CHARAN PAL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this petition the petitioner has prayed for quashing an order Annexure P. 5 by which respondent No. 3 Gurnam Singh was promoted as Deputy Director, Food and Supplies with a further prayer that the petitioner be declared to be senior to respondents Nos. 2 and 3 in the Cadre of District Food and Supplies Controllers and a direction be issued to the respondents to promote the petitioner with effect from the date of promotion of his juniors.

(2.) Though the petition involves determination of a very short issue, the case has a chequered history and before dealing with the contentions of the learned counsel appearing for the parties it is necessary to make a reference to some of the facts.

(3.) The petitioner joined service as Assistant Food and Supplies Officer on 21.12.1962. He was promoted as District Food and Supplies Officer on 17.4.1970 and then as District Food and Supplies Controller on 23.10.1974. Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 are ex-Emergency Commissioned Officers. They joined service as District Food and Supplies Officers on 6.7.1971 and 1.12.1971 respectively by direct recruitment on the recommendations of the Punjab Public Service Commission. A seniority list of the District Food and Supplies Officers was circulated by the Government of Punjab vide Annexure P. 2 dated 1.12.1972. In that list respondents Nos. 2 and 3 were shown at Sr. Nos. 15 and 17 respectively, whereas the petitioner was shown at Sr. No. 25.