MEENAKETAN MOHANTY Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE grievance of the writ petitioner in the present writ application is that though he was selected and empanelled for promotion to the post of Chief Judicial Magistrate, the High Court in its administrative jurisdiction declined to give him promotion in his due turn, but promoted his juniors in an illegal and arbitrary manner

(2.) THE facts which are material for consideration are briefly stated below:

(3.) AS already stated, the petitioner was selected and empanelled for promotion to the Orissa Superior Judicial Service (Junior Branch) by the Standing Committee of the High Court on September 3, 1987. It is obvious that upon consideration of the service records of the petitioner up to that date the Standing Committee of the High Court found him fit for promotion and placed him at serial No. 3 of the panel. It has been stated in paragraph 6 of the counter affidavit affirmed by Special Officer (Special Cell), Orissa High Court that subsequent to September 3, 1987 a sitting Judge of the High Court visited Sundargarh to attend the Lok Adalat, that the said Hon'ble Judge carried a very poor impression about the administrativeability of the petitioner and submitted a report and that in view of the said report the Standing Committee in its meeting dated December 8, 1987 declared the petitioner as unfit for promotion.