T S MOHAN Vs. CHAIRMAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

(2.) THE petitioner had stated that at the time of the filing of the writ petition, he was working as a Revenue Supervisor at Narasothipatty Section, T.N.E.B., Salem Electricity Distribution Circle. Originally, he was appointed as a Junior Assistant, on 16.10.1968. He was promoted as an Assistant, with effect from 19.8.1978. THEreafter, he was absorbed as an Inspector of Assessment from 1.1.1982 and subsequently, he was promoted as a Revenue Supervisor, on 9.10.1991. THE next avenue of promotion to the petitioner would be as an Assessment Officer.

(3.) IT has been further stated that due to administrative reasons, the panel for the year, 1999, had been prepared on a later date and the selection for promotion to the post of Assessment Officer was made only in the year 2001. Therefore, the panel for the year 2000 had not been processed. In order to fill up the 126 sanctioned posts, a fresh panel for the year 2001 had been prepared. A suitability report had been called for from the Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers. The crucial date for the panel was 5.7.2001. Based on the suitability report received from the Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers, the panel for the year 2001 had been prepared from amongst the qualified Revenue Supervisors, as on 5.7.2001. Out of 161 Revenue Supervisors, 113 Revenue Supervisors were selected and orders were issued in proceedings (Per)P.B.(Ch)No.274(Adm.Branch), dated 10.12.2002. The petitioner was undergoing a punishment till 30.9.2002. Even though the period of punishment was over at the time of the publication of the panel, in the month of December 2002. However, as the petitioner was undergoing a punishment on 5.7.2001, which was the crucial date, he could not be selected to the post of Assessment Officer. This fact had been intimated to the petitioner by the second respondent by the impugned letter, dated 18.12.2002.