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2014 Supreme(Kar) 1071

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
K.L. Manjunath and A.V. Chandrashekara, JJ.
J. Giri - Appellants
Vs.
The State of Karnataka - Respondent
W.P. NO. 44820/2014
Decided On : 19.09.2014

Advocates Appeared:
For The Respondents: P.S. Rajagopal, Sr. Counsel and K.A. Ariga, AGA

Headnote:LABOUR & SERVICES - Transfer: [K.L. Manjunath & A.V. Chandrashekara, JJ] Challenge to transfer order - Transfer of Deputy Commissioner of Excise who completed 3 years in one place - Interim Order of KAT granting stay of transfer of applicant and continuation of second respondent - Held, the Tribunal has adopted a wrong approach to the real state of affairs. It has proceeded on a wrong assumption that Jayasimha’s case post will not become vacant and that posting of Sri Giri to the place of Sri Jayasimha is against a non-vacant post. Therefore, we are inclined to interfere with the order in question, though it is an interim order. Even on that ground also, the present petition is to be allowed. Hence, the appeal will have to be allowed and the impugned order passed by the Tribunal will have to be set aside. Error is apparent on the face of the record inviting the interference of this Court. Impugned order of KAT was quashed.

JUDGMENT :

A.V. Chandrashekara, J.

1. Interim order passed on 10.09.2014 in Application No. 7354/2014 by the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore has been called in question by the petitioner under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India before this Court.

2. On an application filed by Sri T.R. Jayasimha, the second respondent herein, the order of posting this petitioner vide order dated 01.09.2014 as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North, has been stayed and further order has been passed permitting Mr. Jayasimha the second respondent herein to be continued as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North. It is also made clear that if Sri Jayasimha has assumed charge of that post, he shall handover charge. If the writ petitioner Mr. Giri, has assumed charge of the post to which he has been posted, he has to handover the charge to Mr. Jayasimha and shall either go back to the earlier post if it is vacant or may seek an alternative posting. It is this order which is called in question on various grounds.

3. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and respondents 1 and 2. We have perused the impugned order and the documents produced.

4. Writ petitioner was working as the Deputy Superintendent of Excise and an order has been passed on 01.09.2014 posting him as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North under Rule 32 of KCSR in the place of Mr. Jayasimha, who is transferred to Coorg as Deputy Commissioner of Excise. The order is dated 01.09.2014 passed by the Government of Karnataka, in AE 1 EPS 2013.

5. What is argued before this Court by the learned counsel for the second respondent is that Sri Giri is not promoted to the cadre of Deputy Commissioner of Excise and that he is only kept in charge as Deputy Commissioner of Excise under Rule 32 of Karnataka Civil Services Rules (hereinafter referred to as K.C.S. Rs for short) and therefore, he cannot be posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North, since he is still working and that the said post is not vacant.

6. Learned counsel for the second respondent has relied upon a decision of this Court rendered in the case of Shri Raghurama Shetty Vs. The State of Karnataka in W.P. No. 14393/2012 (S-KAT) decided on 07.06.2012. Rule 32 of KCSR has been referred to in the said decision and it is held that an official cannot be posted to a place under Rule 32 of KCSRs unless it is actually vacant. It is further argued that no writ petition is maintainable against an interim order and therefore, he has requested the Court to dismiss the petition.

7. Per contra, the learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the second respondent herein has not challenged his transfer and that he has already completed three years of service in the present post and therefore, he cannot question the Government's decision to post the petitioner as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North. Further, such posting is one under Rule 32 of KCSRs.

8. It is to be seen that on 14.05.2014 the Government of Karnataka has issued transfer guidelines. Admittedly, Mr. Jayasimha is a Group 'A' Officer being a regular Deputy; Commissioner of Excise. As per the transfer guidelines dated 14.05.2014 any Officer in the cadre of Group 'B' or above is liable to be transferred if he or she has completed one year of stay.

9. Admittedly, Sri Jayasimha the second respondent herein has already completed more than one year as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore Urban North. Therefore, he cannot question the Government's decision to transfer him to Coorg as premature. He is questioning the Government's decision to post Sri Giri, the petitioner herein as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bangalore North.

10. The point involved in this case is already considered by us today in detail in WP No. 44916/2014 in the case of B. Madesh's which case has also arisen out of the same notification of transfer and posting. For the reasons stated in the aforesaid writ petition, we hav









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