CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF Vs. G GOPALAKRISHNA PILLAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) Heard learned counsel for the parties. The short question which arises for consideration is whether or not the Central Administrative Tribunal by the impugned judgment dated June 2, 1994 passed in O.A. No.1507 of 1993 has correctly decided the question of seniority of the respondent Shri G. Gopalkrishnan Pillai. It is an admitted case that the said Sri Pillai was given ad hoc appointments to the post of Storekeeper at Goa and while he had been continuing in such ad hoc appointments, he was regularised in the post of Storekeeper. The Naval Department has given appropriate fitment in the scale of a Storekeeper to Sri Pillai after giving credit for the officiation in the said post but so far as the seniority to the cadre of Storekeeper is concerned, the seniority has been given only from the date when he was regularised in the post of Storekeeper. Sri Pillai felt aggrieved for not getting seniority by computing the period spent on ad hoc service as a Storekeeper. Claiming seniority by reckoning ad hoc service, he made a representation to the Naval Department which was rejected.

(3.) Thereafter, the Central Administrative Tribunal was moved by the respondent contending inter alia that as he had been officiating on ad hoc basis in the post of Storekeeper continuously till he was selected and regularly appointed to the post of Storekeeper, the entire period of continuance officiation would ensure to his benefit for the purpose of fixing seniority in the cadre of Storekeeper. Such contention has been accepted by the Central Administrative Tribunal by the impugned order. It has been directed that Shri Pillai should be given seniority to the post of Storekeeper from the date he started officiating in the said post and all consequential benefits flowing from such seniority should also be given to him.