Transfer orders must be reasoned, addressing individual representations; mechanical rejections invalid despite administrative exigency.

ORDER (ORAL)

1. The present OA has been filed by the applicant under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985 seeking the following relief:

“(a) Quash and set aside the impugned Transfer Order dated 09.01.2026, bearing No. CGPDTM-11018(11)/1/2022-CGPO/2342, whereby the Applicant has been transferred from Delhi to Mumbai, being arbitrary, non- speaking, and in violation of the Revised Transfer Policy dated 04.07.2025;

b) Quash and set aside the rejection orders dated 17.02.2026, whereby the representations submitted by the Applicant on compelling medical grounds have been mechanically rejected without recording any reasons and without due consideration of the medical evidence;

(c) Direct the respondents to retain the applicant at his present place of posting at Delhi, or in the alternative, to consider his case for posting at a medically suitable station in accordance with the applicable transfer policy, by passing a reasoned and speaking order :

(d) Pass any other or further order(s) as this Hon’ble Tribunal may deem fit, proper, and necessary in the interest of justice, equity, and fair play.

2. The learned counsel for the applicant states that the applicant is seeking quashing and setting aside of impugned order dated 09.01.2026 vide which the applicant has been transferred from New Delhi to Mumbai. Learned counsel for the applicant states that his mother has under gone partially replacement surgery and presently in a post operative stage requiring continuous medical supervision resisting mobility and regular visit therapy the doctor has special advised against long distance travel and location at the state as the same may at was the effect a recovery and overall health condition.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant referred to the guidelines issued by DOP&T which have been referred in clause 5.8 of the Transfer Policy issued by the respondents on 04.07.2025. He referred to 3.1 of the Transfer Policy which is reproduced below:-

“3.1 Rotational Transfer

(i) Rotational transfer will be effected in respect of officers who have already completed prescribed station tenure as on the cut off date.

(ii) In case of rotational transfer, the period of stay in a post/station shall be counted as on 30^th November of the concerned year.

(iii) For rotational transfer, officers shall be considered in descending order of their length of stay at a station.”

4. He further states that there are certain employees who have spent more than 8 years tenure and some have spent as good as 20 years of tenure who have not been transferred out and the respondents have not considered the rotational transfer based on descending order of tenure. Moreover, learned counsel for the applicant states that the applicant submitted two representations dated 21.01.2026 followed by another representation dated 26.02.2026. The respondents, vide their common order dated 17.02.2026, without assigning any reason, disposed of the representations in an arbitrary manner. The order as mentioned above, not mention the specific problems faced by the applicant and no ground has been mentioned against the applicant, while rejecting his representation.

5. Issue notice. Mr. Gyanendra Singh who appears on advance service accepts notice. Learned counsel for the respondents seeks four weeks’ time to file counter affidavit in respect of the OA.

6. At this stage, learned counsel for the applicant seeks interim relief as prayed is para 9 of the OA, which is reproduced below:-

“(a) Stay the operation, implementation and effect of the impugned Transfer order dated 09.01.2026, bearing No. CGPDTM- 11018(11)/1/2022-CGPO/2342, whereby the applica