DARSHAN Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners are veterinary doctors. These writ petitions are directed against the order dated 17.10.2018 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal dismissing the petitioners applications in application Nos.7518-7530/2018. In the said applications, the petitioners had challenged two orders, both dated 12.10.2018, whereby the State Government has cancelled deputation of the petitioners to the Department of Rural Development & Panchayath Raj or the Department of Urban Development, as the case may be, and has withdrawn their services to the Parent Department namely, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.

(2.) We have heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners and perused the record. He submits that cancellation of deputation of the petitioners to the other departments is contrary to Rule 50(3) of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules and the guidelines laid down by the Government for transfer of Government servants and also two Government Circulars dated 15.01.1977 and 18.11.1981. In support of the writ petitions, he also referred to two decisions of the Supreme Court in Umapati Choudhary v. State of Bihar, 1999 4 SCC 659 and Union of India v. S.N.Maity, 2015 4 SCC 164.

(3.) We have examined the matter. The result of cancellation of the deputation is that the petitioners, who are veterinary doctors, will now work in veterinary hospitals. This, in our opinion, is undoubtedly in public interest and does not contravene any Rule, transfer guidelines or Circulars or decisions referred to by the learned Senior Counsel.