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2004 Supreme(All) 568

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Bhanwar Singh
PREM KUMAR MISRA - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF U. P - Respondents
Writ Petitions 4763 Of 2002
Decided On : 03/19/2004

Advocates Appeared:
L.P.MISHRA, S.S.Chauhan

Transfers of government servants should be based on administrative exigency and public interest, not political reasons. The impact of transfers on the education of the employee's children should be considered. Arbitrary policies curtailing posting periods can be challenged and quashed.

Headnote:

Transfer - Government Servant - [Article 226, Para 524 of Police Regulations, Government Order dated 11th July, 1986] - The court quashed the transfer order, suspension order, and the order curtailing the posting period of an Inspector in G. R. P. The court issued a writ of Certiorari and mandamus commanding the authorities to post the petitioner as Inspector at G. R. P. , Kanpur Nagar when the present incumbent quits.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, a government servant, challenged his transfer orders, alleging political influence and mala fides. He was transferred multiple times within a year, leading to disruption in his children's education. The respondent authorities defended the transfers as being in public interest and based on the petitioner's censure entry.

Finding of the Court:

The court found the transfers to be arbitrary and influenced by political pressure. It held that the petitioner was victimized and subjected to harassment through frequent transfers and suspension. The court also quashed the order curtailing the posting period of an Inspector in G. R. P.

Issues: The issues involved political influence in transfers, disruption of the petitioner's children's education, and the validity of the order curtailing the posting period of an Inspector in G. R. P.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that transfers should be based on administrative exigency and public interest, not political reasons. It also considered the impact of transfers on the education of the employee's children. The court held that the order curtailing the posting period was arbitrary and unjust.

Final Decision: The court allowed the petition, quashed the transfer and suspension orders, and issued a writ of Certiorari and mandamus to post the petitioner as Inspector at G. R. P. , Kanpur Nagar.

( 1 ) SHRI Prem Kumar Misra has filed this petition for a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned transfer order dated 22. 8. 2002, as contained in Annexure-1 to the petition. During the pendency of the petition, another transfer order dated 6. 10. 2003 was issued and the same has been challenged and sought to be quashed. Further, the petitioner has prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus commanding the inspector General of Police (Establishment), U. P. Lucknow and all other relevant authorities to adhere to the norms prescribed under the Government Order dated 25. 3. 1995 and allow the petitioner to work as Inspector of Police, G. R. P. , Kanpur Nagar where he was posted prior to the impugned order dated 22. 8. 2002 having been issued.

( 2 ) THE petitioners case is that he was posted in G. R. P. Kanpur as Inspector of Police with effect from 26. 8. 2000 and since then, he was working to the entire satisfaction of his superior authorities. Although, he was not due for his transfer, yet without any rhyme or reason, he was dislodged from the post of Inspector, G. R. P. , kanpur and transferred to Gorakhpur. As a matter of fact, Shri karamveer Singh Sachan, opposite party No. 4 was posted in place of the petitioner as Inspector, G. R. P. , Kanpur on the recommendation of one Shri Ashok Katiyar, Member of the legislative Assembly. Shri Katiyar alleged in the letter (Annexure-2) that Shri Sachan was his close relative and therefore, he might be transferred to Kanpur Nagar. The Government granted his request and posted Sachan in place of the petitioner. Obviously thus, the petitioners transfer from Kanpur G. R. P. police station was issued under political pressure. The order besides being mala fide was arbitrary and illegal. Apart that, the transfer order was issued in the mid of academic session, as a result of which the education of his children was disturbed. His son Devashish Misra was studying at the relevant time in the final year of Intermediate science in J. K. Inter College, Kanpur and his daughter was studying in Xith Class (Science) in the same college. If the children were to be shifted, their academic career was likely to suffer a set back, as both of them would have lost one academic year. The petitioner is a low paid servant, therefore, it would have been difficult for him to meet both ends. He had already spent considerable amount on admission, books and other material particulars as directed by the college authorities. The entire money spent by him for the education of his children would go waste if the petitioner was compelled to proceed on transfer at this juncture. In fact, the mid-term transfer of the petitioner was a clear-cut punishment inflicted upon him and his family members. In case of leaving his family to stay back at Kanpur with a view to carry on the education of his children, he would have to bear expenditures of two establishments - one of his own at the transferred place and the other that of his family at Kanpur. Certainly, this would have created a financial crisis for him. Moreover, a mid-term transfer like the one in hand is against the policy of the State Government as envisaged in the Government order dated 2002. Although, the said transfer policy might be termed to be as non-statutory but it is a settled law that the authority which frames the policy is expected to adhere to it. Otherwise, an action in derogation thereof would be arbitrary and illegal. The petitioners transfer purports to have been issued on administrative ground, although nothing adverse has been communicated to him. During the pendency of the petition, the petitioner was transferred from one place to another several times and eventually, he was posted as Inspector, Mugalsarai G. R. P. police station vide order dated 2. 4. 2003. He joined there on 31. 5. 2003 and since then, he is working there. As he has been dislodged from Kanpur and for months together, he was kept on being shifted from here




























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