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2013 Supreme(Pat) 1276

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
RAKESH KUMAR, J.
Vishwanath Sharma - Petitioner
Versus
The State of Bihar through its Chief Secretary, Old Secretariat, Patna & Ors. - Respondents
CWJC No. 4170 of 2012
Decided on: 10.12.2013

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Praveen Kumar.
For the Respondents: Mr. P.N. Sharma.

Headnote:

Transfer - Government Employee - Article 226 - 1991 (1) PLJR (S.C.) 61 - The court discussed the petitioner's transfer from Patna Division to Magadh Division, Gaya, and the rejection of his representation against the transfer. The court referred to the legal principle established in the case of Mrs. Shilpi Bose & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Ors. (1991 (1) PLJR (S.C.) 61), emphasizing that courts should not interfere with transfer orders made in public interest and for administrative reasons unless they violate mandatory statutory rules or are made in bad faith.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, a Senior Auditor, was transferred from Patna Division to Magadh Division, Gaya. He filed a writ petition challenging the transfer and sought reconsideration based on his wife's posting and his health conditions. The court had previously set aside the impugned order, but it was later remitted back due to procedural issues.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the transfer was a prerogative of the employer and cited the legal principle that courts should not interfere with transfer orders made in public interest and for administrative reasons unless they violate mandatory statutory rules or are made in bad faith.

Issues: The issues involved the petitioner's transfer, rejection of his representation against the transfer, and the applicability of the government's policy on posting husband and wife at a particular place.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the legal principle that courts should not interfere with transfer orders made in public interest and for administrative reasons unless they violate mandatory statutory rules or are made in bad faith.

Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed, and the court found no ground for interference in the transfer order or the rejection of the petitioner's representation.

ORAL ORDER

Heard Sri Praveen Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Prabhu Narayan Sharma, learned A.C. to Advocate General, who appears on behalf of respondent nos. 1 to 3.

2. The petitioner, while invoking writ jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has prayed for quashing of communication made, vide Letter No. 86 dated 27-01-2012 issued by the Chief Controller of Accounts, Finance (Audit) Department, Government of Bihar, Patna/Respondent No. 3 (Annexure 1' to the writ petition), whereby the petitioner was intimated regarding rejection of his representation against his order of transfer and it has further been prayed to direct the respondents to reconsider the case of his transfer.

3. Short fact of the case is that the petitioner, who is a Senior Auditor, was transferred from Patna Division to Magadh Division, Gaya, vide Office Order No. 94 dated 30-06-2011 (Annexure 1A' to the writ petition). The order of transfer was assailed by the petitioner by filing a writ petition, vide C.W.J.C. No. 18884 of 2011. However, at the time of hearing of the petition, it was noticed that the petitioner had already been relieved vide memo dated 15-07-2011, a bench of this Court permitted the petitioner to first join at the transferred post. Subsequently, the petitioner joined and the writ petition was finally disposed of on 25-10-2011 granting liberty to the petitioner to file representation before the authority concerned and the authority concerned was directed to examine and pass appropriate order within specified time. This Court also directed to consider the existing policy of the State Government on the point of posting of husband and wife at a particular place. After the disposal of the writ petition, the impugned order i.e. Annexure 1' was passed on 27-01-2012. The petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition. The writ petition was earlier heard and allowed on 27-03-2012 by a bench of this Court. The order impugned i.e. order dated 27-01-2012 was set aside by this Court. However, the State, against the order of the single bench, preferred an appeal, vide L.P.A. No. 1302 of 2012, which was finally allowed and order of single bench was set aside and the matter was remitted back. The L.P.A. was primarily allowed on the ground that the State was not given proper opportunity nor notice was directed to be issued to private respondent.

4. Subsequently, by order dated 08-08-2013, notice was directed to be issued to respondent no. 4. However, respondent no. 4 did not enter appearance in the present writ petition. During the pendency of the writ petition, an interlocutory application was also filed on behalf of petitioner, vide I.A. No. 4143 of 2013 with a prayer to amend relief portion in the writ petition. The relief, as sought for in the paragraph-1 in the interlocutory application, is as follows:-

“This is also for issuance of appropriate writ for quashing the Office Order No.260 dated 03-05-2013 passed by Respondent No.3 [Chief Controller of Accounts, Finance (Audit) Department] contained in Annexure – 8 whereby they have cancelled the deputation of the Petitioner and have directed him to join the Magadh Division, Gaya, against their own stand taken earlier, alongwith quashing Annexures-11 & 13 in the interest of justice and also for issuance of direction to Respondent No.3 in tune with the policy decision towards Annexure-12 of the Petition.”

5. This Court by order dated 25-11-2013 directed to treat the amendment, as sought for in paragraph-1 of the interlocutory application, as part of the writ petition. In amendment petition, the petitioner has prayed for quashing of order dated 03-05-2013 whereby deputation of the petitioner in Patna University was got cancelled.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioner accepts that presently the petitioner is functioning at Magadh Division, Gaya in the light of order of transfer. It was submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that th








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