RAVINDER KUMAR GOEL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present petition has been filed by the petitioner praying inter alia for quashing the order dated 2.3.2012, passed by the respondents No. 2 to 4/Oil India Limited, whereunder his request for promotion as a Grade -D Officer w.e.f. 1.1.1996, was turned down. Further, the petitioner seeks directions to the respondents 2 to 4/Oil India Limited to consider him for promotion as a Grade -D Officer w.e.f. 1.1.1996, along with all consequential benefits.

(2.) MR . Saurabh Kirpal, learned counsel for the respondents No. 2 to 4/Oil India Limited opposes the present petition on the ground of gross delay and laches and submits that the same is hopelessly barred by time. He states that the petitioner has also concealed from the Court that on 25.8.2014, the date on which he had filed the present petition, he was on the verge of superannuating and by the time, the petition was listed for admission on 21.12.2012, the petitioner had already superannuated on 30.8.2012. He further states that there is no satisfactory explanation for the delay offered by the petitioner for approaching the Court after 15 years, when the respondents No. 2 to 4/Oil India Limited had noted as long back as on 22.12.1999 that he was due for promotion to Grade -D Officer, w.e.f. 1.1.1996.

(3.) THE aforesaid factual position is not denied by the counsel for the petitioner. He, however, seeks to explain the delay in filing the present petition by stating that during all these years, the petitioner had been regularly submitting representations to the respondents No. 2 to 4/Oil India Limited, which were not considered. In support of the said submission, he refers to the letter dated 2.3.2012 issued by the respondents No. 2 to 4/Oil India Limited, wherein the petitioner's request dated 11.01.2012, for promotion to Grade -D Officer was turned down.