CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CUTTACK BENCH OA No. 537 OF 2020 Reserved on :16.01.2026 Pronounced on :19.01.2026 Coram : Hon’ble Mr. Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, Member (J)

Hon’ble Mr. Pramod Kumar Das, Member (A)

1. Sri Nilakantha Sutar, aged about 30 years, S/o late Anama Charan Sutar of Vill – Nuarampas, PO Badaranpas, PS Nandipada, Dist Keonjhar, presently working as Postal Assistant after reversion from the post of Inspector of Posts Kamakhya Nagar, Dist Dhenkanal.

……Applicant VERSUS

1. Union of India represented through the Director General, Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.

2. Director (DE), Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts, DE Section, Govt. of India, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.

3. Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle, PMG Square, Bhubaneswar, Dist Khurda 751001.

4. Assistant Director (Staff), CPMG, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar, Dist Khurda 751001.

5. Superintendent of Post Offices, Dhenkanal Division, AT/PO/PS/Dist Dhenkanal, 759001.

……Respondents For the applicant : Mr. S K Ojha, counsel For the respondents: Mr. D R Swain, counsel O R D E R Hon’ble Mr. Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, A.M.

The applicant challenging the order dated 13.11.2020 wherein he has been reverted back has filed this OA praying for following reliefs:

a) The Original Application may be allowed.

b) The order at Annexure A/12 & Annexure A/15 be quashed.

c) The respondents may be directed to allow the applicant to continue as Inspector of Posts after re-calling the order dtd. 13.11.2020 d) Such other order(s)/direction(s) may be given in giving complete relief to the applicant.

2. The brief facts of the case as inter alia averred by the applicant in the OA is that while continuing as Postal Assistant the respondents vide notification dated 09.09.2019 called for application for conducting LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Inspector of Posts and the applicant applied for the same on 12.09.2019. It is submitted that after the examination was over the result was announced vide letter dated 24.06.2020 enclosing the answer keys and clarification that the selection has been made based on merit v3i s-à-vis earliest year of eligibility. It is submitted that vide letter dated 25.06.2020 the decision of competent authority was communicated to extend the order of promotion to those who came out successful and basing on the said letter the Regional Office of Samblpur issued necessary consequential order giving respective postings. It is submitted that Superintendent of Post Offices, Keonjhar Division vide letter dated 25.06.2020 issued the posting order wherein the applicant was given posting as Inspector of Posts in Kamhakya Nagar Sub Division wherein the said letter the incumbent Inspector of Posts was reverted and the applicant was directed to join in the said vacancy by relieving the incumbent. It is submitted that the applicant took charge of the Office of Inspector of Posts in Kamkhanyagar on 26.06.2020. It is submitted that while continuing as such the Assistant Director (Staff) issued memo dated 13.11.2020 superseding the letter dated 24.06.2020 and reverting the applicant and some others who were promoted to Inspector of Posts with immediate effect. It is submitted that the applicant was reverted to his former post and the Superintendent of Post Offices, Dhenkanal Division vide 4le tter dated 13.11.2020 allotted the applicant to Keonjhar Division on reversion which was to take immediate effect. It is submitted that applicant submitted his representation dated 19.11.2020 to Director General of Posts ventilating his grievance but the same was rejected vide letter dated 12.02.2021 stating that administration found some mistakes in the key answer, therefore the entire results was revised once again publishing the fresh result on 13.11.2020. Hence the OA.

3. The respondents in their counter inter alia averred that after declaration of the result of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to the cadre of Inspector of Posts