CWP/3776/2019 on 31 December 2019

THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

CWP No. 3776 of 2019

Decided on: 31.12.2019 Gurmit Singh .......Petitioner Versus State of H.P and others …...Respondents

Coram

The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, Judge The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anoop Chitkara, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 No. For the petitioner: Mr. H.S. Rangra, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. Vikas Rathore, Addl. A.G with Mr. Narinder Guleria, Addl. A.G, Mr. J.S. Guleria, Dy. A.G and Mr. Raju Ram Rahi, Dy. A.G. Dharam Chand Chaudhary,

J. (Oral)

The petitioner is working as Panchayat Secretary and presently posted as such in Gram Panchayat, Galma, Development Block, Balh, District Mandi, H.P. He has now been ordered to be transferred to Gram Panchayat, Nanj, Development Block, Karsog, District Mandi, H.P.

2. The complaint is that his transfer has been ordered on the basis of a D.O. note. It is keeping in view such averments, following order came to be passed in this writ petition on 26.11.2019:- “Notice. Mr. Vikas Rathore, learned Additional Advocate General appears and accepts service of notice on behalf 1Whether the reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

of all the respondents/State. Reply be filed within four weeks, as prayed. In view of the averments in the writ petition that the petitioner has been transferred from Gram Panchayat, Galma to Gram Panchayat, Nanj, on the basis of a D.O. note, the respondents/State are directed to produce the entire record leading to the transfer of the petitioner vide impugned order of transfer, Annexure P-2, on the next date. List on 12.12.2019. In the meanwhile, status quo, as on today, qua the transfer of the petitioner, shall be maintained.”

3. Consequently, learned Additional Advocate General has produced the record which reveals that the petitioner has been transferred on D.O. note as it is the office of the Chief Minister recommended his transfer from the present place of posting by way of such note. True it is that this Court in Sanjay Kumar vs. State of Himachal Pradesh and others, 2013(3) Shimla Law Cases 1373 and also Amir Chand vs. State of Himachal Pradesh 2013(2) Him. L.R. 648 and in its recent judgment rendered in CWP No.2490 of 2019, titled Dalip Singh versus State of H.P. & Others has held that the Chief Minister and Ministers/elected representatives may recommend the transfer of an employee, however, the transfer order has ultimately to be issued by the Administrative Head on application of mind and uninfluenced by the recommendations so made by the elected representative. In the case in hand, the competent authority, respondent No.2 has not examined the desirability of

the transfer of the petitioner in terms of the transfer policy and also as to whether his transfer would be in the larger public interest and rather transferred the petitioner from his present place of posting, merely on the basis of recommendations made by political executive. The impugned order Annexure P-2, as such, is not legally sustainable. The same is accordingly set aside, leaving it open to the respondents to transfer the petitioner, if required, in accordance with law and also the transfer policy.

4. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of, so also the pending application(s), if any. (Dharam Chand Chaudhary)

Judge

December 31, 2019

(Anoop Chitkara) (naveen) Judge