STATE OF HARYANA Vs. ASHOK KHEMKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The present appeal preferred by the State of Haryana seeks to assail the correctness of an order dtd. 18/3/2019 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana (the "High Court") in a writ petition bearing number CWP 317 of 2019 (O&M) wherein the High Court set aside an order dtd. 3/12/2018 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, Chandigarh (the "CAT") and, accordingly (i) expunged the opinion of the Accepting Authority; and (ii) restored (a) the opinion of the Reviewing Authority; and (b) the grade awarded by the Reviewing Authority i.e., 9.92 qua Respondent No. 1's performance appraisal report under the provisions of the All India Services (Performance Appraisal Report) Rules, 2007 (the "PAR Rules") (the "Impugned Order").

(3.) On 7/6/2017, Respondent No. 1 i.e., an Indian Administrative Services ("IAS") Officer belonging to the batch of 1991 and presently holding the rank of Principal Secretary, Government of Haryana, submitted his self-appraisal form qua the annual performance appraisal report envisaged under the PAR Rules for the period commencing 8/4/2016 up until 31/3/2017 (the "PAR").