K P PATEL Vs. STATE OF CG

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present petition challenges the order dated 1-4-2005 passed by the Water Resources Department, Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, whereby the petitioner, who was working as Assistant Engineer (Civil) was promoted to the post of Executive Engineer (Civil) on ad hoc basis by order dated 9-9-2003 has not been confirmed on regular basis and the petitioner has been reverted back to his original post i.e. Assistant Engineer.

(2.) BY amendment of the petition, the petitioner further seeks a direction against the respondents to consider the petitioner for regular promotion on the post of Executive Engineer w.e.f. 1-4-2005 with all consequential benefits. The amendment in the prayer was allowed on 27-6-2005.

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was fit for promotion as no departmental enquiry and/or criminal case was pending against the petitioner. There was no adverse entry/remark in the confidential report of the petitioner from the date of the ad hoc promotion till consideration by the Departmental Promotion Committee (hereinafter 'D.P.C.') for regular promotion to the post of Executive Engineer as nothing adverse was communicated to the petitioner. Learned counsel further submitted that the petitioner has made a comparative assessment of the merits of the candidates to determine who is 'very good', good' or 'does not have required criteria', as stated by the respondents in its reply in para 2 to the effect that "It is most respectfully submitted that the confidential report of 5 years has been considered and as the petitioner's Coriidential Report was not fulfilling the criteria, therefore, petitioner found unfit for regular promotion", and in para-5 of the reply to the effect that "It is pertinent to mention here that on the basis of Confidential Report, each and every employee earn points and as alleged juniors to the petitioner were having better Confidential Reports then the petitioner, therefore, they have earned more points and on the basis of same Departmental Promotion Committee found them suitable for regular promotion to the post of Executive Engineer and further found that the petitioner herein is not at all fit for regular promotion to the post of Executive Engineer." The criteria of the promotion from the post of Assistant Engineer to the post of Executive Engineer as per Rule 4 of the Rules, 2003 is 'seniority subject to fitness'. It was further contended that Rule 6(7) of the Rules, 2003 clearly provides that the D.P.C. shall consider the case of each public servant separately on the basis of their own merit, and that there shall be no need to make a comparative assessment of the merits of public servant separately and shall categorize them as 'fit' or 'not fit'.