SREEPATI RANJAN DASH Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By filing the present writ application, the Petitioner calls in question the legality and property of the conduct of opposite parties in issuing the impugned rejection order vide letter No.8735 dtd. 11/10/2021 under Annexure-9 to the present writ application and accordingly the petitioner has prayed for quashing of the impugned order under Annexure-9. Further, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to the Opposite party nos.1 and 2 to convene a Departmental Promotion Committee meeting for the purpose of considering the promotion of Assistant Sec. Officer like the Petitioner to the post of Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) within a stipulated period of time against 16 substantive posts of ARTO which are lying vacant at the moment and available to be filled up for the year 2021 as per the letter of the Transport Commissioner, Odisha dtd. 3/9/2021.

(2.) The factual matrix of the present controversy which has led to filing of the present writ application, in a nutshell, is that the Petitioner was initially appointed for the post of Junior Assistant in the Office of the Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman-cum-State Transport Authority, Odisha vide appointment letter dtd. 16/3/2013 under OCS (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rule, 1990. Pursuant to the said appointment letter, the Petitioner had joined in duty on 18/3/2013.

(3.) While continuing as a Junior Assistant in the office of the Transport Commissioner-cum-Chairman, State Transport Authority, the Petitioner was found suitable and was otherwise eligible for promotion, as per the Rules in force, by the DPC held for the purpose and accordingly the petitioner was given promotion to the post of Senior Assistant vide office order dtd. 10/6/2016. Pursuant to the promotion order, the Petitioner joined in the promotional post of Senior Assistant on 13/6/2016. Upon joining against the new post, on promotion, the pay scale of the Petitioner was fixed at Rs.9300.00 to Rs.34,800.00 with Grade Pay of Rs.4200.00with effect from 13/6/2016 vide Office order dtd. 20/7/2016.