(Open Court)

Central Administrative Tribunal Allahabad Bench, Allahabad ****

Original Application No. 698 of 2025 This the 08^th Day of January, 2026.

HON’BLE MR. RAJNISH KUMAR RAI, MEMBER-J.

HON’BLE MS. MANJU PANDEY, MEMBER-A.

01. Anubha Nigam, aged about 47 years D/o Late Shri Bhanu Prakash Nigam, R/o B-1207, Ratan Planet, Naramau, Kanpur- 209217, presently posted as Inspector of Central Tax, CGST & C.Ex. Commissionerate, 117/07 Sarvodaya Nagar, Kanpur-208005.

02. Archana Yadav, aged about 52 years, D/o Late Shri Kashmir Singh Yadav, R/o N- 414, Keshav Puram, Awas Vikas, Kalyan Pur Kanpur- 208017, Presently posted as Inspector of Central Tax, CGST & C. Ex. Audit Commissionerate, 117/7, Sarvodaya Nagar Kanpur-208005.

03. Savitri Singh aged 51 years D/o Late Krishna Pal Singh, R/o

32/3, Site No. 2, Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur, presently posted Anti Evasion branch. CGST Hq. Kanpur-208005.

04. Vishesh Tiwari aged about 49 years S/o Shri Vinay Kumar Tiwari, R/o 117/719(2), O block, Geeta Nagar, Kanpur - 208025, presently posted as Inspector of CGST & C. Ex.

Division-II, 117/07, Sarvodaya Naga, Kanpur-208005.

05. Sandeep Gupta aged about 55 years S/o Late Mohan Lal Gupta, R/o 51, MIG, Kailashpuri, Agra-282002, presently posted as Inspector of Central Tax, CGST & C.Ex. Audit Circle-Aligarh.

06. Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi aged about 54 years S/o Late P. S.

Trivedi, R/o 127/100 U Block, Nirala Nagar Kanpur -208014, presently posted as Inspector of CGST &C. Ex. Commissionerate, 117/07, Sarvodaya Nagar Kanpur-

208005.

….Applicants.

By Advocate: Mr. Jaswant Singh.

Versus

1. Union of India, through the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Government of India, New Delhi.

2. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Through its Chairman, Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, New Delhi.

3. The Pr. Chief Commissioner, (Cadre Controlling Authority), Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Excise 7-A Ashok Marg Lucknow.

4. The Pr.C.C. of Accounts, CBIC 1st floor, DGACR Building, IP Estate, New Delhi.

5. The Pay and Accounts Officer, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Excise, Commissionerate, Kanpur/Agra.

...Respondents.

By Advocate: Mr. Chakrapani Vatsyayan.

ORDER By Hon’ble Mr. Rajnish Kumar Rai, Member (Judicial)

Mr. Shyamal Narain, holding brief of Mr. Jaswant Singh, learned counsel for the applicants and Mr. Chakrapani Vatsyayan, learned counsel for the respondents are present and heard.

2. The applicants have approached this Tribunal under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, assailing the impugned recommendation dated 09.01.2025 of the Task Force and the consequential order/circular/letters dated 13.02.2025 and 12.06.2025 issued by the respondent department, which seek to unsettle their settled promotions and seniority. The applicants seek the following reliefs:-

“a) To declare that the impugned recommendation dated 09-01-2025, order/circular/letters dated 13.02.2025 and 12.06.2025 issued by the respondent department as null and void and quash the same in the interest of justice.

(Annexure-A-1 to Compilation No.-I).

b) That this Hon’ble Tribunal be pleased to hold and declare that the promotion given to the applicants herein to the post of Inspector can not be disturbed in any manner.

c) That this Hon’ble Tribunal be pleased to grant such other relief, as the applicants might be found entitled to in the facts and circumstances of the case.

d) That this Hon’ble Tribunal be pleased to award the costs of this Original Application in favour of the applicants, throughout.”

3. The brief facts of the case are that the applicants, all serving as Inspectors in CGST & Central Excise at Kanpur and Agra, were promoted on regular basis through DPCs held in 2014 and 2017. They have been enjoying their settled seniority and pay for more than a decade. They are aggrieved by the impugned recommendations dated 09.01.2025 of the Task Force and subsequent circulars dated 13.02.2025 and 12.06.2025 issued by CB