CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL KOLKATA BENCH, KOLKATA Date of Hearing: 06.02.2026 Date of Order: 19.02.2026 Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Anindo Majumdar, Administrative Member Hon’ble Mr. Diwakar Singh, Judicial Member Santi Charan Banerjee, son of Late Dharma Das Banerjee, aged about 61 years, (EX.M.T.S. 1.e. Multi Tasking Staff) as Group "D" Post, in the office of South Hooghly Postal Division, Serampore, Hooghly, residing at Vill. & P.O, Mosat, P.S. Chanditala, Dist, Hooghly, Pin 712405.

......... Applicant -Versus-

1. Union of India, service through the Secretary, Ministry of Communication, Department of Post, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, Pin 110001. 2. Chief Post Master General, West Bengal Circle, 12, C.R. Avenue, Yogayog Bhavan, Kolkata. 700012.

3. Post Master General, West Bengal Circle, South Bengal Region, Yogayog Bhawan, 12, C.R. Avenue, Kolkata

700012.

4. Senior Superintendent of Post Offices South Hooghly Division, Serampore, Dist, Hooghly, Pin.

712201.

…….Respondents For The Applicant(s): Mr. Arpa Chakraborty; Counsel Mr. T. K. Biswas; Counsel For The Respondent(s): Mr. A. Mondal; Counsel O R D E R Per: Mr. Diwakar Singh, Member (J)

Heard Ld. Counsel on both the sides.

2. The applicant has filed this Original Application seeking the following relief(s):

“a) An order directing the respondents to give the promotion to the applicant in the post of Multi Tusking Staff (Group. D Post) with effect from 2003 because vacancy was assessed in the year 2003 so that the applicant is entitled to promotion in the year 2003 and thereafter release the all retirement benefits and pension according to Old Pension scheme basis;

b) An order directing the respondents to produce all the D.P.C. file from 1995 to 2003 before the Hon'ble Tribunal which related to the instant case, c) Any other order or orders as to this Hon'ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper.”

FACTS OF THE CASE

3. The applicant in the instant O.A. was initially engaged as an Extra Departmental Mail Carrier (E.D.M.C.), now known as Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS), under the Department of Posts with effect from 20.12.1978. Subsequently, he was provisionally appointed as Extra Departmental Branch Postmaster (E.D.B.P.M.), vide order dated 09.08.1995 (Annexure A/1), and, assumed charge of the said post with effect from 01.09.1995.

3.1. A seniority list of Extra Departmental officials corrected up to 31.12.1995 was circulated on 29.01.1997 (Annexure A/2), wherein the applicant was initially placed at Serial No. 429. However, the respondents issued a corrigendum dated 27.11.1997 (Annexure R/2), whereby the said error was rectified and the applicant was upgraded to Serial No. 106-A, treating his date of entry into Extra Departmental service as 20.12.1978.

3.2. Subsequently, a vacancy notification dated 04.04.2005 (Annexure A/3) was issued for filling up vacancies in the Postman and Group-D cadre. Based on the recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Committee held on 20.04.2005 (Annexure A/3), and being next in order of seniority after the seniormost eligible candidate had left service, the applicant was recommended for appointment to the departmental Group-D post (now Multi Tasking Staff). The applicant gave his willingness on 23.04.2005 and was appointed and joined the said post on 30.04.2005.

3.3. Thereafter, the applicant continued in departmental service and retired on superannuation on 31.10.2015. His retirement benefits under the New Pension Scheme (National Pension System), which had come into force with effect from 01.01.2004, were processed and disbursed accordingly.

3.4. Being aggrieved, the applicant has filed the present O.A. seeking, inter alia, a direction to grant him promotion to Group-D post with effect from the year 2003, and to extend him the benefit of the Old Pension Scheme on that basis.

CONTENTIONS OF THE APPLICANT

4. The applicant has contended that although his date of entry into Extra Departmental service was 20.12.1978, his seniority was not properly considered initially, which adversel