Administrative decisions affecting service positions must adhere strictly to the principles of natural justice, comply with existing judicial orders, and be founded on lawful premises.

ORDER :

FARJAND ALI, J.

Facts and Grievance of S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 21085/2025-

1. By way of filing this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, read with Articles 14, 19 and 21, the petitioner has assailed the legality, validity and propriety of the impugned order dated 21.10.2025 passed by respondent No.2, whereby the petitioner has been placed under ‘Awaiting Posting Order (A.P.O.)’ and his headquarters have been fixed at Police Headquarters, Jaipur. The petitioner submits that the impugned action, in the backdrop of the applicable provisions of the Rajasthan Service Rules, is arbitrary and unsustainable, being contrary to the principles of natural justice, equity and fair play.

2. The brief facts of present case is that the petitioner, has filed the present writ petition being aggrieved by the impugned order dated 21.10.2025 passed by respondent No.2 – Director General of Police, Rajasthan, Jaipur, whereby the petitioner has been placed under Awaiting Posting Order (APO) with his headquarter fixed at Police Headquarters, Jaipur; that the petitioner, while serving as Dy. Superintendent of Police, Women Crime Investigation Cell, Bikaner, was transferred vide order dated 07.10.2024 to discharge duties as Circle Officer, Bhopalgarh, District Jodhpur Rural, where he duly joined on 14.10.2024; that subsequently, certain villagers submitted a complaint dated 17.10.2024 against one Hemant Sharma alleging caste- based slurs on social media capable of provoking riots, which the petitioner forwarded to the S.H.O., P.S. Bhopalgarh for necessary inquiry and legal action; that upon enquiry, the S.H.O. found that Hemant Sharma, an influential person, had uploaded objectionable messages and had threatened the police, leading to initiation of proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 BNSS , 2023 and his custody for maintaining peace; that despite absence of any complaint, departmental inquiry or disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner, respondent No.2 issued the APO order dated 21.10.2025 fixing his headquarter at Jaipur, followed by the relieving order dated 24.10.2025 issued by respondent No.4; that the petitioner asserts that the impugned order is unsupported by any legally sustainable reason and appears to have been issued only to remove him from Bhopalgarh Circle, amounting to a punitive action without fault, contrary to Rule 25-A of the RAJASTHAN CIVIL SERVICES RULES , 1951, which mandates fulfilment of specific conditions prior to issuance of an APO order; that the petitioner relies upon the judgment of this Court in S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.10490/2024, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Panwar vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors., wherein vide order dated 09.09.2024, the Court examined the legal framework governing APO orders; and that the petitioner contends that the impugned action, being bereft of reasons and dehors statutory requirements, is illegal and unsustainable, compelling the petitioner to approach this Court for appropriate relief.

Facts and Grievance of S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 21567/2025-

1. By way of filing this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Articles 14, 19 and 21, the petitioner has assailed the impugned order dated 01.11.2025 passed by respondent No.2, whereby the petitioner has been transferred from Bhopalgarh to the post of Assistant Commandant, Mewar Bheel Core, Banswara, alleging that the said action is arbitrary, violative of the Rajasthan Service Rules, and contrary to the settled principles