1. Petitioner, who was working as Superintending Engineer, was given officiating charge of Chief Engineer on 07.09.2001 and is continuing as such on the post of Chief Engineer. Vide Annexure 3 dated 14.12.2005, the petitioner was directed to be promoted on the post of Chief Engineer w.e.f. 07.09.2001 with the stipulation that he will not be entitled for the salary of Chief Engineer from the retrospective date and shall be paid w.e.f. 14.12.2005. Petitioner, being aggrieved, has invoked writ jurisdiction of this Court.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has vehemently argued that since the petitioner was working on the post of Chief Engineer w.e.f. 07.09.2001 and there was vacancy available and he was never removed from the post of Chief Engineer, therefore, vide order dated 14.12.2005, while promoting on the post of Chief Engineer, the salary of the Chief Engineer w.e.f. 07.09.2001 must be paid to the petitioner.

3. Rule 58 of Jharkhand Service Code reads as under:

“58 (a) Subject to any exceptions specifically made in these rules and to the provisions of clause (b) of this rule, a Government servant shall begin to draw the pay and allowances attached to his tenure of a pos