Rajasthan High Court – Jodhpur
Dr. Jogdand Ashok Laxman Rao vs State & Anr on 14 November, 2008
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S.B.CIVIL WRIT PETITION NO.5769/2008
Dr.Jogdand Ashok Laxman Rao
v.
State of Rajasthan & Anr.
Date of Order :: 14 th November, 2008
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE GOVIND MATHUR
Mr. S.P.Sharma, for the petitioner.
Mr. Deepak Choudhary, for the respondents.
....
The petitioner, an Assistant Surgeon
(Veterinary), was transferred from Veterinary
Hospital, Paldi (Nagaur) to Veterinary Hospital,
Chhoti Khatu. The transfer aforesaid was said to be
made at the request of the petitioner himself.
However, the petitioner denied that and claimed for
travelling allowance and joining time as a consequent
to his transfer under the order dated 31.7.2007. By an
another order dated 28.6.2008 the petitioner is again
subjected to transfer from Chhoti Khatu to Veterinary
Hospital, Karnu in District Nagaur and again he is
said to be transferred at his own request.
While challenging the order of transfer
dated 28.6.2008, the contention of counsel for the
petitioner is that the petitioner has been transferred
under the orders dated 31.7.2007 and 28.6.2008 by
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showing the same made under his own request though no
such request was ever made.
This court on 14.8.2008 issued notice to
show cause to the respondents and after service of the
same matter was listed before the Court on 23.10.2008.
On 23.10.2008 counsel for the respondents sought time
to file reply to the writ petition and the matter was
adjourned for 3.11.2008. After getting the matter
adjourned, the Director, Animal Husbandry, passed an
order dated 3.11.2008 making a correction in the order
dated 28.6.2008 to treat transfer of the petitioner in
administrative exigency instead of at his own request.
Nothing is said in reply to the writ petition relating
to the order dated 31.7.2007. No reason is given by
the respondents as to why the petitioner was shown to
be transferred at his own request under the order
dated 31.7.2007 as well as in the order dated
28.6.2008. In very casual manner it is stated that the
transfer of the petitioner was actually made in
administrative exigency but by mistake it was shown as
effected at his own request. On asking, counsel for
the respondents utterly failed to satisfy how the
error occurred relating to the petitioner twice and
why no joining time and travelling allowance is yet
allowed to the petitioner for the transfer made under
order dated 31.7.2007.
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Though in normal course the Court is not
required to ask for the administrative exigency
warranting transfer of the petitioner, however, in the
instant matter, looking to the dubious circumstances,
the Court asked counsel for the respondents to give
reason or to satisfy the administrative exigency for
effecting transfer of the petitioner within a period
of 11 months and that too by showing his transfer at
his own request. The respondents patently failed to
satisfy court's query. The respondents also failed to
satisfy as to how the error relating to the petitioner
occurred twice and why no joining time and travelling
allowance is yet given to him as a consequent to the
order of transfer dated 31.7.2007. It is also
pertinent to note that corrigendum to the order dated
28.6.2008 was not issued by the respondents
immediately after receiving notices of the writ
petition but was made after seeking time to file reply
to the writ petition i.e. on 3.11.2008. The
circumstances of the case left me with no option but
to infer that the transfer of the petitioner was not
in administrative exigency but was for extraneous
consideration.
For the reasons whatever stated above, this
petition for writ deserves acceptance and, therefore,
the same is allowed. The order dated 28.6.2008
transferring the petitioner from Veterinary Hospital,
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Chhoti Khatu to Veterinary Hospital, Karnu, stands
quashed.
No order to costs.
( GOVIND MATHUR ),J.
kkm/ps.