PRATAP KISHORE MUND Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner in this writ petition seeks to assail the validity of the order dated 20.7.2001 (Annexure -1) by which the Orissa Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') rejected the application filed by him along with three others on the ground of limitation as well as want of permission to file a joint application as required under Rule 4(4) of the Orissa Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1986.

(2.) FACTS leading to fifing the writ petition are briefly stated hereunder : The petitioner along with three others filed G. A. No. 1920 of 1993 before the Tribunal Praying for a direction to count the period of services rendered by them in sided schools towards seniority and consider their case for promotion to Senior Subordinate Education Service Cadre. Their case was that they are all trained graduates and were serving as Assistant Teachers in Dharmagarh High School in the district of Kalahandi between 1962 to 1970. Their appointments were duly approved by the Inspector of Schools on 30.8.1971. In May, 1983 the school was taken over by the State Government. The order of the State Government on the strength of which the school was taken over provided that the seniority of the concerned employees would be in their respective cadre under Government from the date of taking over. Despite the aforesaid order, their past services were not taken into account as a result of which they have lost their seniority as well as promotion to higher cadre.

(3.) WE have heard Shri S. K. Misra for the petitioner and Shri D. P. Sarangi, learned counsel for the opposite parties.