{"id":164320,"date":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-01-31T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/n-k-soman-vs-kerala-state-electricity-board-on-1-february-2008"},"modified":"2018-06-29T01:01:53","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T19:31:53","slug":"n-k-soman-vs-kerala-state-electricity-board-on-1-february-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/n-k-soman-vs-kerala-state-electricity-board-on-1-february-2008","title":{"rendered":"N.K. Soman vs Kerala State Electricity Board on 1 February, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"
Kerala High Court<\/div>\n
N.K. Soman vs Kerala State Electricity Board on 1 February, 2008<\/div>\n
       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM\n\nWP(C) No. 19924 of 2007(V)\n\n\n1. N.K. SOMAN,\n                      ...  Petitioner\n\n                        Vs\n\n\n\n1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD,\n                       ...       Respondent\n\n2. THE CHAIRMAN,\n\n3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER,\n\n4. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE\n\n5. SHRI T.M. MANOHARAN,\n\n                For Petitioner  :SRI.K.JAJU BABU\n\n                For Respondent  :SRI.N.N.SUGUNAPALAN(SR.)SC,KSEB\n\nThe Hon'ble MR. Justice V.GIRI\n\n Dated :01\/02\/2008\n\n O R D E R\n                                     V. GIRI, J.\n\n                            -------------------------------\n\n                  W.P(C) Nos. 19924 & 29579 OF 2007\n\n                          -----------------------------------\n\n                 Dated this the 1st day of February, 2008\n\n\n                                   JUDGMENT\n<\/pre>\n
       One of the issues which arises for consideration in these two<\/p>\n
cases   relates   to   the   right   of   the   incumbent   to   be   considered   for<\/p>\n
provisional promotion to a selection post governed by Rule 31 (a)<\/p>\n
(i)   of     Part   II   KS   &   SSR.     Therefore,   they   have   been   heard   and<\/p>\n
disposed of  by this common judgment.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       2. The petitioner in WP(C) No.19924 of 2007 is an Assistant<\/p>\n
Executive   Engineer(Electrical)   who   was   included   in   Ext.P1<\/p>\n
seniority   list   for   promotion   to   the   post   of   Executive   Engineer.<\/p>\n
Apparently, by Ext.P4 order, 142 persons who were juniors to him<\/p>\n
were   promoted   as   Executive   Engineers,   but   the   petitioner   was<\/p>\n
denied such promotion.  Representations submitted by him in this<\/p>\n
regard were rejected under Ext.P7 order.  The reason for denial of<\/p>\n
his   promotion   is   that   disciplinary   proceedings,   as   evidenced   by<\/p>\n
Ext.P10, have not been finalised.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       3. The petitioner in WP(C) No.29579 of 2007 is an Executive<\/p>\n
Engineer(Civil)   who   aspires   for   promotion   to   the   post   of   Deputy<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                          2<\/span><\/p>\n
Chief Engineer.    Reference is made to Ext.P2 seniority list which<\/p>\n
shows that he is senior to the 3rd respondent.  But, notwithstanding<\/p>\n
that, the petitioner’s juniors were promoted under Ext.P1.   Ext.P3<\/p>\n
representation   submitted   by   the   petitioner   was   rejected   under<\/p>\n
Ext.P5 order, especially on the premise that the memo of charges<\/p>\n
issued   in   the   year   2004   is   yet   to   be   finalised.     The   petitioner<\/p>\n
makes   reference   to   Ext.P8   which   shows   that   one   Mr.Sathyadas,<\/p>\n
who is also facing disciplinary proceedings on charges identical to<\/p>\n
Ext.P6   was   promoted   as   Chief   Engineer   under   Ext.P8   order<\/p>\n
notwithstanding  the   pendency of  disciplinary  proceedings   against<\/p>\n
him.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
        4. It is contended by the petitioners that promotions hitherto<\/p>\n
effected   in   the   Board   and   referred   to   in   the   writ   petition   are<\/p>\n
provisional   promotions.   Pendency   of   disciplinary   proceedings<\/p>\n
should not  stand in the way of petitioners being considered in this<\/p>\n
regard.  Reference is made to the proviso to Rule 31 (a) (i) of Part<\/p>\n
II of the KS & SSR which is  applicable to the KSEB.  Petitioners’<\/p>\n
seniority   should   not   have   been   overlooked,   in   the   matter   of<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                          3<\/span><\/p>\n
provisional promotions  impugned in the writ petition.  The counter<\/p>\n
affidavit would show that the Board has taken shelter under Rule<\/p>\n
28(b)(i)(7),  Note (1) of Part  II  KS  &SSR.    It  is  submitted  that  the<\/p>\n
assessment   of   the   suitability   of   an   officer   for   promotion   by   the<\/p>\n
Departmental         Promotion   Committee(DPC)   is   obviously<\/p>\n
contemplated  for   a  regular  promotion.     What   is   sought  for   in the<\/p>\n
instant   case   is   provisional   promotion.     DPC   has   not   been<\/p>\n
convened either for the post of Executive Engineer or to the post<\/p>\n
of Deputy Chief Engineer and consequently there is no bar against<\/p>\n
provisional   promotions   being   effected.     Ext.P4   order   in   WP(C)<\/p>\n
19924 of 2007 and Ext.P1 order in WP(C) 29579 of 2007 will show<\/p>\n
that the promotions effected were provisional promotions, in terms<\/p>\n
of Rule 31 (a) (i) of Part II KS & SSR .  If that be so, the act of the<\/p>\n
Board overlooking the seniority of the petitioner is illegal.<\/p>\n
       5.   In   so   far   as   WP(C)   19924   of   2007   is   concerned,   it   is<\/p>\n
pointed   out   that   Ext.P15   is   an   order   of   punishment   by   the<\/p>\n
disciplinary authority barring one increment with cumulative effect.<\/p>\n
It   has   been   challenged   in   Ext.P16   appeal   before   them.     At   any<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                          4<\/span><\/p>\n
rate,   Ext.P15   should   not  stand   in  the   way  of   the  petitioner   being<\/p>\n
considered   for   provisional   promotion.     Firstly   for   the   reason   that<\/p>\n
Ext.P15   has   been   issued   about   one   year   after   Ext.P4   order   of<\/p>\n
promotion promoting 142 juniors of the petitioner and also for the<\/p>\n
reason   that   on   expiry   of   one   year   from   the   date   of   Ext.P1,<\/p>\n
punishment   should   be   deemed   to   have   been   suffered.     At   any<\/p>\n
rate, the assessment of suitability in terms of Rule 28(b)(7) is not<\/p>\n
contemplated in the case of promotion.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       6. In so far as the WP(C) 29579 of 2007 is concerned, it is<\/p>\n
pointed   out   that   double   standards   have   been   employed   by   the<\/p>\n
Board   in   as   much   as   that,   notwithstanding   the   pendency   of<\/p>\n
disciplinary   proceedings,   another   person   who   is   facing   charges<\/p>\n
identical   to   that   contained   in   Ext.P6   has   been   provisionally<\/p>\n
promoted as Chief Engineer as evidenced by Ext.P8.<\/p>\n
       7.   I     heard   the   learned   counsel   for   the   petitioners   Sri.Jaju<\/p>\n
Babu   and   Ramesh   Babu,   learned   Senior   counsel<\/p>\n
Sri.N.N.Sugunapalan   and   learned   Standing   Counsel   for   the<\/p>\n
Electricity Board, Sri.K.S. Anil.\n<\/p>\n
\nWPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                          5<\/span><\/p>\n
       8.   The   petitioners   pray   for   a   direction   to   respondents   to<\/p>\n
promote them to the next category on the premise that there is no<\/p>\n
other   factor   which   would   stand   in   the   way   of   them   of   being<\/p>\n
considered   for   the   next   higher   post.     Admittedly,   the   petitioners<\/p>\n
have to be promoted to a selection post.   With respect to regular<\/p>\n
promotion,   as   rightly   submitted   by   Mr.Sugunapalan,   the<\/p>\n
entitlement   will     be   governed   by   Rule   28(b)(i)   of   Part   II   of   KS<\/p>\n
&SSR.  This involves assessment of suitability.  But, that can only<\/p>\n
be done by the DPC.  Proceedings taken by the DPC is again not<\/p>\n
final as it is open to the person who is either not included in the list<\/p>\n
or   who   has   been   superseded   to   again   approach   the   DPC   for<\/p>\n
revision of the select  list.    While  a concerned  incumbent  may be<\/p>\n
facing disciplinary action as per Note (1) to Rule 28(7), he should<\/p>\n
still be considered by the DPC, but, by adopting the sealed cover<\/p>\n
procedure.   In this  way, his claim for  promotion with reference to<\/p>\n
the   vacancies   which   have   arisen   and   when   he   was   otherwise<\/p>\n
eligible   for   promotion   will   be   considered   after   completion   of<\/p>\n
disciplinary proceedings.\n<\/p>\n
\nWPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                            6<\/span><\/p>\n
       9.   Mr.Sugunapalan   is   also   right   in   contending   that   there<\/p>\n
cannot   be   any   vested   right   on   the   part   of   the   petitioners   to   be<\/p>\n
provisionally  promoted,   as  such   provisional   promotion   should   left<\/p>\n
to   the   appointing   authority’s   right   to   be   considered   for   regular<\/p>\n
promotion.     But   having   said   so,   I   take   note   of   the   fact   that   the<\/p>\n
promotions   effected   in   both   cases   are   provisional   promotions.<\/p>\n
admittedly, governed by Rule 31(a) (i) of Part II of KS & SSR.   If<\/p>\n
that   be   so,   there   must   be   some   reason   why  the   seniority   of   the<\/p>\n
petitioners is over looked, by provisionally promoting their juniors.<\/p>\n
I also take note of the averments in the writ petition, which do not<\/p>\n
seem   to   have   been   sufficiently   controverted,   that   other   persons<\/p>\n
who   are   also   facing   disciplinary   proceedings   have   been<\/p>\n
provisionally  promoted.     Strictly  going  by  Rule  31(a)   (i),  Board  is<\/p>\n
entitled to do so.  But if that be so, why should different yard sticks<\/p>\n
be adopted in the petitioners’ case.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       10.   I   further   take   note   of   the   fact   that   in   so   far   as   WP(C)<\/p>\n
27579   of   2007   is   concerned,   another   person   who   faces<\/p>\n
disciplinary   action,   on   charges   identical   to   those   contained   in<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                          7<\/span><\/p>\n
Ext.P6, has apparently been considered suitable for promotion as<\/p>\n
Chief   Engineer   where   as   the   petitioner   has   not   been  considered<\/p>\n
for promotion as Deputy Chief Engineer.   In an ideal situation, the<\/p>\n
appointing   authority   should   convene   the   DPC   as   and   when<\/p>\n
vacancy   arises.     But,   it   is   hard   to   ignore   the   fact   that     the<\/p>\n
promotions effected hitherto forming the subject matter of the two<\/p>\n
writ   petitions   are  provisional   promotions.     In   the   result,     the   Writ<\/p>\n
Petitions are disposed of in the following terms:<\/p>\n
WP(C) No.19924 of 2007 :\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       i. The 1st respondent is directed to take steps to convene the<\/p>\n
DPC   for   the   post   of   Executive   Engineer(Electrical),   as   early   as<\/p>\n
possible, at any rate, within a period of three months from the date<\/p>\n
of   receipt   of   a   copy   of   this   judgment.     DPC   so   convened   shall<\/p>\n
consider the case of the petitioner in terms of Rule 28(b)(i) of Part<\/p>\n
II of KS &SSR.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       ii. If the 1st respondent is unable to convene  the DPC before<\/p>\n
the   aforementioned   time,   the   petitioner   shall   be   provisionally<\/p>\n
promoted to the post of Executive Engineer by considering him on<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                        8<\/span><\/p>\n
par with his juniors, promoted under Ext.P4.<\/p>\n
       iii.   The disciplinary proceedings evidenced by Ext.P10 shall<\/p>\n
be finalised within three months of the date of receipt of a copy of<\/p>\n
this judgment.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       iv.   As   and   when   the   DPC   is   convened   for   the   post   of<\/p>\n
Executive   Engineer(Electrical),   petitioner   shall   also   be   heard   in<\/p>\n
accordance   with   law   and   obviously   the   provisional   promotion   of<\/p>\n
the petitioner and all other persons, shall be subject to the select<\/p>\n
list to be published by the DPC.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       v. In the facts of the case, I deem it unnecessary to consider<\/p>\n
the   correctness   of   the   allegations   of   malafidies   levelled   by   the<\/p>\n
petitioner.     I   direct   that   the   said   allegations   be   eschewed   from<\/p>\n
considerations.\n<\/p>\n
\nWP(C) No. 29579 of 2007 :\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       i.   The  1st  respondent   shall  convene  the DPC  to the   post   of<\/p>\n
Deputy Chief Engineer(Civil) within a period of three months of the<\/p>\n
date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
       ii.  If  the 1st  respondent  is  unable to do so or fails  to do so,<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                         9<\/span><\/p>\n
petitioner   shall   be   provisionally   promoted   as   Deputy   Chief<\/p>\n
Engineer(Civil), on par with the 3rd respondent.<\/p>\n
         iii.  As   and  when the  DPC  is  convened,  the  petitioner  shall<\/p>\n
be   considered   for   regular   promotion   along   with   other   eligible<\/p>\n
persons and it is needless to mention that provisional promotions<\/p>\n
will   be   subject   to   review,   depending   upon   the   select   list   to   be<\/p>\n
published on the recommendations of the DPC.<\/p>\n
       The Writ Petitions are disposed of as above.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
                                                               V.GIRI, JUDGE<\/p>\n
ttb<\/p>\n
WPC Nos.19924 & 29579 of 2007<\/p>\n
                                 10<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kerala High Court N.K. Soman vs Kerala State Electricity Board on 1 February, 2008 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM WP(C) No. 19924 of 2007(V) 1. N.K. SOMAN, … Petitioner Vs 1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, … Respondent 2. THE CHAIRMAN, 3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER, 4. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE 5. SHRI […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-kerala-high-court"],"yoast_head":"\nN.K. Soman vs Kerala State Electricity Board on 1 February, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/n-k-soman-vs-kerala-state-electricity-board-on-1-february-2008\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"N.K. 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