R.V.RAJENDRAN Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr.R.V.Rajendran has originally filed O.A.No.5522 of 2002 challenging the impugned order dated 18.7.2002 bearing No.23015/ES3/02 and dated 13.9.2002 bearing No.37381/ES1/02 issued by the Additional Director General of Prisons, Chennai, quash the same as illegal with a consequential direction to the respondent to include his name in the appropriate place in the panel of Grade I Warders fit for promotion as Chief Head Warder for the year 2001-2002, as communicated in Proceedings No.23015/ES3/2002 dated 27.6.2002, with a further direction to appoint him as Chief Head Warder. On the abolition of the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, the matter was transferred to this Court and re- numbered as W.P.No.6847 of 2007. During the pendency of the said petition, the petitioner has again filed W.P.No.27483 of 2004 challenging the impugned order dated 26.7.2004, wherein he has been informed that his request for promotion would be considered after the disposal of the pending matter.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was selected as Grade II Warder by the Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore in his proceedings No.333/Po.1/78 dated 22.5.78 and after completion of the probation period, his services were regularised by the proceedings No.3634/Po.1/80 dated 8.7.80. Later on, by proceedings dated 10.5.89, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Vellore called the petitioner for measurement of his height to verify whether he was fit to continue in the said job. The petitioner's height was measured on 16.5.89 in the presence of the Superintendent and thereafter, he was allowed to continue in the same job. The learned counsel for the petitioner also submitted that by proceedings dated 5.10.2000 bearing No.47281/E2/7/2000, the Additional Director General of Prisons has approved the panel of Grade II Warders fit for promotion to the post of Grade I Warder for the year 2001-02. In the above said proceedings, the name of the petitioner was included, as per the General Rules 36(b)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Jail Subordinate Service and thereafter, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Cuddalore, by proceedings dated 3.8.2001, promoted and appointed the petitioner as Grade I Warder in the Cuddalore Central Prison from 2.8.2001 onwards. While he was serving there, another panel in the post of Grade I Warder fit for promotion as Chief Head Warder was prepared by the Additional Director General of Prisons and a Special Promotion Board was constituted for the selection of candidates fit for promotion to the post of Chief Head Warder to fill up the 117 vacancies from among the holders of the post of Grade I Warder in the Prison Department, as per G.O.Ms.No.1238, Home (Prison II) Department dated 13.12.2001. Thereafter, based on the recommendation of the Promotion Board, the approved candidates selected for appointment as Chief Head Warder by promotion, was notified. But in the said proceedings, the name of the petitioner was not included and the reason cited has shown that he has not met the required standard of physical measurement and the said proceedings is under challenge in the re-numbered W.P.No.6847 of 2007. The learned counsel for the petitioner also submitted that when the petitioner was originally selected as Grade II Warder by the Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore in his proceedings dated 22.5.78, he was having the requisite height, therefore, his services were regularised by order dated 8.7.80. After regularisation, his name was included in the panel of Grade II Warders fit for promotion to the post of Grade I Warders for the year 2000- 01, as per the General Rules 36(b)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Jail Subordinate Service. When the further promotion to the post of Chief Head Warder came up for consideration, the Department cannot refuse to give promotion to the petitioner to the said post, on the ground that he failed to possess the requisite height.

(3.) In reply, the learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents, by producing G.O.Ms.No.1, Home (Pri.II) Department dated 2.1.2006, has stated that the requisite height for the post of Chief Head Warder is 168 cms, whereas the petitioner's physical measurement recorded on 12.5.2005 was only 167 cms. Again on 8.9.2005, his height was measured by the Medical Officer of Chennai Central Prison in the presence of the Superintendent and he was found to be possessing only 167 cms. Therefore, the Additional Director General of Prisons has reported that as per Rule 6 of the Special Rules for the Tamil Nadu Jail Subordinate Service, the petitioner is not eligible to claim promotion for the post of Chief Head Warder.