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1995 Supreme(All) 1122

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
R.A.Sharma, O.P.Jain
RAM RAJ SHUKLA
Versus
DISTRICT INSPECTOR OF SCHOOL FATEHPUR
Decided On : 10 November 1995
Special Appeal No. 40 of 1995

A special appeal lies against the judgment of a learned Single Judge in a writ petition, which was filed against an order that is not appellate or revisional in nature.

Headnote:

U. P. Intermediate Education Act - Regulation 3 (f) of Chapter II - Special Appeal - Maintainability - Single Writ Petition Challenging Two Substantive Orders - Severability of Judgment - Promotion from C T Grade to L. T. Grade - Factors Considered.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant and respondent No. 3 were appointed as Assistant Teachers in the same school. The school was later raised to the status of High School. The Management declared the respondent No. 3 as senior to the appellant. The appellant filed an appeal before the D. I. O. S., who dismissed it and approved the promotion of the respondent No. 3 to L. T. Grade. The appellant challenged both orders in a single writ petition, which was dismissed by the learned Single Judge.

Finding of the Court:

The Court held that the appeal against the part of the judgment upholding the order of the D. I. O. S. in the matter of seniority was not maintainable as it was an appellate order. However, the appeal against the other part of the judgment upholding the orders promoting the respondent No. 3 to L. T. Grade was maintainable as it was not an appellate or revisional order.

Issues: Whether a special appeal lies against the judgment of a learned Single Judge in a writ petition, which was filed against an appellate or revisional order.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court relied on Chapter VIII, Rule 5 of the Rules of the Court, which bars an appeal against the judgment of the learned Single Judge in a writ petition, which was filed against an appellate or revisional order. The Court also relied on the Supreme Court decision in Gumbum Roadways Ltd. v. Somu Transport Ltd., AIR 1966 SC 1366, which held that a single judgment disposing of multiple cases consists of as many judgments as there are cases disposed of thereby.

Final Decision: The Court dismissed the appeal against the part of the judgment upholding the order of the D. I. O. S. in the matter of seniority and admitted the appeal against the other part of the judgment upholding the orders promoting the respondent No. 3 to L. T. Grade.

R. A. SHARMA, J,, J.

By order dated 4-7-1974 both the appellant and the respondent No. 3 were appointed as Assistant Teachers in C T Grade in Sri Siddheshwari Junior High School, Gopalpur Bijuri, district Fatehpur (hereinafter referred to as the school ). In pursuance of the said appointment order the appellant joined the school 10-7-1974, whereas the respondent No, 3 joined on 9-7-1974. This school was subsequently raised to the status of High School in October, 1974, The question of seniority as between the appellant and the respondent No. 3 was decided by the Committee of Management of the school (hereinafter referred to as the Management) vide order, dated 10-12-1980, declaring the respondent No, 3 as senior, to the appellant. Being aggrieved by it the appellant filed an appeal before the District Inspector of Schools, Fatebpur (hereinafter referred as the D. I. O. S.) under Regulation 3 (f) of Chapter II of the Regulations framed under the U. P. Intermediate Education Act. By any other resolution dated 27-12- 1980 the Management promoted the respondent No. 3 to L. T. Grade subject to the concurrence/approval of the D, L O. S. dismissed the appeal of the appellant on 9-7-1981. On the same date he approved the promotion of the respondent No. 3 to L. T, Grade. Being aggrieved by these two orders of the D. I. p. S. the appellant filed Writ Petition No. 9808 of 1981 before this Court, which has been dismissed by a learned Single Judge on 2-12-1994. Hence this appeal.

2. As the learned counsel for the respondent No. 3 has raised a preliminary objection regarding the maintainability of this appeal, this issue, as such, has to be decided at the thresh-hold.

3. Chapter VIII Rule S of the rules of the Court, which contains the provision for special appeal, bars an appeal against the judgment of the learned Single Judge in a writ petition, which was filed against the appellate or revisional order. In the instant case writ petition was filed against two orders of the same date (9-7-1981), passed by the D. L O. S. By one of there orders the D. I. O. S. dismissed the appeal of the appellant which was filed against the order of the Management holding the respondent No. 3 as senior to him. This order is an appellate order. No special appeal can lie against the judgment of the learned Single Judge deciding the writ petition filed against such an order. But the other order of the O. I. O. S. whereby he approved the promotion of the respondent No. 3 to L. T. Grade was passed neither in an appeal nor in a revision. Promotion from C T. grade to L. T. grade doss not depend on seniority alone, although seniority is one of the factors to be taken into account while making such a promotion. The order of promotion is neither consequential nor ministerial in nature. This is clear from Regulation 6 (2) of Chapter II, which has laid down that "selection for promotion to the next higher grade shall be made on the basis of service-standing, achievements in service, academic qualifications and integrity". Both the orders of the D. I. O. S. impugned in the writ petition were substantive and independent orders and none of them was a consequential or ministerial order, Against such orders appellant should have filed two separate writ petitions. But for the sake of convenience, as the parties were the same and the relevant facts were also to a great extent the same, the appellant filed a single writ, petition, challenging both the orders. This writ petition was duly entertained and has been decided. If more than one case is decided by a single judgment, in law such a judgment shall be treated to consist of as many judgments as there are cases disposed of thereby. In this connection reference may be made to Gumbum Roadways Ltd. v. Somu Transport Ltd. , AIR 1966 SC 1366, wherein it was laid down as under:-

"even although all the appeals with respect to one route may have been disposed of by a single appellate order in form, in reality the appellate order consis







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