JUDGMENT

Manmohan, J. - Present writ petition has been filed challenging the orders dated 03 rd September, 2020 passed by Central Administrative Tribunal [CAT] in OA Nos.3315/2019 and 876/2020 whereby the respondent's applications have been allowed and he has been deemed to be eligible for consideration for promotion to the post of Deputy General Manager.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the CAT has failed to understand the true nature of 'deputation' inasmuch as during the deputation period, the officer holds lien on the cadre post in parent department and the said recruitment cannot be taken as regular service until the officer is 'absorbed' in the deputation post.

3. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner and having perused the paper book, this Court finds that the respondent was an Assistant Engineer, who had been sent on deputation to NHAI as 'Manager' on 13th October, 2013. He was absolved in the said post on 12th October, 2018. Next promotion was to the post of DGM and an advertisement was issued in Feb 2019 for the same. However, the respondent was not considered, as according to petitioner, he did not have five years regular service in the post of M