(Reserved on 28.01.2026)

Central Administrative Tribunal Allahabad Bench, Allahabad ****

Original Application No.1232 of 2025 This the 17^th Day of February 2026.

Hon’ble Ms. Manju Pandey, Member (A)

Sunil Kumar, aged about 56 years, son of, Late S.A. Kitta, resident of, 406, Vinayak Residency, Qursi Bye-pass, Aligarh-202001, U.P. Presently posted as Chief Goods Supervisor, Aligarh Junction, North Central Railway ….Applicant By Advocate: Mr. Shyamal Narain Versus

1. The Union of India, through the General Manager, North Central Railway, Subedarganj, Prayagraj-U.P.

2. The Divisional Railway Manager, North Central Railway, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj-U.P.

3. Sri Rajnish Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, North Central Railway, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj-U.P.

4. The Divisional Railway Manager (Personnel), North Central Railway, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj-U.P.

5. The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, North Central Railway, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj-U.P .…Respondents By Advocate: Mr. Anil Kumar

ORDER

Learned counsel for the parties are present and heard.

2. The applicant has approached this Tribunal under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, praying for the following relief(s):-

“a) quash and set aside the impugned transfer order dated 06.11.2025, qua the applicant only (Annexure No. A-1 to Compilation No. I), with all consequential benefits to him.

b) Issue such other suitable orders or directions as might be found just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

c) Award the costs of this Original Application in favour of the applicant, throughout.”

3. The brief facts of the case are as follows. The applicant was appointed in the Railways in October 1987 on compassionate grounds as a Trains Clerk following the death of his father while in service. Over the years, he rose in service and, at the relevant time, was working as Chief Goods Supervisor (CGS) at Aligarh Junction, a post classified as sensitive under the applicable Railway rules and transfer policies. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide judgment dated 31.10.2013 passed in Writ Petition (C) No. 82 of 2011, issued directions for framing transparent policies regulating postings and transfers of Railway employees. In compliance, the Railway Board issued circulars dated 10.06.2014 and 07.07.2014 constituting Placement Committees and prescribing minimum and maximum tenures. These were followed by a Comprehensive Transfer Policy dated 31.08.2015. As per the said policy and Master Circular No. 24, the normal tenure on sensitive posts is four years. The applicant, having been posted at Aligarh since 2022, was not due for transfer until 2026. While posted at Aligarh Junction, the applicant took steps in the discharge of his official duties to curb illegal parking of trucks in the siding area and made repeated complaints to the RPF regarding the same. This action allegedly caused resentment among certain transporters operating in the area. On 27.08.2025, a complaint containing allegations against the applicant was made by the transporters before the Railway authorities. On the same date, the applicant also lodged a complaint with the RPF, enclosing earlier correspondence and material to highlight the issue of illegal parking and resistance faced by him. The applicant was called upon to submit his explanation, which he furnished on 29.08.2025. One of the transporters, Sri Neeraj Varshney, also made multiple complaints against the applicant, including complaints addressed to the Prime Minister and the SSP, Aligarh. Pursuant to these complaints, fact-finding inquiries were conducted by the Railway authorities on more than one occasion. Inquiries conducted by the Assistant Commercial Manager (Freight) and later by the Chief Commercial Inspector culminated in reports dated 06.10.2025 and 27.10.2025 respectively, wherein the allegations against the applicant were found to be baseless, and the applicant was given a clean chit. A surprise inspection conduc