DEEN DAYAL DAVE Vs. THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is directed to question the seniority of the respondents K.N. Ghei, M.L. Kachhawa and T.V. George, all of whom are employees under the Director of Technical Education (ITI Wing), Rajasthan. In order to understand the controversy some salient features have to be stated shortly. The petitioner was appointed as a Draughtsman Civil Instructor (later on known as Crafts Instructor) on 1 -9 -57. He was confirmed on this post w.e.f. 9 -5 -60. It appears that on 27 -9 -63, he was appointed as Supervisor Instructor (later redesignated as Senior Instructor). In 1965, the posts were taken cut of the purview of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and a Selection Committee was constituted which held a suitability test The result of this test was that Mr. M.L. Kachhawa was placed at No. 1, T.V. George at No. 11, the petitioner at No. 15 and Shri K.N. Ghei at No. 17. The petitioner was confirmed as a Supervisor (Senior) Instructor on 19 -2 -1971. The Government published a seniority list on 1 -10 -1(sic) 1971 in which both M.L. Kachhawa and T.V. George were shown senior to the petitioner but Mr. Ghei was shown junior to the petitioner. However, a note was added that upon confirmation Shri K.N. Ghei will rank senior to Kachhawa. It is, therefore, clear that the claim of the petitioner with regard to seniority over Shri M.L. Kachhawa and T.V. George has little basis and was not rightly pressed before me. It further appears that thereafter the petitioner was also promoted as Foreman (Group Instructor) some time before January, 1973. The controversy with regard to the seniority of Shri K.N. Ghei has arisen in the following circumstances:

(2.) It appear that the post of the Foreman (Group Instructor) was again placed in the purview of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission by a Gazette Notification on dated 4 -8 -1972. The Government however, appointed a selection committee and that selection committee inter -viewed Ghei and selected him as a Foreman (Group Instructor) on 29 -12 -1972. In the year 1975, the Rajasthan Technical Training Subordinate Services Rules, 1975 came into force. According to Rule 6(iii) a committee screened all the persons in respect of the post which they were holding on 1 -1 -1973. The petitioner was also screened as a Foreman (Group Instructor). Shri M.L. Kachhawa and Shri T.V. George were again placed above the petitioner. The selection of Shri Ghei was made with retrospective effect and he was confirmed as Foreman (Group Instructor) w.e.f. 20 -7 -1970. Thereafter Shri Ghei was appointed as officiating Superintendent on 2nd July, 1974. In 1976, a Departmental Promotion Committee was convened on 1 -5 -1976 which considered all the eligible persons including the petitioner for the post of the Superintendent. The petitioner was not considered fit for appointment on that post. Shri Ghei however, continues to hold the officiating appointment and has filed an appeal with the Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal for his confirmation.

(3.) The contention of the petitioner claiming seniority over Shri Ghei is based upon two grounds. Firstly, that he not being a party to the previous writ petition, filed by Ghei, the High Court's order dated January 21, 1972 can not adversely affect his case and he is entitled to challenge the initial appointment and seniority of Shri Ghei. Secondly that when the post was placed within the purview of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission then Shri Ghei could not have been selected as Group Instructor on 29 -12 -1972 by a Selection Committee.