Prashanta Kumar Dash vs DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION on 12 November 2026

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL CUTTACK Order Sheet Item no.: 95 O.A./663/2026 (CUTTACK) [ TRANSFER ] Court No.: 1 No of Adjournment: Order Dated: 12/11/2026 PRASHANTA KUMAR DASH Vs DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

For Applicant(s) Advocate : J.R.Behera

For Respondent(s) Advocate : B.R.Swain Order of The Tribunal The applicant has filed this Original Application under section 19 of the A.T.Act, 1985 challenging his order of transfer from Div.X Bhubaneswar to Div. IV, Chennai in his present capacity as Office Superintendent vide order dated 21.10.2026 on various grounds stated in the OA which has been reiterated by learned counsel for the applicant in course of hearing. Learned Counsel for the Applicant led much more emphasis on his point that on receipt of order of transfer applicant submitted representation requesting cancellation of his transfer to Div.IV, Chennai and his immediate authority in letter dated 26.10.2026 for his retention at his present place of posting by stating that except applicant, three office superintendents continuing in the division will be retiring within one and half years. Since Applicant is holding vital seat of accounts section in the division office his retention in the Division/office at BBSR is absolutely necessary. But the authority concerned without paying any heed to such recommendation and the points raised by the applicant in his representation rejected the request by a stroke of pen vide letter dated 09.11.2026 by observing that “the Competent Authority has concerned the representations, however, the requests made therein could not be acceded to” with advice to relieve the official so as to join by him in new place of posting positively on or before 16.11.2026; which, according to learned counsel for the applicant, is highly illegal and arbitrary. Hence, learned counsel for the applicant while praying for admission of this OA has prayed to grant the ad interim order pending final decision on the OA since the applicant has not yet been relieved.

2. Learned counsel though opposed the contentions of the learned counsel for the applicant, noted above, has prayed time to obtain instruction and file counter to the OA and objection to the Interim relief prayed for.

3. Prima facie case having been found this OA is admitted. No notice need be issued to the Respondents since learned counsel represents for the respondents takes notice for them to file counter and objection to IR by the next date.

4. In the said circumstances, while granting time till 15.12.2026 to the Respondent’ counsel to file objection to the IR, by way of ad interim order the respondents are directed not to relieve the applicant from his present place of posting at Div.X, BBSR till next date. List the matter on 15.12.2026.

5. Copy of this order be given to learned counsel for both sides and be uploaded in the website on urgent basis. Pramod Kumar Das Member (A) SUDHI RANJAN MISHRA Member (J) Ravi Kumar ( ps )