Digitally 2026:CGHC:1311 signed by SHAYNA NAFR KADRI HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 1997 of 2023

1 - Sampat Ram Toppo S/o Shri Mahaveer Prasad Aged About 53 Years R/o F-3 Forest Colony Kasabadi Korba, District : Korba, Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Forest, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh

2 - Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest Aranya Bhawan, Medical College Road, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

3 - Conservator Of Forest Circle Bilaspur, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ... Respondent(s)

(Cause-title is taken from Case Information System)

For Petitioner : Mr. Aniket Verma, Advocate For State : Mr. Devesh G. Kela, Panel Lawyer SB- Hon'ble Shri Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad

Order on Board

08/01/2026

1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs :-

“i. To kindly call for the records of the case from the respondents.

ii. To kindly quash the impugned order dated

21/12/2021 issued by the respondent no. 2.

iii. To kindly direct the respondents to accept the recommendation of Departmental Promotion Committee held on 07/11/2005 and promote the petitioner with all consequential benefits from the date of recommendation made by the DPC.

iv. To kindly direct the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for grant of upgdation pay scale to the post of Stenographer Grade- III from the date of completion of 7 years of service as has been granted to other steno typist.

v. To kindly make any other order that may be deemed fit and just in the facts and circumstances of the case including awarding of the costs to the petitioner.”

2. Facts of the case, in a nutshell, are that the petitioner was appointed as a Steno Typist in the respondent department by order dated 21.06.1993 and since then has been continuously discharging his duties with utmost sincerity, dedication and integrity. The respondent State framed the M.P. (Chhattisgarh) Class III (Ministerial) Forest Service Recruitment Rules under Article 309 of the Constitution of India; however, with the passage of time, it was noticed that no promotional avenue was provided for employees holding the post of Steno Typist, resulting in stagnation and denial of career progression. This anomaly was examined by the Chowdhri Commission, which recommended that Steno Typists who had passed the requisite examination of 100 words per minute and had completed seven years of service be promoted to the post of Stenographer in the revised pay scale. The said recommendation was accepted by the State Government and implemented through circular dated 18.02.1983, which was further clarified by circular dated 04.02.1985, affirming the entitlement of Steno Typists to promotion upon completion of seven years of service. Despite the issuance of the aforesaid circulars, no effective steps were taken by the respondent department to extend the promotional benefits to Steno Typists. Even after more than a decade, the Singh Deo Committee was constituted, which again examined the issue and recommended promotion of Steno Typists to the post of Stenographer. The State Government accepted these recommendations and issued a circular dated 14.05.1997, directing all departments, including the Forest Department, to amend their service rules by incorporating provisions for promotion of Steno Typists to the post of Stenographer. This was followed by another circular dated 24.02.1998, whereby all departments were once again directed to carry out the necessary amendments, with the amended M.P. Secretariat Service Recruitment Rules, 1977 being provided as a model for guidance. Thereafter, the State Government issued yet another circular dated 17.06.1998, deciding that 50% of the posts of Stenographers would be filled by promotion from amongst eligible Steno Typists and the remaining 50% by direct recruitment, and also directed preparation of a separate seniority list for Steno Typists. The pet