The court highlighted the obligation to comply with administrative tribunal orders regarding employee transfers and the necessity to maintain an updated seniority list for such transfers.

(Order of the Court was made by P.Velmurugan J.)

The Union of India represented by its Secretary, Railway Board and his subordinates have filed the present writ petition challenging the order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench in O.A.No.319 of 2023 dated 03.06.2024.

2. The case of the respondents before the Tribunal was that they were all appointed as Track Maintainers Gr.IV in the Tiruchirappalli Division of Southern Railway between 2015 and 2017 and a few of them were promoted as Track Maintainer Gr.III subsequently. While so, since they are natives of Kerala State, they submitted representations for inter division transfer to Trivandrum and Palghat Divisions of the Southern Railway against direct recruitment vacancies on various dates in the year 2016. Since their requests for transfer were not given effect to, in spite of the approval granted in the year 2020, they filed the original application before the Tribunal seeking to transfer them to Trivandrum and Palghat divisions with all consequential benefits and seniority and other attendant benefits. The Tribunal, after hearing both sides, directed the petitioners herein to transfer the respondents to Trivandrum and Palghat divisions as per their request and place them above new appointments made to the post of Track Maintainer Gr.IV in the said two divisions with all consequential benefits of seniority and other attendant benefits, by the impugned order. Challenging the same, the present writ petition has been filed.

3. The learned Senior Panel Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners would submit that a seniority list of those who have registered for transfer to other Divisions is maintained by the petitioners and in pursuance of the order passed by the Tribunal, out of the 18 respondents are concerned, 8 respondents have already been transferred and as and when vacancy arises, the order of the Tribunal will be complied with by transferring the remaining 10 respondents also shortly.

4. Though the names of the respondents are printed in the cause list, there is no appearance either in person or through a counsel.

5. Recording the statement made by the learned Senior Panel Counsel appearing on behalf the petitioners that the petitioners have already transferred 8 respondents to Trivandrum/Palghat division and as and when vacancy arises, they will transfer the remaining 10 respondents also shortly as directed by the Tribunal, this writ petition stands disposed of. Consequently, the connected WMP is closed. No costs.

(P.VELMURUGAN J.) (K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI J.)

16-03-2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No ss To

1. The Registrar Central Administrative Tribunal Chennai Bench, Chennai 600 104 2. The Secretary to Union of India Railway Board, Rail Bhavan New Delhi 110 001

3. The General Manager Southern Railway Park Town, Chennai 600 003

4. The Principal Chief Personnel Officer Headquarters Office, Personnel Branch Chennai 600 003

5. The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer Divisional Railway Manager Office Southern Railway Tiruchchirappalli Junction

6. The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer Divisional Railway Manager Office Southern Railway, Thycaud Trivandrum 695 014

7. The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer Divisional Railway Manager Office Southern Railway, Palghat 678 002 P.VELMURUGAN J.

AND K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI J.