RAM LAL ASSISTANT Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner was appointed as a Clerk in the Department of Consolidation on February 7, 1961. On account of the disbandment of the department, the petitioner's services were terminated in the year 1966. Soon thereafter, he was appointed as a Clerk in the Police Department on March 3, 1966. He actually joined the service of the Police Department on March 25, 1966. The petitioner prays that his seniority in the Police Department should be determined on the assumption that he had joined service as a Clerk on February 7, 1961 and not on March 25, 1966.

(2.) The respondents have contested the petitioner's claim by filing a written statement. A preliminary objection has been raised that the writ petition is highly belated. The objection seems to be well-merited.

(3.) A perusal of the pleadings shows that the petitioner had submitted a representation dated June 20, 1968. A copy of this representation has been produced as Annexure P-5 with the writ petition. The petitioner prayed that he may be "given the benefit of my past service towards seniority...... This representation was rejected by the Inspector General of Police vide order dated September 4, 1968. A copy of this order is at Annexure P-6 with the writ petition. The petitioner filed another representation dated August 31, 1973. A copy of this representation is at Annexure P-7. This was also rejected and the decision was conveyed to the petitioner vide letter dated November 6, 1973. A copy of this letter is at Annexure P-8. It appears that the petitioner did nothing for almost 15 years till July 7, 1988 when he submitted a representation to the Government. That was rejected and the decision was conveyed by the Financial Commissioner and Secretary to Government Haryana vide letter dated November 22, 1988. A copy of this decision was endorsed to the petitioner on December 8,1988. Thereafter, the petitioner filed the writ petition on December 18, 1991.