ORAL JUDGMENT

(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI)

Date : 20-02-2024 In the instant petition, petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-

“(A) For issuance of Writ in the nature of Certiorari for quashing / setting aside the Order dated 12.07.2023 passed by the Learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna herein after CAT in Original Application No.050/00481 of 2021 as contained in Annexure-1 to the writ application whereby instant Original application has been dismissed illegally.

(B) For issuance of Writ in the nature of Certiorari for quashing the part of Order /Notification bearing No.E (GP) 2016/3/13 (Law) New-Delhi dated 16.04.2021 and No.E (O)1/2003/SR-6/04, New-Delhi dated 19.07.2021 issued by the Railway Board as contained in Annexure A/1 and A/2 with Paper Book in respect of effective date of promotion of petitioner shown therein from

30.12.2020 instead of 01.04.2018.

(C) For issuance of Writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the respondents to modify the Order/Notification bearing No.E (GP) 2016/3/13 (Law) New- Delhi dated 16.04.2021 and No.E (0)1/2003/SR-6/04, New Delhi dated 19.07.2021 as contained in Annexure A/1 and A/2 with Paper Book, both issued by the Railway Board by giving effective date of Promotion of the petitioner to the post of Senior Law Officer in Group-A/Senior Scale with effect from 01.04.2018 against the vacancies for the panel year 2017-18 in place of instead of 30.12.2020 in the same manner similarly placed co-employee namely Sri Harendra Prasad Gupta has been granted in compliance to the order dated 23.05.2016 and 24.11.2016 passed by Learned CAT, Patna in OA No.749/2015 and OA No.476/2016 respectively, upheld by this Hon'ble Court on 20.04.2017 in CWJC No.2868/2017 and CWJC No.2784/2017 reported in 2017 (3) PLJR 261 as contained in Annexure A/5 with Paper Book and implemented by the Respondents on 17.07.2017 as contained in Annexure A/7 with Paper Book.

(D)For issuance of Writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the respondents to grant all consequential, benefits including promotion and posting as Deputy Chief Law Officer/Deputy General Manager (Law) in Junior Administrative Grade henceforth against vacant post.

(E) Any other appropriate relief/reliefs for which the petitioner may be entitled, to be granted by this Hon’ble Court alongwith all consequential benefits.”

2. Matter was heard on 06.02.2024 at length and following order was passed:-

“Core of the matter is whether petitioner is entitled to have the benefit of promotion to the post of Senior Law Officer - Group A with effect from 01.04.2018 the date on which the vacancy occurred. D.P.C. was required to be held from time to time with a certain rider to the extent that concerned authority was required to pass reasons for deferring D.P.C., in the light of D.P.C. instruction dated 10.04.1989. On the other hand, D.P.C. was conveyed on 29.12.2020 while granting promotion with effect from 30.12.2020 to the petitioner with reference to vacancies for the year 2017-2018. The petitioner feeling aggrieved by the date of promotion as 30.12.2020 in the light of vacancies accrued with effect from 01.04.2018 filed Original Application No. 050/00481 of 2021 before the Central Administration Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna. The Tribunal has rejected the petitioner’s claim.

2. On the other hand, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that matter is covered by decision of this Court in the case of Union of India Vs. Harendra Prasad Gupta reported in 2017(3) PLJR 261 wherein, Harendra Prasad Gupta had been promoted retrospectively from the year 2013 to the post of Senior Law Officer Group- A. The same yardstick is applicable to the case in hand. However, it is disputed by learned counsel for the respondents to the extent that such retrospective promotion is not permissible. He has apprised this Court with reference to para 6.4.1 of D.P.C. instruction dated 10.04.1989 as to whether the concerned authority has recorded in not