CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CHANDIGARH BENCH Original Application No.060/1054/2025 Pronounced on: 08.01.2026 Reserved on: 08.12.2025 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. SURESH KUMAR BATRA, MEMBER (J)

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Dhan Singh (HRMS No. 199103798) s/o Sh. Phool Chand, age 59 years and 2 and half months, r/o Quarter No. 54, Sanchar Kunj, BSNL, Colony, Sector 15, Hisar, Haryana – 125001.

... Applicant By Advocate: Mr. K.B. Sharma Versus

1. The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, 4^th Floor, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane, Janpath, New Delhi – 110001.

2. The Chief General Manager Telecom Haryana Circle, Ambala Cantt, Haryana – 133001.

Digitally ......Respondents WADHWA By Advocate: Mr. K.K. Thakur along with Ms. Monika Kondal

O R D E R

Per: SURESH KUMAR BATRA MEMBER (J):-

1. The present Original Application has been filed under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following relief:-

(i). That the impugned order dated 17.05.2024 (Annexure A-2) qua applicant, including relieving order dated 24.07.2025 (Annexure A-11) and letter dated 14.07.2025 (Annexure A-9) qua applicant, to the extent posting the applicant at U.P. Circle, despite the fact that the applicant has left with only 09 months of service for retirement and is due for retirement on 30.06.2026, be quashed and set aside in view of law laid down by the Jurisdictional High Court case of Anil Garg (supra) and Dr. Dev Parkash (supra).

(ii) That the respondents be directed to allow the applicant to continue at present place of posting being last leg posting as he is due for retirement on 30.06.2026, in the interest of justice.

Or alternatively, the respondents be directed to consider and post him at nearby stations like Fatehabad, Sirsa being last leg posting, keeping in view the fact that the applicant is left with only 09 months of service for retirement and is due for retirement on 30.06.2026.

Digitally 2. The facts of the case, in brief, are that the applicant joined the WADHWA respondent department as a Technician on 28.02.1991 and was promoted from time to time to the posts of Telecom Technician Assistant, Junior Telecom Officer, Sub Divisional Engineer and Assistant General Manager (Telecom). Throughout his about 34 years of service, his service record remained unblemished and no adverse remark was ever communicated to him. During his service career, he remained posted at various stations, including hard stations such as Udhampur (J&K), besides Rohtak, Hisar, Tosham, Hansi, Barwala and Adampur Mandi.

3. Vide promotion-cum-posting order dated 17.05.2024 (Annexure A-1), the applicant was promoted to the post of AGM (T) and transferred from his present place of posting to UP West Circle, ashis name appearing at Sr. No. 378. Aggrieved thereby, the applicant submitted a representation dated 31.05.2024 (Annexure A-2) seeking modification/cancellation of the transfer on the grounds that he being nearing superannuation, had already completed hard tenure at Udhampur for two years, and that his stay in Haryana Circle was only about 11 years as against 18 years prescribed under the BSNL Transfer Policy. The said representation was forwarded by respondent No.2 to respondent No.1 vide letter dated 31.05.2024 (Annexure A-3).

4. Thereafter, respondent No.1 issued an order dated 21.06.2024 (Annexure A-4), whereby certain officers, including the applicant at Sr. No. 18, were retained at their present place of posting up to 31.12.2024. The applicant accordingly continued at Hisar and submitted his joining report on promotion vide letter dated 22.06.2024 (Annexure A-5).

Digitally WADHWA 5. Subsequently, respondent No.1 issued a letter dated 09.05.2025 (Annexure A-6) directing relieving of AGM (T) officers on inter-circle transfer by 13.05.2025, wherein the applicant’s name appeared at Sr.

No. 11. At that stage, the applicant was left with only about one year of service and was due to retire on 30.06.2026. He submitted another detailed rep