Mohit Khanna v. Chandigarh Housing Board and Others

oINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoo AToCHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o CWP-9266oofo2021o(O&M)o o o o o o o o Dateoofodecisiono:o24.11.2023o o MOHIToKHANNAo o o o o o o o o o …Petitionero o Versuso o THEoCHANDIGARHoHOUSINGoBOARD,oSECTORo9-D,oo CHANDIGARHoTHROUGHoITSoSECRETARYoANDoOTHERSo o o o o o o o o o o …Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSHoBUNGERo Presento:o Mr.oDharamoViroSharma,oSenioroAdvocateo o o assistedobyoMr.oChinmayoPratap,oAdvocateo o o andoMs.oPoojaoYadav,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o Ms.oMadhuoDayal,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.1oando2.o o o o Mr.oRavinderoRana,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.4oando5.o o HARSHoBUNGER,oJ.oo

1.o o Petitionero (Mohito Khanna)o haso filedo theo instanto writo petitiono underoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,ointeroalia,oseekingoissuanceoofo ao writo ino theo natureo ofo certiorari/mandamus,o foro quashingo theo impugnedo OfficeoOrderoNo.64odatedo22.04.2021o(AnnexureoP-24)opassedobyorespondento No.2o(Chairman,oChandigarhoHousingoBoard)oquaorespondentoNo.5,owithoao furthero prayero foro directingo respondentso No.1o ando 2o too considero theo promotionooforespondentoNo.4o(SanjeevoKumar)ofromosourceo(i)omeantoforo DiplomaoHoldersoagainstotheovacancyowhichohadoarisenoono22.07.2013oandotoo considerotheopetitioneroagainstotheovacancyoofosourceo(ii)olyingovacantosinceo

13.10.2017,ooroinotheoalternative,otoofollowotheorosterodulyoapprovedovideo Annexureo P-4o foro makingo theo promotionso aso Sub-Divisionalo Engineerso (Publico Health)o aso waso beingo doneo beforeo 22.04.2021o byo makingo theo promotionsoagainstorosteropointsoNo.3,o5oando6oasoSub-DivisionaloEngineerso (PublicoHealth),oagainstowhichotheovacanciesofellodue.ooo

2.o o Briefly,otheoChandigarhoHousingoBoardo(inoshorto`theoBoard')o wasoestablishedounderotheoHaryanaoHousingoBoardoAct,o1971o(asoextendedotoo theoUnionoTerritory,oChandigarh)oandoinoexerciseoofopowersoconferredoundero Sectiono 11,o thereof,o theo Administrator,o U.T.o Chandigarho hado framedo theo Chandigarho Housingo Boardo (Officerso ando Servants)o Serviceo Regulations,o 2003o(inoshorto`2003oRegulations').oItoisostatedothatotheoconditionsoofoserviceo ofotheoemployeesoofotheoBoardoareogovernedobyotheo2003oRegulations.o

3.o o Regulationo 2(d)o ofo 2003o Regulationso defineo `appointingo authority'otoomeanoauthorityocompetentotoomakeoappointmentsoandoincludeso theoauthorityotoowhomotheopowerotoomakeoappointmentsomayobeodelegatedobyo theo Boardo undero theseo Regulations.o Further,o Regulationo 5o dealso witho appointmentobyopromotionotooGroupo`A',o`B'oando`C'oposts,owhichoreadsoasooooooooooooo undero:-o "5.oPromotion.o–oAppointmentobyopromotionotootheoGroupo `A',o `B'o ando `C'o postso shallo beo madeo byo theo recommendationo ofo theo Departmentalo Promotiono CommitteeoconstitutedobyotheoChandigarhoAdministrationo fromotimeotootimeoasoperocriteriaoandomethodoprescribedoino theoscheduleoannexedowithotheseoregulations."o

4.o o Ito appearso thato theo promotiono fromo theo posto ofo Junioro Engineer/AssistantoEngineeroisotootheopostoofoSub-DivisionaloEngineeroando underotheoserviceorules,o50%oappointmentsoareotoobeomadeobyowayoofodirecto appointmentoando50%obyowayoofopromotion.oItofurtheroappearsothatoinotheo promotionoquota,o theo followingopercentageo iso providedounderotheo Serviceo Rules/Regulationso(AnnexureoP-2):-o o o o 1.o DiplomaoHolderso o 29%o o o o 2.o Degree/AMIEo o 14%o o o o 3.o Draftsmeno o o 7%o

5.o o Theo petitionero holdso Diplomao ino Civilo Engineeringo ando waso appointedoasoaoSectionoOfficerobyotheoBoard,ovideoMemoodatedo04.12.1992o (AnnexureoP-1)oandotheosaidopostoofoSectionoOfficerowasore-designatedoaso JunioroEngineer.oPetitionerostatesothatoaoJunioroEngineer,oaftero16oyearsoofo service,oisodesignatedoasoAssistantoEngineeroandotheopetitioner,ohavingoovero 28oyearsoofoservice,owasodesignatedoasoAssistantoEngineer.o

6.o o ItoisotheocaseoofotheopetitionerothatotheoBoardopreparedoaorostero effectiveofromo17.10.2003oforoallocatingotheovacanciesoasoperotheopercentageo fixedoforoDiplomaoHolders/AMIEoandoDraftsmen.oTheosaidorosteroisostatedotoo haveobeenoconcurredobyotheoChandigarhoAdministrationovideoOfficeolettero datedo 26.08.2004o (Annexureo P-4).o Aso pero theo petitioner,o theo Boardo hado preparedoaoseniorityolistoofotheoSectionoOfficerso(PH)oasoono20.09.2012oando thereafter,onoofreshoseniorityolistohadobeenolisted.oInotheosaidoseniorityolist,otheo petitioneroisostatedotoobeoatoSerialono.8oandoafteroretirementoofotwooofficerso namely,oS/Sh.oKirpaloSinghoandoRajeevoKhanna,otheonameoofotheopetitionero comesoatoSerialono.6,oinoorderoofoseniority.o

7.o o Petitionero claimso thato he,o beingo ao Diplomao Holdero ando alsoo havingo passedo Sectionso Ao ando Bo ofo theo Institutiono Examinationso ino theooooooooooooo yearo2002,oisorequiredotoobeoconsideredoagainstotheorosteromeantoforodiplomao holdersoasowelloasoforoAMIEs/DegreeoHolders.oo

8.o o Petitionero stateso thato oneo Shrio Kirpalo Singh,o waso workingo aso Assistanto Engineero (Publico Health)o ando ono 29.01.2015,o ao meetingo ofoo Departmentalo Promotiono Committeeo (DPC)o waso heldo wherein,o nameo ofoooooooooooooo Sh.o Kirpalo Singho waso recommendedo foro promotiono aso Sub-Divisionalo EngineeroagainstorosteropointoNo.3omeantoforoDiplomaoHolders.oHowever,oforo theowantoofoVigilanceoClearanceoetc.,oShrioKirpaloSinghowasonotoissuedotheo promotionoorder.oItoisostatedothatoanotheroDPC'someetingoforopromotionotootheo postoofoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(PublicoHealth)owasofixedoforo28.02.2018,o however,otheosameowasonotoheld.oItoisofurtherostatedothatoanotheroDPCowaso scheduledoforo05.03.2018oforopromotionoasoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(Publico Health);ohowever,onoopromotionsowereomade.oItoisoalsoostatedothatoSh.oKirpalo SinghorequestedoforopromotionoasoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(PublicoHealth);o however,o theo sameo waso declinedo video lettero datedo 07.05.2018ooooooooooooooooo (Annexureo P-8)o ando theo saido order,o decliningo promotion,o waso nevero challengedobyoSh.oKirpaloSingh.oAnotherorequestoforopromotionomadeobyosaido Kirpalo Singho waso rejectedo byo theo competento authorityo video lettero datedo

30.08.2018o(AnnexureoP-9).oItoisoaverredothatoSh.oKirpaloSinghowasotooattaino theoageoofosuperannuationoono31.08.2018oandoanoorderooforetirementowaso issuedoono29.08.2018,oendorsedoono30.08.2018o(AnnexureoP-10).o

9.o o Petitionero claimso thato sloto no.6o iso meanto foro AMIEo ando theo petitionerowasotoobeoconsideredoforopromotionoasoSuboDivisionaloEngineer,oino theoDPCoscheduledoforo14.09.2018.oAsoperotheopetitioner,orespondentoNo.5o (Abnesho Kumaro Dadwal)o iso ao Diplomao Holdero ando heo waso workingo aso AssistantoEngineer.oPetitioneroallegesothatoinocase,orosteropointoNo.3owouldo haveobeenoconsumed,othenoheo(AbneshoKumaroDadwal)owouldohaveobeeno consideredo foro promotiono aso Subo Divisionalo Engineer,o beingo ao Diplomao

10.o o Petitionero furthero claimso thato respondento No.5ooooooooooooooooo (AbneshoKumaroDadwal)oisoanoinfluentialopersonoandoinoorderotoomanipulateo hisopromotionoandotooshowotheoconsumptionooforosteropointoNo.3,oheogotoao representationo fromo Sh.o Kirpalo Singho ono 30.08.2018,o itselfo ando theo promotionoorderowasoissuedoono31.08.2018o(AnnexureoP-11),odespiteotheofacto thatotheorequestoforopromotionobyoKirpaloSinghowasorejectedoono30.08.2018o ando retiremento ordero stoodo issuedo ando eveno theo validityo ofo theo recommendationo ofo DPCo heldo ono 29.01.2015o stoodo elapsed.o Aso pero theo petitioner,o aftero issuanceo ofo theo promotiono ordero ono 31.08.2018o ofooooooooooooooooo Sh.oKirpaloSingh,oex-postofactooapprovalowasoobtainedoforohisopromotionoando ono07.09.2018,oSh.oKirpaloSinghowasoconvictedoinoaoCriminaloCaseoNo.06oofo 2012,o whicho waso evidentlyo pendingo ono theo dateo ofo hiso promotiono i.e.o

31.08.2018,owhichowasoalsootheodayoofohisoretirement.o

11.o o ItoappearsothatotheopetitionerofiledoCWP-23106-2018oobeforeothiso Court,o challengingo theo promotiono ordero No.88o datedo 31.08.2018o ofooooooooooooooooo Sh.oKirpaloSingh,owhereinonoticeoofomotionowasoissuedoandotheoproceedingso foropromotionowereoorderedotoobeokeptoinoabeyance.oInotheosaidowritopetition,o theoBoardofiledoitsowrittenostatementoandoaoperusalothereof,orevealsothatoforo theopurposesoofopromotion,oaorosteroisobeingofollowedoandoitowasospecificallyo mentionedo thereino thato DPCo waso proposedo too beo heldo ono 14.09.2018o foro filingoupooforosteropointoNo.6.oAccordingotootheopetitioner,orespondentoNo.5o wasoableotoomanipulateothatorosterowasonotofollowed.oTheopromotionoordero datedo 31.08.2018o ofo Sh.o Kirpalo Singho waso withdrawno video Officeo Ordero No.07odatedo14.01.2021o(AnnexureoP-20)oandothereafter,ovideoorderodatedoo

05.04.2021o(AnnexureoP-21),oCWP-23106-2018ofiledobyotheopetitionerowaso disposedoofowithoaodirectionotootheoChandigarhoHousingoBoardotooconsidero theocaseoofotheopetitioneroforopromotionoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oo

12.o o Thereafter,otheopetitioneroisostatedotoohaveosubmittedoaodetailedo representationodatedo12.04.2021o(AnnexureoP-22)ostatingothatorosteropointo No.6owasomeantoforoAMIE/DegreeoHoldersoandothereoareofourosanctionedo promotionaloposts;otherefore,orequestowasomadeotooconsiderotheocaseoofotheo petitioneroagainstorosteropointoNo.6.oo

13.o o Itoappearsothatoono22.04.2021,oaomeetingoofoDPCowasoheldoforo consideringopromotionsoasoSuboDivisionaloEngineerso(PH)ofromotheopostoofo AssistantoEngineers.oPetitionerostatesothatoinotheosaidomeetingoofoDPC,otheo systemooforosteropointowasonotofollowedoandoevenotheoorderoofofillingoupotheo postsoinotheoorderoinowhichotheovacancyoarose,owasonotofollowed.oAccordingo tootheopetitioner,ooneovacancy,owhichohadofallenovacantoono31.08.2012owaso firstofilledoinofromosourceoNo.(i)owhileoleavingotheosecondovacancyoandotheno vacancyooutoofosourceoNo.(ii)owhichohadofallenovacantoono13.10.2017owaso filledoinoandothereafterotheosecondovacancy,owhichowasocreatedoono22.07.2013o ando waso too beo filledo ino fromo sourceo (i)o waso filledo ino too promoteooooooooooooooooo ShrioAbneshoKumaroDadwal,oA.E.o(respondentoNo.5),owhoootherwiseocouldo notohaveobeenopromoted.oTherefore,oitoisocontendedothatotheopetitionerowaso deniedotheopromotion.oo

14.o o Witho theo afore-saido submissions/pleadings,o theo petitionero haso filedotheoinstantowritopetitionobeforeothisoCourt.o

15.o o Theo afore-saidoclaimo ofotheo petitionero haso beeno contestedobyoo respondentsoNo.1oando2o(ChandigarhoHousingoBoard)obyofilingoitsowritteno statement,owhereinoitohasobeenointeroaliaostatedothatotheopetitioneroisojuniorotoo allotheothreeoofficers,owhoohaveobeenopromotedovideoorderodatedo22.04.2021o (AnnexureoP-24)oandoitoisostatedothatotheopetitionerowasoatoSerialoNo.6oofotheo seniorityolistowhileotheothreeopromotedoofficersowereoatoSerialoNos.1,o2oando3,o respectively.oTheoapplicabilityoofotheo2003oRegulationsoisonotodisputedoandoito isosubmittedothatotheoRecruitmentoRulesoprovideoforospecificopercentageoofo eachoofotheothreeofeederocadres,oyetoao14opointorosterowasogotoapprovedofromo theoPersonneloDepartment,oChandigarhoAdministration.oItoisostatedothatoaftero theoapproval,ooneopromotionotootheopostoofoSub-DivisionaloEngineero(PH)o wasomadeoonotheobasisoofotheosaidorosteroino2004;ohowever,oduringotheoyearo 2019,oatotheotimeoofopromotionotootheopostoofoSDEo(Civil)ohavingoidenticalo RecruitmentoRulesoasothatoofotheopostoofoSDEo(PH),otheomatterowasoexaminedo inoconsultationowithotheoPersonneloDepartment,oChandigarhoAdministrationo andoitowasodecidedothatosinceotheonotifiedoRecruitmentoRulesoprovideoforo specificopercentageoforoeachoofotheofeederocadre,onoorosterocanobeoappliedoando theoprescribedopercentageoforoeachofeederoisotoobeomaintained.oItoisostatedothato theoPersonneloDepartment,oChandigarhoAdministrationovideoitsoletterodatedo

18.09.2020oadvisedoasofollowso:-o o o "TheoadviceoalreadyoconveyedobyoUOoNo.RR(100)- 1H-(9)-2020/7246,o datedo 21/07/2020o iso herebyo reiteratedo videowhichoitohasobeenoinformedothatotheorecruitmentotooanyo posto shallo beo madeo aso pero notifiedo recruitmento rules.o However,o ino thiso particularo case,o A.D.o hado beeno makingo appointmentsobyofollowingotheorosteroinorespectotootheoposto ofoSDEo(PH)oapprovedobyothisodepartmentoatothatotime.oAnyo deviationo iso madeo ato thiso time,o mayo leado too litigation.o Therefore,oA.D.oisoadvisedotooincorporateotheo14opointorostero ino theo notifiedo regulationso 2003o ofo Chandigarho Housingo Board."o o o Itoisostatedothatoinoviewoofotheoafore-saidoadvice,oitohasobeeno decidedotoostrictlyogooasoperotheonotifiedoRecruitmentoRules,owhichoprovideso foropercentageosystemoasoisobeingodoneoinotheoEngineeringoDepartmentoofo U.T.oAdministration,owhereonoorosteroisofollowed.o

16.o o Respondentsono.1oando2ohaveomaintainedothatoinoviewoofotheo afore-saidodecision,oDPCoforopromotionotootheopostoofoSDEo(PH)owasoheldoono

22.04.2021.oItoisostatedothatoagainstotheothreeovacanciesoavailable;oasoperotheo seniorityolistoofoJunioroEngineers/AssistantoEngineersoandoDraftsmenodatedo

14.09.2020oandoasoperotheo2003oRegulations,otenoofficialsofallingowithinotheo zoneoofoconsideration,owereoconsideredoforopromotionoandoonotheobasisoofo recommendationso ofo theo DPC,o promotiono ordero datedo 22.04.2021ooooooooooooooooo (AnnexureoP-24),opromotingorespondentsoNo.3otoo5oasoSDEo(PH)ohasobeeno issuedoandotheyohaveojoinedoasosuch.oItoisosubmittedothatotheowritopetitionoiso basedoonounfounded,ofalseoandobaselessoallegationsoasotheoactionoofotheoBoardo isostrictlyoasoperotheolaw.oOnomerits,otheoallegationsomadeobyotheopetitioneroino theowritopetitionohaveobeenocontrovertedoandoitohasobeenointeroaliaostatedothato rostero pointo No.3o hado noto beeno consumedo byo Sh.o Kirpalo Singho aso theo promotiono ordero issuedo too himo ono 31.08.2018o haso beeno withdrawno ono

14.01.2021.oItoisoalsoostatedothatotheonameoofopetitionerohadobeenoconsideredo byotheoDPCoheldoono22.04.2021obutocouldonotobeopromotedobeingojunior.o Accordingly,oprayeroforodismissaloofotheowritopetitionohasobeenomade.o

17.o o Respondento no.4o (Sanjeevo Kumar)o haso filedo ao shorto reply,o whereinoheohasointeroaliaostatedothatoheowasoinitiallyoappointedoasoSectiono Officero [nowo designatedo aso Junioro Engineero (Publico Health)]o ino theo ChandigarhoHousingoBoardoono23.03.1989oagainstodirectoquotaovacancyoando heocompletedohisoAMIEoSectiono`A'oandoSectiono`B'oinotheoyearo1987oi.e.o beforeojoiningotheoBoard.oItoisostatedothatoonotheobasisoofohisoserviceorecordo andobeingoAMIEoqualified,oheohadobeenoassignedotheoadditionalochargeoofotheo postoofoSDEo(QualityoControloLab)oono28.10.2016oandothereafter,oasoSDEo (Enforcement)oinotheoyearo2017.oItoisonextostatedothatoono03.06.2020,ohiso nameostoodoatoSerialoNo.2oinotheojointoseniorityolistoandoheohasorenderedomoreo thano31oyearsoofoservice.oRespondentono.4ostatedothatothroughoutohisoservice,o heo alwayso claimedo serviceo benefitso undero theo quotao meanto foro cadreo ofo AMIE/DegreeoHoldersoandoinocase,oheohadobeenopromotedotootheopostoofoSDEo fromo theo sourceo meanto foro Diplomao Holder,o theno hiso furthero claimo foro promotiono too theo posto ofo Executiveo Engineero wouldo beo affected.o Accordingly,orespondentoNo.4oprayedoforodismissaloofotheowritopetition.o

18.o o Similarly,orespondentoNo.5o(AbneshoKumaroDadwal)oalsoofiledo aoshortoreplyowhereinoheohasointeroaliaostatedothatoheowasoinitiallyoappointedo asoSectionoOfficero[nowodesignatedoasoJunioroEngineero(PublicoHealth)]oino theoChandigarhoHousingoBoardoono11.05.1992oagainstodirectoquotaovacancyo againstotheopostoforoDiplomaoHolderoandore-designatedoasoAssistantoEngineero onocompletionoofo16oyears'oservice.oItoisostatedothatoonotheobasisoofohisoserviceo record,o heo hado beeno assignedo theo additionalo chargeo ofo theo posto ofo SDEo (PublicoHealth)oinoOctober,o2016.oItoisonextostatedothatoono03.06.2020,ohiso nameostoodoatoSerialoNo.3oinotheojointoseniorityolistoandoheohasorenderedomoreo thano 28o yearso ofo service.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato ifo theo claimo ofo theo petitioneroisoadmittedothenosameowouldocreatedoruckusoinotheoseniorityolisto andowouldoalsooaffectoonotheoserviceooropromotionoofotheoemployeesoofotheo feedingocadre.ooAccordingly,orespondentoNo.5oprayedoforodismissaloofotheo writopetition.o

19.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheopaper-bookowithotheiroableoassistance.o

20.o o Aoperusaloofotheopaper-bookowouldomanifestothatorespondentso No.1oando2ohaveoplacedoonorecordoaocopyoofotheodecisiono(AnnexureoR-1/1A)o whereinotheoChandigarhoHousingoBoardohasodecidedotoostrictlyogooasoperotheo notifiedoRecruitmentoRules,owhichoprovideoforopercentageosystemoasoregardso promotionotootheopostoofoSDEo(PH).oTheorelevantoextractoofotheoafore-saido decisiono(AnnexureoR-1/1A)oreadsoasoundero:-o ooo"CHANDIGARHoHOUSINGoBOARDo o AoChandigarhoAdministrationoUndertakingo o Subjecto :-o Fillingo upo theo posto ofo Subo Divisionalo Engineero (P.H)othroughopromotion.o o

468.o ItoisosubmittedothatoChandigarhoHousingoBoardo(Officerso andoServants)oServiceoRegulations,o2003ocameointooforceow.e.f.o

17.10.2003ovideogazetteonotificationoNo.HB(S)/EA-1/2003/5201.o AccordingotootheseoRulesothereowereo04osanctionedopostsoofoSubo DivisionaloEngineero(P.H.).oOutoofo4opostsoofoSDEo(PH),oasopero ththeodecisionotakenobyotheoBoardoinoitso375 oBoardomeetingoheldo ono10.09.2012,o01opostoofoSDEo(PH)owasolapsed.oFurther,otheo Jointo Secretaryo Housing,o Chandigarho Administrationo video Memoo No.11/7/184-UTFI(2)-2013/6907o datedo 22.07.2013o (Annexure-I),ohasocreatedo02onumbersoadditionalopostsoofoSubo Divisionalo Engineero (P.H.).o Further,o aso pero orderso datedo

02.11.2017o(Annexure-II)oofoWorthyoChairman,oCHBo01opostoofo SDEo (PH)o earmarkedo too C.E.o (HQ)o waso allocatedo ino theo strengtho ofo Publico Health.o Hence,o theo totalo strengtho ofo sanctionedopostsoofoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(P.H.)oiso06oposts,o whichoareolyingovacant.o o

469.o RecruitmentoRuleso o oo AsoperoChandigarhoHousingoBoardo[Officerso&oServant]o ServiceoRegulationo2003onotifiedoono17.10.2003o(Annexure-III)o theseopostsoofoSDEo(PH)oareorequiredotoobeofilledobyopromotiono failingo whicho byo deputation.o Modeo ofo selectiono processo iso selectionocumoseniority.oTheorequisiteoqualification/experienceo foropromotionotoothisopostsoasolaidodownoinotheosaidoregulationo 2003oisoasounder:o o 1)k50%obyopromotionofailingowhichobyodeputation?o03opostso o 2)k50%obyodirectorecruitmentopostso o oooooo?o03opostso o 470otoo472oo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o

473.oo SeniorityoListo oo o oo Aso pero seniorityo listo ofo Junioro Engineer/Assistanto Engineero ando Draftsmano issuedo video lettero No.1780o datedo

14.09.2020o (Annexure-V)o &o aso pero provisiono ino theo saido Regulation-2003,o theo followingo Junioro Engineer/o Assistanto Engineer/oDraftsmano(P.H.)oareounderoconsiderationozoneoforo promotionotootheopostoofoSuboDivisionaloEngineero(P.H.)oareoaso under:-oo o Sr.o NameoofoOfficialo Qualificationo DateoofoBirtho Dateoofo Dateoofo No.o appointmento completionoofo asoJunioro requisiteoserviceo Engineero o 1o Sh.o Yasho Palo Diplomao 27.01.1966o 06.02.1989o 05.02.1999o Batra,oAEo 2o Sh.o Sanjeevo Diploma/AMIEo 21.12.1965o 23.03.1989o 22.03.1994o Kumar,oAEo 3o Sh.o Abnesho Diplomao 26.05.1970o 11.05.1992o 10.05.2002o Kumaro Dadwal,o AEo 4o Sh.o Ashoko Diplomao 10.07.1969o 15.05.1992o 15.05.2002o Kumaro Singla,o AEo 5o Sh.o Vijayo Diplomao(SC)o 28.08.1969o 14.05.1992o 14.05.2002o Kumar,o A.E.o

(PH)o 6o Sh.o Mohito Diploma/AMIEo 29.05.1973o 18.12.1992o 18.12.1997o Khanna,o A.E.o

(PH)o 7o Sh.o Mohito Diplomao 08.03.1971o 18.12.1992o 18.12.2002o Handa,o A.E.o

(PH)o 8o Sh.o Rakesho Diplomao 01.10.1967o 18.12.1992o 18.12.2002o Kumaro Poplio A.E.o(PH)o 9o Sh.o Krishano Diplomao 28.08.1967o 29.06.2005o 29.06.2015o Gopal,o A.E.o

(PH)o 10o Sh.oRajivoKumaro Diplomao 02.04.1967o 29.06.2005o 29.06.2015o A.E.o(PH)o o o 474otoo476oo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o

477.o DPCoGuidelines:o o AsoperoParao6.2.1oofoDPCoguidelinesowhichoisoreproducedo asounder:-o Clauseo(b)o"TheoDPCoshouldoassessotheosuitabilityoofotheo officersoforopromotionoonotheobasisoofotheiroserviceorecordoando witho particularo referenceo too theo CRso foro 5o precedingo years.o Clauseo(C)oWhereooneooromoreoC.R.sohaveonotobeenowrittenoforo anyo reasono duringo theo relevanto period,o theo DPCo shouldo considerotheoC.R.soofotheoyearsoprecedingotheoperiodoinoquestiono ando ifo ino anyo caseo eveno theseo areo noto available,o theo D.P.C.o shouldo takeo theo C.R.so ofo theo lowero gradeo intoo accounto too completeotheonumberoofoC.R.sorequiredotoobeoconsideredoasopero

(b)oabove".o o o o 478.oo ACRoGists:o o TheoGistsoofotheoACRsoofotheofollowingoofficialsoareoasooo undero:-oo o o o ACRoofoSh.oYashoPaloBatra,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Outstandingo Reviewedo -o 4o

2.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

3.o 01.04.2017otoo22.08.2017o -o -o NRCo -o o o o obtainedo o

23.08.2017otoo31.03.2018o Outstandingo Acceptedo o 2o

4.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

5.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o TOTALo o 17o o ACRoofoSh.oSanjeevoKumar,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2006otoo31.03.2007o Goodo Acceptedo -o 2o

2.o 01.04.2007otoo31.03.2008o Goodo Acceptedo -o 2o

3.o 01.04.2008otoo31.03.2009o VeryoGoodo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo o

4.o 01.04.2009otoo31.03.2010o Goodo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

5.o 01.04.2010otoo31.03.2011o Goodo Acceptedo -o 2o

6.o 01.04.2011otoo29.02.2012o Goodo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

7.o 01.04.2012otoo31.03.2013o Goodo Reviewedo -o 2o

8.o 01.04.2013otoo31.03.2014o Outstandingo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

9.o 01.04.2014otoo09.03.2015o Outstandingo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

10.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o VeryoGoodo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

11.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo o 3o

12.oo 01.04.2017otoo31.03.2018o VeryoGoodo Reportedo NRCo -o obtainedo

13.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o Averageo Acceptedo o 1o

14.o 01.04.2019otoo09.05.2019o -o -o Noto -o o o o availableo o o o o Suspensiono o

10.05.2019otoo21.11.2019o -o -o periodo -o o o o -o o

25.11.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo 1.5o TOTALo o 13.5o o Sh.o Sanjeevo Kumar,o A.E.o (PH)o holdingo theo additionalo chargeoofoSDEo(QCoLab),oCHBowasoplacedounderosuspensiono

10.05.2019otoo21.11.2019ounderoRuleo8oofoPunjaboCiviloServiceso (Punishmento&oAppeal,o1970)oforocontemplatedoinotheomatteroofo refusalo too signo theo ano Affidavito whicho resultedo ino failureo ofo ChandigarhoHousingoBoardotoofileoitoinotheoCourtowithinotheo prescribedo timeline.o Latero ono theo Competento authority,o CHBo hasoimposedotheominoropenaltyotoowithholdoincrementoofopayo withoutocumulativeoeffectoforooneoyearouponoSh.oSanjeevoKumar,o A.E.o (PH).o Further,o hiso suspensiono video ordero No.130o datedo

10.05.2019o waso revokedo ando suspensiono periodo waso too beo treatedoasoleaveoofokindodue.oSinceotheopendencyoperiodoisoovero therefore,oheoisoclearofromotheovigilanceoangle.o o o o ACRoofoSh.oAbneshoKumaroDhadwal,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo o

1.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

2.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

3.o 01.04.2017otoo31.03.2018oo Outstandingoo Acceptedo -o 4o

4.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

5.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o TOTALo o 18o o o ACRoofoSh.oAshokoSingla,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo o

1.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

2.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

3.o 01.04.2017otoo31.03.2018o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 3o

4.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

5.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o TOTALo o 17o o o ACRoofoSh.oVijayoKumar,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo o

1.o 01.04.2014otoo31.03.2015o Goodo Reviewedo -o 2o

2.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Averageo Reviewedo -o 1o

3.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

4.o 01.04.2017otoo13.10.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 1.5o o o o o o

14.10.2017otoo28.11.2017o -o -o lessothano3o -o o o o monthso o

29.11.2017otoo31.03.2018o Goodo Acceptedo o 1o

5.o 01.04.2018otoo03.07.2018o Goodo Acceptedo -o 1o

04.07.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 1.5o

6.o 01.04.2019otoo31.07.2019o Goodo Acceptedoo -o 1o

01.08.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 1.5o TOTALo o 13.5o o o AoShowoCauseoNoticeovideothisoofficeoorderoNo.899odatedo

31.03.2016owasoissuedounderoClauseo(a)oofosub-ruleo3oofoPunjabo civilo Serviceo (Prematureo Retirement)o rule,o 1975o too Sh.o Vijayo Kumar,o A.E.,o CHBo foro prematureo retiremento ono 30.06.2016.o Againsto theo saido SCN,o Sh.o Vijayo Kumar,o Assistanto Engineer,o CHBo filedo ao Civilo Writo petitiono ino theo Hon'bleo Punjabo &o HaryanaoHighoCourtoorderedotheostatusoquooandonowotheocaseoiso listedoonodatedo30.07.2021.o o o ACRoofoSh.oMohitoKhanna,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2014otoo31.03.2015o VeryoGoodo Reviewedo -o 3o

2.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o VeryoGoodo Reviewedo -o 3o

3.o 01.04.2016otoo28.10.2016o N.A.o -o NRCo o o o o obtainedo o

29.10.2016otoo20.02.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo o 1.5o

4.o 01.04.2017otoo31.03.2018o -o -o Suspensiono -o periodo

5.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

6.o 01.04.2019otoo09.05.2019o -o -o Lessothano3o o o o o monthso o

10.05.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o TOTALo o 13.5o o Sh.o Mohito Khanna,o A.E.o (PH)o waso placedo undero suspensionowithoeffectofromo21.02.2017ovideothisoofficeoordero No.14o datedo 21.02.2017o undero Ruleo 4(i)o ofo Punjabo Civilo Serviceso(Punishmento&oAppeal,o1970)oreadowithoruleo11o&o12o ofotheoChandigarhoHousingoBoardo(OfficeroandoServant)oServiceo Regulation,o2003odueotooadministrativeoreasons.oLateroonotheo CompetentoAuthority,oCHBohasoimposedopenaltyoofo"Censure"o uponoSh.oMohitoKhanna,oA.E.ovideothisoofficeoorderoNo.40odatedo

06.03.2018.oFurther,ohisosuspensionoperiodofromo21.02.2017otoo

06.03.2018otreatedoasodutyoperiodoforoallointentsoandopurposes.o Sinceotheopendencyoperiodoisooverotherefore,oheoisoclearofromotheo vigilanceoangle.o o ACRoofoSh.oMohitoHanda,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo o

1.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Outstandingo Reviewedo -o 4o

2.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 4o

3.o 01.04.2017otoo22.08.2017o N.A.o -o NRCo -o o o o obtainedo o

23.08.2017otoo31.03.2018o Outstandingo Acceptedo o 2o

4.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o Outstandingo Acceptedo o 4o

5.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo o 3o TOTALo o 17o o ACRoofoSh.oRajeshoKumaroPopli,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2014otoo31.03.2015o VeryoGoodo Reviewedo -o 3o

2.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o VeryoGoodo Reviewedo -o 3o

3.o 01.04.2016otoo28.10.2016o -o -o NRCo -o o o o obtainedo o

29.10.2016otoo31.03.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo o 1.5o

4.o 01.04.2017otoo14.12.2017o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 2o

15.12.2017otoo30.01.2018o -o -o Lessothano3o -o o o o monthso o

31.01.2018otoo31.03.2018o -o -o --do--o -o o

5.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

6.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o GURPREET KAUR TOTALo o 15.5o ACRoofoSh.oKrishanoGopal,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2014otoo31.03.2015o VeryoGoodo Reviewedo -o 3o

2.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Goodo Reviewedo -o 2o

3.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o Goodo Acceptedo -o 2o

4.o 01.04.2017otoo22.08.2017o N.A.o -o NRCo o o o o obtainedo o

23.08.2017otoo31.03.2018o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo o 1.5o

5.o 01.04.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

6.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o TOTALo o 14.5o o ACRoofoSh.oRajeevoKumar,oA.E.o o Sr.oNo.o Periodo Gradingo Reported/o Remarkso Evaluationo reviewed/o Acceptedo

1.o 01.04.2014otoo31.03.2015o Outstandingo Reviewedo -o 4o

2.o 01.04.2015otoo31.03.2016o Outstandingo Reviewedo -o 4o

3.o 01.04.2016otoo31.03.2017o N.A.o -o NRCo o obtainedo

4.o 01.04.2017otoo31.03.2018oo VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o

5.o 01.04.2018otoo03.07.2018o Outstandingo Acceptedo -o 2o

04.07.2018otoo31.03.2019o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 1.5o

6.o 01.04.2019otoo31.03.2020o VeryoGoodo Acceptedo -o 3o TOTALo o 17.5o o

479.oo OnogoingothroughotheoGistoofoACRoofotheoaboveoofficials,o ito haso beeno foundo someo periodo ofo ACRso areo noto reviewed/acceptedobyothenoCompetentoAuthorityoforowhichoaso pero theo guidelineso issuedo byo theo Departmento ofo Personnel,o Chandigarho Administrationo video lettero No.22/5/23-IH(4)- 2005/15556o datedo 25.8.2005o alongwitho circularo instructionso issuedo byo theo Govt.o ofo Punjabo video lettero No.15/23/92-IPPI/9158o Datedo 28.5.1993,o theo necessaryo "Noo Reporto Certificate"o foro theo Reported/o Noto availableo ACRo haso beeno obtained.o o

480.oo Theo Chandigarho Administration,o Departmento ofo Personnelo instructionso issuedo video no.o 34/o 23/o 94-IHo (7)- 2009/9380o datedo 12.05.2009o ino whicho referenceo haso beeno invitedo too Pb.o Govt.o lettero no.o 4/6/2000-3PPI/13720o datedo

6.09.2001,owhichointer-aliaostipulateotheonumberingosystemoofo evaluationoofotheoACRsoasounder:-o o o Outstandingoo :o 4omarkso o o Veryogoodoo ooooooooo:o 3omarkso o o Goodoo oooooooo:oo 2omarkso o o Averageo ooooooo:o o 1omark.o o481.o Itohasobeenofurtherolaidodownothatoforopromotionotoopostso fallingo ino Groupo `A'o othero thano Heado ofo Departments,o theo minimumobenchomarkowillobeoVeryoGoodowithoatoleasto12omarks.o Amongstothoseomeetingothisocriteria,othereowouldobeonoosupero session."o o

21.o o Fromoootheooooperusaloooooofoooootheoooooaboveoooooextractedoooodecisionoooooooooooooooooo o(Anne'ureo :(1?1A),o ito iso etiidento thato ino ter"so ofo Para 6.2.1 of DPC guidelines read with the Chandigarh Administration, Department of Personnel Instructions issued vide No.34/23/94-IH(7)-2009/9380 dated

12.05.2009 (as referred in para 480 in the above extracted decision), the assessment of each candidate is to be carried out on the basis of evaluation of the Confidential Reports (in short `the CRs') for 5 preceding years and the minimum bench mark is 12 marks. Para 6.2.1 of the DPC guidelines clearly provides that in the case of non-rendition of the CRs for one or more years, then the DPC has to consider the confidential reports of the years preceding the period of five years and if in any case even these are not available then the DPC can even consider the confidential reports of the lower grade for evaluation/assessment of the candidate on the profile of 5 confidential reports.

¶22Para 6.2.1 of the DPC guidelines does not in any manner enunciate the expansion of the reckonable period to the past CRs to the extent only to make the candidate achieve the minimum benchmark requirement of 12 marks.

¶23;ro"o theo a)otieo e'tractedo decisiono (Anne'ureo :(1?1A),o ito iso apparentothatoin the case of respondent no. 4 (Sanjeev Kumar), the CRs of seven preceding years (by excluding the years where confidential reports have not been rendered in respect of respondent no. 4) have been considered to achieve the bench mark of 12 marks, to make the respondent No. 4 eligible for promotion by the said DPC. Whereas, if the Confidential Report's evaluation of respondent no. 4 based upon service records in preceding 5 years (by excluding the assessment years in which NRC is obtained) is seen; then the reckonable period (going backwards) would be

from the year 2019-2020 to the year 2010-2011, wherein five CRs were available and evaluated. By considering the five CRs backward, starting from 2019-20 upto 2010-11, the evaluation of respondent No.4 would come to 9.5 marks, which is clearly below the benchmark of 12 marks. Therefore, it appears that as regards respondent No.4, the evaluation for the period 2006-07 and 2007-08 have been included with the object to make respondent No.4 reach the benchmark of 12 marks, so as to make him eligible for promotion.

Similar position appears to be as regards Vijay Kumar as well.

24.

Another factor which needs to be noticed here is that while taking note of the gist of the ACRs as regards respondent No.4, it is mentioned that the Chandigarh Housing Board has imposed the minor penalty to withhold increment of pay without cumulative effect for one year upon Sh. Sanjeev Kumar (respondent No.4); however, the period of afore-said one year is not forthcoming.

25.

The afore-said factors would result in a cascading effect on the impugned promotion order dated 22.04.2021 (Annexure P-24), especially in view of the observation made above that the respondent no. 4 did not meet the benchmark of 12 marks in the reckonable preceding 5 CRs. Consequently, in my considered view, the assessment/evaluation of the candidates [Junior Engineer/Assistant Engineer/Draftsmen (PH)] coming within the zone of consideration for promotion to the post of Sub Divisional Engineer (PH), would require relook and reconsideration by the said DPC by way of conducting a review DPC. Ordered accordingly.

26.

In view of the above discussion and the directions for review

DPC, the impugned promotion order dated 22.04.2021 (Annexure P-24) is hereby set aside. Consequently, the respondents are directed to review the proceedings of the DPC which shall be conducted within a period of six months from the date of receipt / presentation of certified copy of this order.

27.

The instant petition is accordingly disposed of in the afore-stated terms.

28.

All pending application/s, if any, shall stand closed.

November 24, 2023

(HARSH BUNGER) gurpreet

JUDGE