Shiba Shankar Mohapatra & Ors. Vs. State of Orissa & Ors.

Appeal: Civil Appeal Nos. 7537-7541 of 2009
[Arising out of SLP (C) Nos.13237-13241 of 2008]
[From the Judgement and Order dated 07.02.2008 of the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack in WP (C) Nos. 426, 1233, 2878, 3424 & 5637 of 2006]

Petitioner: Shiba Shankar Mohapatra & Ors.

Respondent: State of Orissa & Ors.

Apeal: Civil Appeal Nos. 7537-7541 of 2009
[Arising out of SLP (C) Nos.13237-13241 of 2008]
[From the Judgement and Order dated 07.02.2008 of the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack in WP (C) Nos. 426, 1233, 2878, 3424 & 5637 of 2006]

Judges: Tarun Chatterjee & Dr. B.S. Chauhan, JJ.

Date of Judgment: Nov 12, 2009

Appearances
Mr. P.P. Rao, Senior Advocate, Mr. Janaranjan Das, Mr. Swetaketu Mishra, Mr. P.P. Nayak, Advocates with him for the Appellant(s).
Mr. L.N. Rao, Senior Advocate, (Not present), Mr. Radha Shyam Jena, Mr. Shibashish Misra, Mr. Arunav Patnaik, Mr. Deeptakirti Verma, Mr. Milind Kumar, Advocates with him for the Respondent(s).

Service and Labour laws
Orissa Police Manual Rules
Rules 650, 683, Annexure 42 – Constitution of India, 1950, Articles 226, 14, 16 – Seniority – Absence of Statutory Rules – Question of doctrine of contemporanea expositio as Rule of Interpretation. Held that the Rule contemporanea expositio is well established Rule of interpretation of a statute by reference to the exposition it has received from contemporary authority. However in order to set aside or overturn the said construction, it should be clearly wrong. It should give way where the language of statute is plain and unambiguous. K.P. Varghese’s, Suresh Nathan’s, Desh Bandhu Gupta’s cases and other cases referred and relied upon. (Paras 8 to 11)

Rules 650, 683, Annexure 42 – Constitution of India, 1950, Articles 226, 14, 16 – Seniority – Absence of Statutory Rules – Question of doctrine of contemporanea expositio, as interpretation of executive instructions. Held that administrative interpretation may provide the guidelines for interpreting the Rule or executive instruction and may be accepted unless it is found in violation of the Rules itself. (Para 12)

Rules 650, 683, Annexure 42 – Constitution of India, 1950. Articles 226, 14, 16 – Seniority – Absence of Statutory Rules – Sub-Inspectors in general category and Sub-Inspectors as steno – Question of promotion – Eligibility criteria for both the wings, different – Inter se seniority list in 1979 and then in 1992 – On or after consideration of objections final inter se seniority list in 1997 and again in 1999 – Letter dated 03.02.1987 issued by Home Department and another letter dated 14.02.1990 by Ministry of Law – Directions for considering seniority of the steno to be determined after their entering into general wing and after passing the training – If those letters can be considered as executive instructions. Held that mere opinion given by various departments of the Government cannot be termed as executive instructions though in absence of the Statutory Rules, executive instructions could be issued for fixing the inter se seniority of the two wings of Sub-Inspectors. Sant Ram and R. Prabha Devi cases referred and relied upon. (Paras 13 to 15)

Constitution of India, 1950
Articles 226 -14, 16 – Orissa Police Manual Rules, Rules 650, 683 – Delay and Latches – Effect of – Question of inter se seniority in the two wings of Sub-Inspectors of Orissa Police – Inter se seniority of the two wings issued in 1979 and then in 1992 – After objections, final inter se seniority list in 1979 and again in 1999 – One ‘P’ of the general wing appointed in 1968 represented to fix his seniority above two officers of the Steno Branch – No order passed – On being approached directions issued to consider the representation keeping in mind the letters of Home Department and Ministry of Law – Several other persons filing similar writ petitions in the year 2000 and 2001 as well as in 2006 – Petitions allowed by the High Court on the basis of judgment of ‘P’ – If writ petition could be entertained after lapse of reasonable time. Held that all the petitions suffered from vice of delay and latches and those petitions should not have been entertained. However, directions issued by the Tribunal already set aside by High Court and that part being not challenged, same is not disturbed. Further held that although writ of ‘P’ was not maintainable, the same has become final but remained a judgment in personam. Inordinate delay goes to the root of the matter and cannot be ignored. Case law discussed.

Ed.: In this case the Hon’ble Supreme Court upheld the part of the High Court judgment which set aside the directions issued by the Tribunal for preparing gradation list in accordance with the date of passing out from the training course but set aside the part of the order of the High Court directing to consider the case of the petitioners with effect from date of promotion of their juniors. Matter was remitted back to the High Court to decide the writs in accordance with the law discussed in the judgment.

The question of entertaining the petition disputing the long standing seniority filed at a belated stage is no more res integra. A Constitution Bench of this Court, in Ramchandra Shanker Deodhar & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [AIR 1974 SC 259], considered the effect of delay in challenging the promotion and seniority list and held that any claim for seniority at a belated stage should be rejected inasmuch as it seeks to disturb the vested rights of other persons regarding seniority, rank and promotion which have accrued to them during the intervening period. A party should approach the Court just after accrual of the cause of complaint. (Para 16)

The issue of challenging the seniority list, which continued to be in existence for a long time, was again considered by this Court in K.R. Mudgal & Ors. v. R.P. Singh & Ors. (Para 19)

It is settled law that fence-sitters cannot be allowed to raise the dispute or challenge the validity of the order after its conclusion. No party can claim the relief as a matter of right as one of the grounds for refusing relief is that the person approaching the Court is guilty of delay and the laches. The Court exercising public law jurisdiction does not encourage agitation of stale claims where the right of third parties crystallises in the interregnum. (Para 28)

The settled legal proposition that emerges is that once the seniority had been fixed and it remains in existence for a reasonable period, any challenge to the same should not be entertained. In K.R. Mudgal (supra), this Court has laid down, in crystal clear words that a seniority list which remains in existence for 3 to 4 years unchallenged, should not be disturbed. (Para 29)

1. City and Industrial Development Corporation v. Dosu Aardeshir Bhiwandiwala & Ors. [JT 2008 (12) SC 127] (Para 28)
2. Regional Manager, A.P.SRTC v. N. Satyanarayana & Ors. [JT 2007 (13) SC 191] (Para 28)
3. Shiv Dass v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 2007 SC 1330] (Para 28)
4. Northern Indian Glass Industries v. Jaswant Singh & Ors. [JT 2002 (9) SC 240] (Para 25)
5. State of U.P. v. Raj Bahadur Singh & Anr. [JT 2001 (10) SC 123] (Para 25)
6. Inder Jit Gupta v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 2001 (6) SC 510] (Para 28)
7. K.A. Abdul Majeed v. State of Kerala & Ors. [JT 2001 (6) SC 302] (Para 27)
8. Municipal Council, Ahmednagar & Anr. v. Shah Hyder Beig & Ors. [JT 1999 (10) SC 336] (Para 28)
9. B.S. Bajwa v. State of Punjab & Ors. [JT 1998 (1) SC 57] (Para 21)
10. Dinkar Anna Patil & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra [JT 1998 (7) SC 513] (Para 26)
11. M/s. Oswal Agro Mills Ltd. v. Collector of Central Excise [JT 1993 (3) SC 260] (Para 11)
12. M.B. Joshi & Ors. v. Satish Kumar Pandey & Ors. [AIR 1993 SC 267] (Para 9)
13. N. Suresh Nathan & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 1991 (5) SC 354] (Para 9) (referred & relied upon)
14. Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd., Cuttack v. The Collector of Central Excise, Bhubaneshwar [JT 1990 (4) SC 763] (Para 8.1.)
15. M/s. Punjab Traders v. State of Punjab and Ors. [AIR 1990 SC 2300] (Para 11)
16. State of Tamil Nadu v. Mahi Traders [JT 1989 (1) SC 196] (Para 10)
17. Collector of Central Excise, Bombay-I & Anr. v. M/s. Parle Export (P) Ltd. [JT 1988 (4) SC 454] (Para 8.1.)
18. R. Prabha Devi & Ors. v. Government of India & Ors. [JT 1988 (1) SC 488] (Para 14)
19. K.R. Mudgal & Ors. v. R.P. Singh & Ors. [JT 1986 SC 597] (Para 19)
20. Union of India v. H.R. Patankar & Ors. [AIR 1984 SC 1587] (Para 13)
21. Dayaram Asanand v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [AIR 1984 SC 850] (Para 22)
22. Smt. Sudama Devi v. Commissioner & Ors. [1983 (2) SCC 1] (Para 25)
23. R.S. Makashi v. I.M. Menon & Ors. [AIR 1982 SC 101] (Para 18)
24. K.P. Varghese v. Income-tax Officer, Ernakulam & Anr. [AIR 1981 SC 1922] (Para 8) (referred & relied upon)
25. Desh Bandhu Gupta & Co. & Ors v. Delhi Stock Exchange Association Ltd. [AIR 1979 SC 1049] (Para 10) (referred & relied upon)
26. P.S. Sadasivaswamy v. State of Tamil Nadu [AIR 1975 SC 2271] (Para 23)
27. State of Mysore v. V.K. Kangan & Ors. [AIR 1975 SC 2190] (Para 28)
28. Malcom Lawrance Cecil D’Souza v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 1975 SC 1269] (Para 20)
29. Aflatoon & Ors. v. Lt. Governor, Delhi & Ors. [AIR 1974 SC 2077] (Para 28)
30. Ramchandra Shanker Deodhar & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [AIR 1974 SC 259] (Para 16)
31. Tilokchand Motichand v. H.B. Munshi [AIR 1970 SC 898] (Para 16)
32. R.N. Bose v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 1970 SC 470] (Para 17)
33. Sant Ram v. State of Rajasthan [AIR 1967 SC 1910] (Para 13)
34. State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr. v. Bhailal Bhai etc. etc. [AIR 1964 SC 1006] (Para 18)

Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.
1. Leave granted in all the matters.
2. These appeals have been preferred against the judgment and order dated 7.2.2008 passed in writ petition nos.426, 1233, 2878, 3424 and 5637 of 2006 by the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack by which the High Court has partly allowed all the writ petitions quashing certain directions issued by the Orissa Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter called the `Tribunal’), however, directed to reconsider the case of promotion of Sub-Inspectors (General) (hereinafter called `SIs (g)’) to the post of Inspectors, in case it is found that the SIs (g) had been placed below the Sub-Inspectors (Steno) (hereinafter called SIs (St), they should be granted promotion from the date their counterparts in the other wing had been promoted, in case, they fulfilled minimum eligibility criteria for promotion at the time of consideration of their respective juniors. Such an exercise was directed to be completed within a period of six months. However, the writ petitions have been allowed to the extent that the direction issued by the Tribunal to prepare the gradation list of SIs (St) and SIs(g) in accordance with the dates of passing out of the Sub-Inspector training course, has been quashed.
3. The facts and circumstances giving rise to these appeals are that most of the officers appellants/respondents involved in all these five appeals, had been appointed in 1972-73 onwards as SIs (g) and SIs (St). The eligibility for appointment had been different for both the wings. An additional qualification of stenography was required for the post of SI (St). After selection, candidates who were appointed as SIs (St) were given direct appointment and after five years, thereof, they were sent for training and after successful completion of training, they could become SIs(g) and could be considered for further promotion as Inspectors. So far as the SIs (g) were concerned after their selection they were sent for training in Police Training College and after completion thereof, they were appointed on probation for 2 years. Most of the officers belonging to both groups had been promoted as Inspectors, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police and by now retired after attaining the age of superannuation. There are claims and counter-claims regarding issuance of their inter-se seniority lists in 1979, and in the year 1992. However, it remains undisputed that after considering the objections received by the Department, a final inter-se seniority list was issued in 1997 and again in 1999. One SI (g) Parsuram Sahu, appointed in 1968 filed representation before the State Govt. to fix his seniority over and above two officers belonging to the group of SIs (St) and as no order was passed he approached the Tribunal by filing OA No.316/2000 – Parsuram Sahu v. Principal Secretary, Home Department, Govt. of Orissa & Ors. with a prayer for direction to recast the gradation list published in June 1997 and to place him over and above the respondent nos. 4 and 5 therein. The said application was allowed by the Tribunal vide judgment and order dated 27.4.2005 (Annexure-P/4) with a direction to consider the representation of Shri Parsuram Sahu keeping in mind the letter issued by the Home Department dated 3.2.1987 according to which, the seniority of the SIs (St) would be determined after their entry into General wing after passing the Training Course. The other O.A. No.23/2000 – Sudhir Chandra Ray v. State of Orissa & Ors. was decided vide judgment and order dated 8.12.2005 placing reliance upon the judgment in Parsuram Sahu’s case and similar direction was issued. Same remained the fate of OA No.203/2001 – Sushanta Kumar Biswal & Ors. v. State of Orissa & Ors. filed by officers appointed in 1993 as SIs (g) as the said Application was also disposed of by the Tribunal relying upon its earlier judgments in Parsuram Sahu and Sudhir Chandra Ray’s cases. Being aggrieved, Writ Petition No.624 of 2006 was filed by SIs (St) in the High Court challenging the judgment and order in OA No.203 of 2001, and four other writ petitions against the judgment and order in OA No.23 of 2000. All the said petitions have been disposed of by the High Court by a common judgment and order impugned herein. Hence, these appeals.
4. Shri P.P. Rao, Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants has submitted that there could be no justification for the Tribunal/High Court to place reliance upon the letters, one written by the Home Department dated 3.2.1987 and the other by Ministry of Law dated 14.2.1990 as the said letters were merely an opinion of the Departments and could not be treated as being Executive instructions. In fact, no executive instruction had ever been issued taking into consideration the said letters. In absence of any statutory rules for determining their inter-se seniority, the general principle of determination of seniority i.e. to reckon the period from the initial appointment i.e. continuous period/length of service should have been taken into consideration. The long standing practice followed by the State Authorities that SIs (St) would rank senior to SIs(g) could not be disturbed at such a belated stage, as it had been given effect to all throughout this period. More so, as the first part of the order passed by the Tribunal, namely, to prepare the gradation list of SIs (St) and SIs(g) in accordance with the dates of passing the course from the training college, has been set aside by the High Court and has not been challenged by anybody, has attained finality and therefore, the direction given against the present appellants regarding the eligibility qua the seniority is liable to be quashed. The High Court erred in not taking note of distinction between eligibility for promotion and seniority. More so, the two Original Applications have been decided by the Tribunal merely by placing reliance upon its earlier judgment in Parsuram Sahu (supra) which could not have been entertained at such a belated stage. Hence, the appeals deserve to be allowed.
5. On the contrary, Shri L.N. Rao, Ld. Senior Counsel appearing for the SIs (St) has submitted that the High Court has issued direction only to give effect to the statutory rules, particularly, Rule 650 of the Orissa Police Manual Rules (hereinafter called `the Rules’) which provides that eligibility of Sub-Inspectors for promotion to the rank of Inspectors have to be determined as per Rule 650(a)(ii) which provides for minimum 10 years continuous service after passing of the training course. SIs(St) are appointed in terms of Rule 683 read with annexure 42 to the Rules. Nature of job of SIs(St) is entirely different from the duties of SIs(g). The SIs(St) basically perform Secretarial duties; SIs(St) are required to go through the training course and then appointed on probation as SIs(g). Rules also require confirmation as SIs(g). Thus, it cannot be termed as in continuation of their previous appointment as SIs(St). Period of service rendered as SI(s) can be treated only as a qualifying service and cannot be counted for the purpose of seniority. Therefore, no fault can be found with the impugned judgment. The appeals are liable to be dismissed.
6. Shri Radhey Shyam Jena, Ld. Counsel appearing for the State has fairly conceded that the rules for determining the inter-se seniority have not yet been framed. Earlier SIs(St) had been treated senior to SIs(g) for a long period but after receiving the opinion from the Ministry of Law, such a practice has been abandoned. What the Tribunal and the High Court have taken into consideration were merely opinions of the Government Departments and not the executive instructions. The cases require to be decided in correct perspective.
7. We have considered the rival submissions canvassed on behalf of the parties and perused the record. The basic judgment involved herein is, in the case of Parsuram Sahu by the Tribunal and it may be pertinent to mention here that the said judgment had not been challenged by any person either before the High Court or before this Court and thus attained finality. Therefore, it becomes necessary for this Court to examine the correctness of that judgment and effect thereof, as the other judgments have been delivered by the Tribunal merely by placing reliance upon it. The admitted facts involved therein reveal that one Parsuram Sahu SI (g) joined the Police Services in 1968. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1986 and to the rank of D.S.P. in 1998. In his O.A. before the Tribunal, he impleaded only two private persons, namely, Shri Bijaya Brata Kundu and Shri Paresh Ch. Mohanty who had been working as Superintendents of Police in the year 2000. The said private respondents had been appointed as SIs (St) on 25.1.1966 and 23.2.1966 respectively. The said respondents did not enter appearance nor contested the case. Therefore, questions do arise as to whether in absence of any statutory rule for determining their seniority as SIs, the Tribunal could disturb the uninterrupted practice in the State to place SI(St) above SI(g) while preparing their inter se seniority and whether the application could be entertained by the Tribunal at such a belated stage, particularly, when promotions of the respondents therein to the posts of Inspector, D.S.P. or Superintendent of Police had never been challenged.
8. The question of application of the doctrine of contemporanea expositio has been considered by this Court taking into account the factual matrix of the case. In K.P. Varghese v. Income-tax Officer, Ernakulam & Anr. [AIR 1981 SC 1922], this Court applied the rule of contemporanea expositio as the Court found it a well established rule of interpretation of a statute by reference to the exposition it has received from contemporary authority. However, the Court added the words of caution that such a rule must give way where the language of the statute is plain and unambiguous.
8.1. Similarly, in Collector of Central Excise, Bombay-I & Anr. v. M/s. Parle Export (P) Ltd. [JT 1988 (4) SC 454 : AIR 1989 SC 644], this Court observed that the words used in the provision should be understood in the same way in which they have been understood in ordinary parlance in the area in which the law is in force or by the people who ordinarily deal with them. In Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd., Cuttack v. The Collector of Central Excise, Bhubaneshwar [JT 1990 (4) SC 763 : AIR 1991 SC 1028], the Court has applied the same rule of interpretation by holding that contemporanea expositio by the administrative authority is a very useful and relevant guide to the interpretation of the expression used in a statutory instrument.
9. In N. Suresh Nathan & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 1991 (5) SC 354 : AIR 1992 SC 564]; and M.B. Joshi & Ors. v. Satish Kumar Pandey & Ors. [AIR 1993 SC 267], this Court observed that construction in consonance with long-standing practice prevailing in the concerned department is to be preferred.
10. In Desh Bandhu Gupta & Co. & Ors v. Delhi Stock Exchange Association Ltd. [AIR 1979 SC 1049]; and State of Tamil Nadu v. Mahi Traders [JT 1989 (1) SC 196 : AIR 1989 SC 1167], this Court observed that the principle of contemporanea expositio, i.e. interpreting a document by reference to the exposition it has received from Competent Authority can be invoked though the same will not always be decisive of the question of construction. The administrative construction, i.e. the contemporaneous construction placed by administrative or executive officers responsible for execution of the Act/Rules etc. generally should be clearly wrong before it is over-turned. Such a construction commonly referred to as practical construction although not controlling, is nevertheless entitled to considerable weight and is highly persuasive. However, it may be disregarded for cogent reasons.
11. The executive interpretation placed by those who are charged with executing the statute, though not binding, is nevertheless entitled to considerable weight as highly persuasive. However, the application of the doctrine in respect of modern Statutes has been doubted by this Court (vide M/s. Punjab Traders v. State of Punjab and Ors. [AIR 1990 SC 2300] and M/s. Oswal Agro Mills Ltd. v. Collector of Central Excise [JT 1993 (3) SC 260 : AIR 1993 SC 2288].
12. In view of the above, one may reach the conclusion that administrative interpretation may provide the guidelines for interpreting the Rule or executive instruction and may be accepted unless it is found in violation of the Rules itself. The Court may not be bound to accept the mistaken construction of the statutes by those who had been dealing with the working of the Statute.
12.1. In instant Appeals, this fact has been mentioned at several places by the present appellants but has not been considered either by the Tribunal or by the High Court. Shri Jena, Ld. Counsel for the State has denied the facts submitting that after receiving the opinion of the Law Ministry as well as of the Home Ministry, the practice was changed. In absence of any finding of fact recorded by either of the Courts below, it is not safe to give due weightage to this doctrine in the facts and circumstances of the case.
13. More so, the judgment of the Tribunal treating opinion of the Law Ministry and Home Department as statutory rules/Executive instructions is not worth acceptance. In Sant Ram v. State of Rajasthan [AIR 1967 SC 1910], a Constitution Bench of this Court has held that statutory rules cannot be amended by Executive instructions but ‘if the rules are silent’ on any particular point, Government can fill up the gaps by issuing executive instructions, in conformity with the existing rules. Similar view has been reiterated in Union of India v. H.R. Patankar & Ors. [AIR 1984 SC 1587]. However, mere opinion given by various departments of the Government cannot be termed as Executive instructions.
14. One must not loose sight that seniority and eligibility for promotion are two different concepts altogether. Explaining the difference between the two, this Court in R. Prabha Devi & Ors. v. Government of India & Ors. [JT 1988 (1) SC 488 : AIR 1988 SC 902] held as under:
’15. The rule-making authority is competent to frame rules laying down eligibility condition for promotion to a higher post. When such an eligibility condition has been laid down by service rules, it cannot be said that a direct recruit who is senior to the promotees is not required to comply with the eligibility condition and he is entitled to be considered for promotion to the higher post merely on the basis of his seniority……When qualifications for appointment to a post in a particular cadre are prescribed, the same have to be satisfied before a person can be considered for appointment. Seniority in a particular cadre does not entitle a public servant for promotion to a higher post unless he fulfils the eligibility condition prescribed by the relevant rules. A person must be eligible for promotion having regard to the qualifications prescribed for the post before he can be considered for promotion. Seniority will be relevant only amongst persons eligible. Seniority cannot be substituted for eligibility nor it can override it in the matter of promotion to the next higher post.
When certain length of service in a particular cadre can validly be prescribed and is so prescribed, unless a person possesses that qualification, he cannot be considered eligible for appointment. There is no law which lays down that a senior in service would automatically be eligible for promotion. Seniority by itself does not outweigh experience.’
15. Thus, in view of the above we are of the opinion that in absence of any statutory rules, the executive instructions for fixing the inter se seniority of two wings of the Sub-Inspectors could have been issued by the State Government. Admittedly, no such executive instruction has ever been issued. The letters issued by the Government Departments, being merely opinion of the Departments could not be conferred status of the executive instructions.
16. The question of entertaining the petition disputing the long standing seniority filed at a belated stage is no more res integra. A Constitution Bench of this Court, in Ramchandra Shanker Deodhar & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [AIR 1974 SC 259], considered the effect of delay in challenging the promotion and seniority list and held that any claim for seniority at a belated stage should be rejected inasmuch as it seeks to disturb the vested rights of other persons regarding seniority, rank and promotion which have accrued to them during the intervening period. A party should approach the Court just after accrual of the cause of complaint. While deciding the said case, this Court placed reliance upon its earlier judgments, particularly in Tilokchand Motichand v. H.B. Munshi [AIR 1970 SC 898], wherein it has been observed that the principle, on which the Court proceeds in refusing relief to the petitioner on the ground of laches or delay, is that the rights, which have accrued to others by reason of delay in filing the writ petition should not be allowed to be disturbed unless there is a reasonable explanation for delay. The Court further observed as under:
‘A party claiming fundamental rights must move the Court before others’ rights come out into existence. The action of the Courts cannot harm innocent parties if their rights emerge by reason of delay on the part of person moving the court.’
17. This Court also placed reliance upon its earlier judgment of the Constitution Bench in R.N. Bose v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 1970 SC 470], wherein it has been observed as under:
‘It would be unjust to deprive the respondents of the rights which have accrued to them. Each person ought to be entitled to sit back and consider that his appointment and promotion
effected a long time ago would not be defeated after the number of years.’
18. In R.S. Makashi v. I.M. Menon & Ors. [AIR 1982 SC 101], this Court considered all aspects of limitation, delay and laches in filing the writ petition in respect of inter se seniority of the employees. The Court referred to its earlier judgment in State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr. v. Bhailal Bhai etc. etc. [AIR 1964 SC 1006], wherein it has been observed that the maximum period fixed by the Legislature as the time within which the relief by a suit in a Civil Court must be brought, may ordinarily be taken to be a reasonable standard by which delay in seeking the remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution can be measured. The Court observed as under:
‘We must administer justice in accordance with law and principle of equity, justice and good conscience. It would be unjust to deprive the respondents of the rights which have accrued to them. Each person ought to be entitled to sit back and consider that his appointment and promotion effected a long time ago would not be set-aside after the lapse of a number of years….. The petitioners have not furnished any valid explanation whatever for the inordinate delay on their part in approaching the Court with the challenge against the seniority principles laid down in the Government Resolution of 1968… We would accordingly hold that the challenge raised by the petitioners against the seniority principles laid down in the Government Resolution of March 2, 1968 ought to have been rejected by the High Court on the ground of delay and laches and the writ petition, in so far as it related to the prayer for quashing the said Government resolution, should have been dismissed.’
19. The issue of challenging the seniority list, which continued to be in existence for a long time, was again considered by this Court in K.R. Mudgal & Ors. v. R.P. Singh & Ors. [JT 1986 SC 597 : AIR 1986 SC 2086]. The Court held as under:
‘A government servant who is appointed to any post ordinarily should at least after a period of 3-4 years of his appointment be allowed to attend to the duties attached to his post peacefully and without any sense of insecurity……… Satisfactory service conditions postulate that there shall be no sense of uncertainty amongst the Government servants created by writ petitions filed after several years as in this case. It is essential that any one who feels aggrieved by the seniority assigned to him, should approach the Court as early as possible otherwise in addition to creation of sense of insecurity in the mind of Government servants, there shall also be administrative complication and difficulties…. In these circumstances we consider that the High Court was wrong in rejecting the preliminary objection raised on behalf of the respondents to the writ petition on the ground of laches.’ (Emphasis added)
20. While deciding the case, this Court placed reliance upon its earlier judgment in Malcom Lawrance Cecil D’Souza v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 1975 SC 1269], wherein it had been observed as under:
‘Although security of service cannot be used as a shield against the administrative action for lapse of a public servant, by and large one of the essential requirement of contentment and efficiency in public service is a feeling of security. It is difficult no doubt to guarantee such security in all its varied aspects, it should at least be possible to ensure that matters like one’s position in a seniority list after having been settled for once should not be liable to be re-opened after lapse of many years in the instance of a party who has itself intervening party chosen to keep quiet. Raking up old matters like seniority after a long time is likely to resort in administrative complications and difficulties. It would, therefore, appear to be in the interest of smoothness and efficiency of service that such matters should be given a quietus after lapse of some time.’ (Emphasis added)
21. In B.S. Bajwa v. State of Punjab & Ors. [JT 1998 (1) SC 57 : AIR 1999 SC 1510], this Court while deciding the similar issue reiterated the same view, observing as under:
‘It is well settled that in service matters, the question of seniority should not be re-opened in such situations after the lapse of reasonable period because that results in disturbing the settled position which is not justifiable. There was inordinate delay in the present case for making such a grievance. This along was sufficient to decline interference under Article 226 and to reject the writ petition’. (Emphasis added)
22. In Dayaram Asanand v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [AIR 1984 SC 850], while reiterating the similar view this Court held that in absence of satisfactory explanation for inordinate delay of 8-9 years in questioning under Article 226 of the Constitution, the validity of the seniority and promotion assigned to other employee could not be entertained.
23. In P.S. Sadasivaswamy v. State of Tamil Nadu [AIR 1975 SC 2271], this Court considered the case where the petition was filed after lapse of 14 years challenging the promotion. However, this Court held that aggrieved person must approach the Court expeditiously for relief and it is not permissible to put forward stale claim. The Court observed as under:
‘A person aggrieved by an order promoting a junior over his head should approach the Court at least within 6 months or at the most a year of such promotion.’
24. The Court further observed that it was not that there was any period of limitation for the Courts to exercise their powers under Article 226 nor was it that there could never be a case where the Courts cannot interfere in a matter after certain length of time. It would be a sound and wise exercise of jurisdiction for the Courts to refuse to exercise their extra ordinary powers under Article 226 in the case of persons who do not approach it expeditiously for relief and who standby and allow things to happen and then approach the Court to put forward stale claim and try to unsettle settled matters.
25. A similar view has been reiterated by this Court in Smt. Sudama Devi v. Commissioner & Ors. [1983 (2) SCC 1]; State of U.P. v. Raj Bahadur Singh & Anr. [JT 2001 (10) SC 123 : 1998 (8) SCC 685]; and Northern Indian Glass Industries v. Jaswant Singh & Ors. [JT 2002 (9) SC 240 : 2003 (1) SCC 335].
26. In Dinkar Anna Patil & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra [JT 1998 (7) SC 513 : AIR 1999 SC 152], this Court held that delay and laches in challenging the seniority is always fatal, but in case the party satisfies the Court regarding delay, the case may be considered.
27. In K.A. Abdul Majeed v. State of Kerala & Ors. [JT 2001 (6) SC 302 : 2001 (6) SCC 292], this
Court held that seniority assigned to any employee could not be challenged after a lapse of seven years on the ground that his initial appointment had been irregular, though even on merit it was
found that seniority of the petitioner therein had correctly been fixed.
28. It is settled law that fence-sitters cannot be allowed to raise the dispute or challenge the validity of the order after its conclusion. No party can claim the relief as a matter of right as one of the grounds for refusing relief is that the person approaching the Court is guilty of delay and the laches. The Court exercising public law jurisdiction does not encourage agitation of stale claims where the right of third parties crystallises in the interregnum. (vide Aflatoon & Ors. v. Lt. Governor, Delhi & Ors. [AIR 1974 SC 2077]; State of Mysore v. V.K. Kangan & Ors. [AIR 1975 SC 2190]; Municipal Council, Ahmednagar & Anr. v. Shah Hyder Beig & Ors. [JT 1999 (10) SC 336 : AIR 2000 SC 671]; Inder Jit Gupta v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 2001 (6) SC 510 : 2001 (6) SCC 637]; Shiv Dass v. Union of India & Ors. [AIR 2007 SC 1330]; Regional Manager, A.P.SRTC v. N. Satyanarayana & Ors. [JT 2007 (13) SC 191 : 2008 (1) SCC 210]; and City and Industrial Development Corporation v. Dosu Aardeshir Bhiwandiwala & Ors. [JT 2008 (12) SC 127 : 2009 (1) SCC 168].
29. Thus, in view of the above, the settled legal proposition that emerges is that once the seniority had been fixed and it remains in existence for a reasonable period, any challenge to the same should not be entertained. In K.R. Mudgal (supra), this Court has laid down, in crystal clear words that a seniority list which remains in existence for 3 to 4 years unchallenged, should not be disturbed. Thus, 3-4 years is a reasonable period for challenging the seniority and in case someone agitates the issue of seniority beyond this period, he has to explain the delay and laches in approaching the adjudicatory forum, by furnishing satisfactory explanation.
30. The Tribunal ought to have dismissed the case of Parsuram Sahu (supra) only on the ground of delay and the laches, as the applicant approached the Tribunal at the verge of his retirement and after getting two promotions while the other parties have got three promotions. In the said case, the private respondents have not considered it proper to contest the case because both of them were likely to superannuate just thereafter on attaining the age of retirement. Undoubtedly, the said judgment and order has not been challenged by anybody and it attained finality but that remained the judgment in personam. More so, there is nothing on record to show as to whether the said applicant Parsuram Sahu could ever get any relief from the State Government. The O.A. filed by Shri Sudhir Chandra Ray, had similar facts as in Parsuram Sahu’s case. While deciding the said application the Tribunal itself had taken note of the facts that promotions had been made 8-9 years ago prior to issuance of the combined gradation list in 1999. It is evident from the impugned judgment that Shri Sudhir Chandra Ray joined as SI(g) on 4.1.1973. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector with effect from 12.3.1991. We are of the considered opinion that the said application ought to have been rejected by the Tribunal only on the ground of delay and laches. The High Court has also not dealt with this issue, however, it goes to the root of the cause. Such an inordinate delay cannot be ignored particularly when the issue of delay has been pressed in service before this Court.
31. The appellants have specifically pleaded that a seniority list was issued in 1979. Subsequently, another seniority list was issued in 1992. A tentative seniority list was circulated in 1996, and after considering the objections by the State Authorities, a final seniority list was issued in June 1997. Again the seniority list was circulated in 1999. Though there had been dispute regarding issuance of the said seniority lists, however, the High Court in its judgment has taken note of the seniority list of 1979. Circulation of gradation list in June 1997 cannot be disputed/doubted for the simple reason that in Parsuram Sahu’s case only this gradation list was under challenge. The applicants in OA No.203 of 2001 claimed to have been appointed in 1993. Their names should have definitely been included in the final gradation list circulated in June 1997. However, there is no explanation by them as to how it could not be challenged before the Tribunal and under what circumstances the gradation list issued in 1999 was challenged in 2001. At the cost of repetition, it is stated that, if the seniority list is to be challenged within 3-4 years of its issuance, we fail to understand as to why even OA No.203/2001 could not be dismissed on the ground of delay and laches, without entering into the merits of the case.
32. The issue before the High Court was regarding the principle of seniority for preparation of a combined gradation list of SIs (St) and SIs(g). However, the High Court failed to decide the said issue rather directed preparation of a combined list in conformity with eligibility criterion.
33. The other original application filed in Sudhir Chandra Ray’s case was liable to be dismissed only on the ground of delay and laches and we dismiss the same. The High Court has set aside the direction issued by the Tribunal directing the State Authorities to prepare the gradation list of SI(St) and SI(g) in accordance with the dates of passing out of the Sub-Inspector training course. This part of the order has not been challenged by anybody and thus, this part of the order has attained finality, therefore, the said part of the order does not require any interference in either of these appeals. So far as the appeals arising out of writ petition nos.1233/06, 2878/06, 3424/06 and 5637/06 are concerned, stand allowed to that extent and the remaining part of the direction contained in paragraph 9 of the judgment stand set aside.
34. So far as the appeal arising out of writ petition no.426/06 which has arisen from the judgment and order of the Tribunal in OA No.203/2001 is concerned, the relevant facts thereof, have not been taken into consideration either by the Tribunal or by the High Court and the matter has been decided making reference to the facts of other connected cases. Thus, in view of the above, we set aside the judgment and order of the High Court in Writ Petition No.426/06 only to the extent of the last part of the order, namely, ‘if it is found that promotion of a Sub-Inspector was not considered before consideration of Sub-Inspector placed below him in the seniority list, his promotion shall be considered with effect from the date of promotion of his junior in case he had fulfilled minimum eligibility criteria for promotion at the time of consideration of his junior’. The first part of the order contained in paragraph 9 as already explained hereinabove has attained finality, thus, does not require any interference. The High Court is requested to decide the case to that extent only taking into consideration the law as explained hereinabove including the issue of delay and the facts involved in that case expeditiously.
35. The appeals stand disposed of accordingly. No cost.
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