1998 Supreme(Raj) 1061
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
P.C.Jain, J.
State of Rajasthan and others - Appellant
Versus
Shri Chandmal - Respondent
Civil Revn. Petn. No. 177 of 1998.
Decided On : 20-04-1998
Important Points
The Civil Court's jurisdiction to entertain a suit challenging the transfer of a government employee is ousted by Section 10 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Service Matters Appellate Tribunals) Act, 1976, read with a Government notification defining 'transfer' as a 'service matter'.
Subject
Service Law - TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Headnote
TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE - JURISDICTION OF CIVIL COURT - OUSTER - RAJASTHAN CIVIL SERVICES (SERVICE MATTERS APPELLATE TRIBUNALS) ACT, 1976, SECTION 10 - TRANSFER POLICY - MALA FIDES - ORDER 39 RULES 1 AND 2, C.P.C. - SUMMARY: The Rajasthan High Court held that the Civil Court's jurisdiction to entertain a suit challenging the transfer of a government employee was ousted by Section 10 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Service Matters Appellate Tribunals) Act, 1976, read with a Government notification defining 'transfer' as a 'service matter'. The Court also held that the appellate court erred in interfering with the trial court's well-reasoned order dismissing the employee's application for an injunction to prevent his transfer.
Fact of the Case:
A government employee filed a suit in a Civil Court challenging his transfer, alleging mala fides. The trial court dismissed the employee's application for an injunction to prevent his transfer, finding that the transfer was made in accordance with the Government's transfer policy and was not actuated by any malice or ill will. The employee appealed the trial court's order, and the appellate court allowed the appeal and set aside the trial court's order.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the Civil Court's jurisdiction to entertain the employee's suit was ousted by Section 10 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Service Matters Appellate Tribunals) Act, 1976, read with a Government notification defining 'transfer' as a 'service matter'. The Court also held that the appellate court erred in interfering with the trial court's well-reasoned order dismissing the employee's application for an injunction.
Issues: 1. Whether the Civil Court had jurisdiction to entertain the employee's suit challenging his transfer? 2. Whether the appellate court erred in interfering with the trial court's well-reasoned order dismissing the employee's application for an injunction?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Section 10 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Service Matters Appellate Tribunals) Act, 1976, read with a Government notification defining 'transfer' as a 'service matter', ousted the Civil Court's jurisdiction to entertain the employee's suit challenging his transfer. 2. The appellate court erred in interfering with the trial court's well-reasoned order dismissing the employee's application for an injunction, as the appellate court should be slow to interfere with a well-reasoned order of the trial court.
Final Decision: The High Court allowed the revision petition, set aside the orders of the courts below, and held that the trial court and the appellate court had no jurisdiction to entertain the employee's suit. The Court directed the trial court to return the plaint to the employee with an endorsement to present it before a Court/Tribunal of competent jurisdiction.
JUDGMENT
1. - The defendants petitioners have filed this revision petition under Section 115, C.P.C. against the order dated 19-5-1997 passed in appeal No. 67/96 passed by Shri Koshore Lal Mathur, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rajsamand reversing the order of the trial Court dated 24-10-1996 by which the application of the non-petitioner-plaintiff filed under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, C.P.C. was dismissed.
2. The plaintiff-non-petitioner instituted a regular suit for perpetual injunction and prayed he may not be relieved from his post in pursuance to the order of transfer dated 18-6-1995 and status quo ante he maintained and if during the pendency of the suit he is relieved then he may be posted again in Majera School. At the relevant time, the plaintiff-non-petitioner was posted as Physical Instructor in the Secondary School, Majera, Petitioner No. 2. District Education Officer. Rajsamand, presumably acting on the complaints of the District Police Superintendent. Rajsamand, asked the non-petitioner plaintiff to report in his office. Thereafter, on 13-5-1995, petitioner No. 2 again relieved him and transferred to his previous post. Thereafter the non-petitioner-plaintiff was transferred from Majera to Salaguda. The plaintiff has assailed the above transfer on the ground of mala fides. He has alleged that he has been transferred with an ulterior object in order to accommodate some other person on his post. Though transfer is an incidence of service but frequent transfers smack of mala fides and ulterior motive. The petitioners resisted the above suit on the ground that the transfer was made in accordance with the transfer policy. It was in public interest. The transfer was devoid of any mala fide. The plaintiff cannot claim a vested right to remain in a particular place of posting for unduly long period. The plaintiff also filed an application under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, C.P.C.
3. The learned trial Court, after hearing both the parties, found that the transfer was made in pursuance of the Government Policy of Transfer. It was not actuated by any malice or ill will. He, therefore, dismissed the application of the plaintiff. Feeling aggrieved by the above order of dismissal of the application, the plaintiff filed an appeal before the learned Additional District Judge, Rajsamand who allowed the same and set aside the order of the trial Court dismissing the above application.
4. A notice of this petition was issued to the plaintiff-non-petitioner but he has not appeared despite service of notice.
5. I have heard Shri M.R. Singhvi appearing on behalf of the petitioners. He has assailed the order of the appellate Court on the ground that normally the appellate Court must be slow in interfering with the order of the trial Court when the same is well reasoned, detailed and in accordance with law. The appellate Court is only called upon to disturb the order of the trial Court when it suffers from pervercity or ignorance of law. In the instant case, the order of the trial Court was well reasoned, proper and in accordance with the settled principles of law. The learned appellate Court, therefore, committed a jurisdictional error in reversing the above order.
6. His second and substantial argument is that the jurisdiction of the Civil Court is ousted by the provision contained in Section 10 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Service Matters Appellate Tribunals) Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The State Government issued notification No. F. 17(7) , 2/77 dated 25-2-1997 by which transfer has been defined as service matter. Hence by Section 10 of the Act read with the above notification of the Government, the Civil jurisdiction to entertain this matter was ousted. The trial Court as well as the appellate Court. therefore, and no jurisdiction to take cognizance of the above matter and adjudicate the same.
7. I have considered the submissions. Firstly may deal with the argument regarding jurisdiction. It is a settled law that