T.N.SREENIVASAIAH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in this writ petition has called in question the action of the State Government in excluding the name of the petitioner to continue as President of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chikkaballapura District, on the ground that it is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, as every other Presidents of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, have been granted extension upto 31/3/2021.

(2.) The petitioner was initially appointed as President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chitradurga, as a full time President for a period of five years or till he attains the age of 65 years, which ever is earlier. Pursuant to the said order, petitioner reported to duty and started functioning as President with effect from 13/8/2015.

(3.) It transpires that on account of establishment of new District Forum at Chikkaballapura District, petitioner was transferred and posted as the President of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum at Chikkaballapura. When the term of all the Presidents who were appointed in the year 2015, was about to end, the Government issued an Official Memorandum on 1/10/2020 extending the term of the Office upto 31/12/2020 and further, on 23/12/2020, by another communication, the Government extended the tenure of the Presidents of the Forum upto 31/12/2021, except the petitioner. It is this order of non-extension of the tenure of the petitioner upto 31/3/2021 is called in question in this writ petition.