72. Sunil Kumar son of late Ram Nihora Singh Telephone exchange ,BSNL Rohtas.
73. Raj Kumar Prasad Son of Anant Prasad Posted as T.T.A. office of JTO
Transmission BSNL Chapra.
.... .... Respondent/s
With
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Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14845 of 2015
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1. Jai Shankar Kokil, Son of Sri Udit Narayan Yadav, resident of Vill-
Kanchangarh, P.O.- Bank, P.S.- Muffasil, Distt- Munger, presently posted as
T.T,A., B.S.N.L., Haveli Kharagpur, Munger.
2. Sanjeev Kumar, Son of Sri Kamleshwari Prasad Saha, resident of At- Jai
Prakash Nagar, P.O.- G.P.O., Distt.- Patna, presently posted as T.T.A., Office
of SDE (Gr) Biharsharif, Patna SSA.
3. Raj Kishore Singh, Son of Late Kaushar Singh, resident of Vill+P.O.- Giridhar
Baraon, P.S.- Nawa Nagar, Distt- Buxar, presently posted as T.T.A., Office of
SDE (Transmission), Ara.
4. Jai Prakash Gupta, Son of Late Bhikhari Prasad, resident of Kamal Nath Nagar,
Azad Path Gali, Supriya Road, Bettiah, Distt- West Champaran, presently
posted as T.T.A., Office of B.S.N.L., Bettiah.
Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016
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5. Shiv Shankar Prasad, Son of Manager Prasad, resident of Vill- Shamhbuapur,
P.O.- Chanpatia, Distt- West Champaran, presently posted as T.T.A., Officer of
B.S.N.L., Bettiah.
6. Sagir Ahmad Ansari, Son of Samsul Hoda, resident of Vill- Basantpur, P.O.-
Mainatand, Distt- West Champaran, presently posted as T.T.A., Office of
S.D.E. (P), B.S.N.L., Bettiah S.S.A.
7. Raj Kumar Prasad, Son of Anant Prasad, resident of C/o Ram Krishna
Choudhary, Karim Chak, Rahat Road, Chapra (Saran), presently posted as
T.T.A. Office of JTO Transmission, B.S.N.L., Chapra.
8. Aftab Alam, Son of Abdul Hai, resident of Vill- Meghua, P.O. Bahlolpur, P.S.-
Kalyanpur, East Champaran, presently posted as T.T.A., Office of SDE Bara
Chakia, East Champaran.
9. Wasim Ahmad, Son of Md. Taslimuddin, resident of Vill- Erki (Dargah),
P.O.+Distt- Jehanabad, presently posted as T.T.A., Office of B.S.N.L., Rajauli,
Nawada.
10. Vinay Kumar Singh, Son of Late Kameshwar Prasad Singh, resident of Pojhi
Kapoor, P.O.- Bhualpur, P.S. Marahowrah, District- Saran, presently posted as
T.T.A., Office of SDO (Khajpura) B.S.N.L., Patna.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. through its Chairman and Managing Director,
Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpat, New Delhi.
2. The Director (HR), Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpat, New
Delhi.
3. The Assistant General Manager (Recruitment), Corporate Office, Bharat
Sanchar Bhawan, Janpat, New Delhi.
4. The Chief General Manager, Telecom, Bihar Circle, Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Ltd., Sanchar Sadan, Budh Marg, Patna.
5. The Assistant General Manager (Estt.), Bihar Circle, Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Ltd., Sanchar Sadan, Budh Marg, Patna.
6. The Deputy General Manager (Admin), Bihar Cirlce, Patna.
.... .... Respondent/s
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Appearance :
For the Petitioners : Mr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Chittaranjan Sinha, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Shekhar Singh, Advocate
Mr. Rajeev Kr. Singh, Advocate
Mr. Raj Kumar Rajesh, Advocate
For the B.S.N.L. : Mr. Harendra Prasad Singh, Advocate
Mr. Santosh Kumar, Advocate
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NAVANITI PRASAD SINGH
And
HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. NILU AGRAWAL
ORAL JUDGMENT
(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NAVANITI PRASAD SINGH) Date: 15-02-2016 The writ petitioners, in all the three writ petitions, Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016 6/9 challenge the common order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna dated 13.11.2013 and 04.08.2015, passed in O.A. No. 521 of 2013 and O.A. No. 824 of 2013 respectively in relation to an internal promotional examination that was conducted by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Bihar Circle (hereinafter referred to as the B.S.N.L.). These examinations are part of promotional examination in respect of seats reserved for a particular category of employees for promotion. The examination was of objective type questions. As before the Tribunal so also before us, three fold contentions were raised, which are as follows :
(i). Five questions having been found to be wrong not only they ought to be deleted but at least one mark added in respect of each such question as was done in different circles.
(ii). There were questions which were beyond the syllabus. In other circles this was accepted and the questions were deleted. In Bihar circle also similar action should be taken.
(iii). There still remains some questions, the answer to which was wrong.
Considering the aforesaid, the prayer was that the results, which were declared in the year 2013, be re-evaluated. It may be also mentioned that because of the pendency of the applications Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016 7/9 before the Tribunal over 236 persons, who were otherwise qualified for promotion in the said examination, their promotions also got held up. The Tribunal negated the pleas and being aggrieved the present writ petitions have been filed.
We have heard Sri Chittaranjan Sinha, learned Senior Counsel, who led the arguments on behalf of the petitioners and other counsel in support of the writ petitions and learned counsel for the B.S.N.L. and with their consent we are disposing of these writ petitions at this stage itself.
We may note at the very outset, that though the question paper was same for various circles, each circle has an independent entity and the promotions are within the cadre which is limited to the circle itself. A promotion granted today in one circle pursuant to the said examination would have no effect on any other person similarly situated in another circle. In other words, each circle is an independent unit.
Keeping the aforesaid in mind, so far as the first contention is concerned, we agree with the Tribunal that once the expert committee found that five questions were wrong their recommendation to delete the five questions was correct and it made no sense in adding a mark instead of five questions to be deleted. We agree and endorse the same view. If the questions were wrong, it is well settled, they have to be deleted. For a deleted question no mark Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016 8/9 can be awarded. It matters little whether any such decision was taken in other circles. As noted above, each circle is independent.
The second contention was that some questions were outside the syllabus. The expert committee set up for the Bihar Circle was not agreeable to the said. It is submitted that in other circles this was accepted and questions were deleted. The Tribunal did not accede to the request of the writ petitioners and rightly so. We also think that it is not open for the Court or Tribunal to sit as an appellate authority over the views taken by an expert committee in this regard. The matter must rest there.
The third objection was that there were certain other wrong questions or wrong answers. The expert committee thought it otherwise. The Tribunal refused to interfere and in our view rightly so. We may notice that even if there was a mistake it was without discrimination, for every body. It is not being urged that it was so purposely designed to benefit any person or some persons or any group of persons. It was a mistake if at all, across the circle. That being so, it would not be advisable for this Court to become wiser and sit as an appellate body to re-evaluate the questions and answers as an expert body over the expert body.
Thus, in our view, no interference is called for. Each circle, being a separate unit, has come to different decisions, but for all the examinees within that circle there cannot be a comparison Patna High Court CWJC No.1861 of 2014 dt.15-02-2016 9/9 between the decision taken by the authorities of one circle and other circle because each circle is an independent unit. However, this does not debar the apex body i.e. corporate office of B.S.N.L. to take any appropriate decision forthwith, if they are so persuaded in the matter, as the next examination in relation to promotions in relation to the years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 have already been announced, taking into account all the unfulfilled vacancies and carried over vacancies which is open to all the petitioners as well.
Be that as it may, in the facts and circumstances noted above, we do not take it to be an appropriate case for this Court to interfere in the matter. We find no merit in these writ petitions.
With the observations and directions as aforesaid, these writ petitions stand disposed of.
(Navaniti Prasad Singh, J.) (Nilu Agrawal, J.) Arjun/Rajesh U