D C S NEGI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner D.C.S. Negi, a member of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (in short, IDAS), by this writ petition, seeks quashing of the order dated 14.5.2007, passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi dismissing his OA No.1316/2007. Petitioner by the said OA, had sought re- consideration of his promotion to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) of the IDAS cadre w.e.f. 2.6.2003 instead of 10.5.2006.

(2.) Petitioner was selected in the IDAS in December, 1982. He claims an unblemished career with record of regular promotions. Petitioner claims to have held responsible positions on deputation and otherwise as Assistant Financial Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Joint Controller of Defence Accounts, Finance Officer of the Indian Meteorological Department and lastly, as Controller of Defence Accounts, New Delhi, w.e.f. 11.5.2006. Petitioner avers that he has never faced any complaints and no adverse remarks have ever been communicated to him during his entire career.

(3.) On 2.6.2003, a Departmental Promotion Committee meeting had taken place for promotion to the post of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) of the Indian Defence Accounts Service. Petitioner, to his dismay, found that officers junior to him were recommended for promotion to the Senior Administrative Grade superseding the petitioner. It is the petitioner s case that on learning that DPC had not empanelled him and not recommended him for promotion, he submitted a representation dated 7.7.2003 to the Prime Minister. It is his case that the said representation resulted in the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister, disagreeing with the recommendations of the DPC.