V. VINCENT VELANKANNI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Civil Appeal No(s). 8617 of 2013 : The instant appeal by special leave takes exception to the judgment dtd. 10/10/2011 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras in Writ Petition [Writ Petition No. 583 of 2011], whereby the Division Bench of the High Court accepted the writ petition [Ibid] preferred by the private respondents herein [Respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 5] and reversed the judgment dtd. 24/12/2010 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench ['CAT', hereafter] in Original Application [Original Application No. 318 of 2009] preferred by the private respondents herein. The CAT had rejected the Original Application [Ibid], challenging the proposed action of revision and fixation of their seniority in the Engine Factory, Avadi, Chennai ['respondent No. 2-Factory', hereafter].

(2.) The brief facts in a nutshell, relevant and essential for the disposal of the instant appeal are noted hereinbelow.

(3.) The appellant and the private respondents were engaged on semi-skilled posts such as Fitters and Machinists in respondent No.2-Factory. A common select list of candidates based on merit was issued by the General Manager of respondent No.2-Factory in the year 1995 wherein the appellant herein was placed at a higher position than the private respondents. An appointment order dtd. 17/1/1996 was issued in the favour of the appellant for the post of 'Fitter General (semi-skilled)' in respondent No.2- Factory. He was initially placed on probation for a period of two years which was further extended for a period of six months w.e.f. 17/1/1998. The appellant satisfactorily completed the probation period on 16/7/1998. Thereafter, he was promoted to the 'Skilled' grade on 6/1/1999.