CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CHANDIGARH BENCH Original Application No.060/900/2025 Pronounced on: 15.01.2026 Reserved on: 08.01.2026 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. SURESH KUMAR BATRA, MEMBER (J)

HON’BLE MRS. RASHMI SAXENA SAHNI, MEMBER (A)

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Latif Ahmed, aged about 58 years, son of Late Sh. Khair Din, resident of Abbaspura, Post office Haider Nagar, Tehsil & District Malerkotla, Punjab. (Recently retired from Punjab Civil Services on attaining age of superannuation). Mobile No. 9417055198 Adhaar 9049 0870 5645.

... Applicant By Advocate: Mr. P.S. Khurana Versus

1. Union of India through Secretary, Department of Personnel &

Training (DoPT), North Block, New Delhi-110001.

2. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) through Secretary, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069.

3. State of Punjab through Chief Secretary, Punjab Civil Secretariat Chandigarh.

Digitally ... .Respondents By Advocate: Mr. Sanjay Goyal, Sr. CGSC for Resp. No. 1 Mr. B.B. Sharma for Resp. No. 2 Mr. Ajaib Singh for Resp. No. 3

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 issuance of appropriate orders/directions to the respondent No.1 to appoint the applicant in Indian Administrative Services cadre on the basis of his selection in the select year 2023 as notified vide notification dated 12.08.2025 (Annexure A-1) in view of the law laid down by this Hon'ble Tribunal in OA No. 060/00405/2021 (Annexure A-4) and OA No. 1330 of 2020 passed by the Principal Bench, Central Administrative Tribunal, New Delhi (Annexure A-5) and OA No. 833 of 2022 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Mumbai Bench (Annexure A-6);

2. The facts of the case, in brief, are that the applicant joined the Punjab Civil Service on 08.06.2004 and throughout his service maintained integrity, efficiency and a clean service record. As per IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, officers of the State Civil Service are considered for induction into IAS by the Selection Committee chaired by UPSC. The applicant‘s name was duly forwarded by the State of Punjab for consideration against the vacancy of the select year 2023 (01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023). The UPSC considered his case in the Selection Committee meeting held on 16.07.2025 and recommended his name for appointment. Thereafter, notification of the applicant‘s selection dated 12.08.2025 was issued (Annexure A-1).

Digitally WADHWA 3. However, on the same date i.e. 12.08.2025, another notification of appointment was issued by respondent No.1, wherein the applicant‘s name did not feature in the list of appointees to IAS from Punjab Civil Service (Annexure A-2). The only ground orally conveyed was that the applicant had already superannuated from State Civil Service on 31.07.2025 upon attaining the age of 58 years under the Punjab Civil Service Rules.

4. The applicant submitted a representation dated 17.08.2025 to respondent No.1 seeking his appointment to IAS with consequential benefits in view of the notification of his selection, but the same has not been decided meaningfully till date (Annexure A-3).

5. The applicant contended that the action of respondent No.1 is wholly illegal and arbitrary. He submitted that the age of retirement for IAS officers is 60 years and retirement under the State Rules cannot defeat his valid selection under the statutory IAS Promotion Regulations. Once selected by the UPSC, he should have been treated as appointed to IAS with all consequential benefits and deemed reinstatement into IAS cadre. The applicant contended that denial of appointment has deprived him of his valuable statutory and service rights, dignity, and career prospects, and results in hostile discrimination, as similarly situated officers inducted into IAS retire at 60 years. No written or reasoned order has been issued to justify non-appointment and the entire action is arbitrary, cryptic and violative of natural justice. The appl