A.Srinivasan, v. State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 25.01.2018
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.RAJA W.P.Nos.1571 to 1573 of 2018 A.Srinivasan ..
Petitioner in W.P.No.1571 of 2019 D.Lazar ..
Petitioner in W.P.No.1572 of 2018 D.Munirathinam ..
Petitioner in W.P.No.1573 of 2018 -vs1. State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Home Secretary Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The Director General of Police Kamarajar Salai Mylapore Chennai 600 004
3. The Commissioner of Police No.132, EVK Sampath Road Vepery, Periyamet Chennai 600 007 .. Respondents in all the Writ Petitions Petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issue of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to quash the order passed by the second respondent vide Order No.Rc.No.161257/NGB III(2)/2016 dated 31.03.2017 and directing the second respondent to grant notional promotion coupled with consequential monetary and service benefits such as re-fixation of seniority, pay and pension.
For Petitioners:: Mr.R.Karthikeyan For Respondents:: Mr.V.Kadhirvelu Special Government Pleader
ORDER
These writ petitions have been filed challenging the correctness of the impugned order dated 31.3.2017 rejecting the request of the petitioners for retrospective upgradation, giving
a reason that the upgradation benefit was given to the police personnel only prospectively. Since the petitioners made a request to count their service from the date of entry for giving retrospective upgradation, the Director General of Police, in the impuged order, has specifically mentioned that when there is no clause in the upgradation G.O's for giving upgradation with retrospective effect, the petitioners request cannot be entertained.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that on 7.11.75 the petitioners were appointed as Grade II Police Constables. As per the Scheme, the petitioners should have been upgraded from Grade II to Grade I on 7.11.85 on completion of ten years, which has not been done. On the other hand, they were given upgradation as Grade I Police Constables only on 28.5.93, 28.5.93 & 23.3.94 respectively. When they had completed five years of service from 7.11.85 to 7.11.90, they should have been further promoted as Head Constables, on completion of five years as Grade I Police Constables. But they were upgraded as Head Constables only on 15.1.98. Once again, after completing ten years of service in the post of Head Constable, the petitioners should have been given the benefit of upgradation to the post of Special Sub Inspector of Police on 7.
11.2000. But wrongly they were given the benefit of upgradation to the post of Special Sub Inspector of Police only on 15.6.2008, 1.6.2008 & 15.6.2008 respectively. Thereafter, after being promoted as Sub Inspectors of Police on 24.1.2011, 6.7.2010 & 24.1.2011 respectively, all the petitioners have retired from service on reaching the age of superannuation, on 31.7.2012, 31.3.2012 & 31.1.2015 respectively. However, due to their sickness and age factor coupled with their deteriorating health condition, they were not able to approach the respondents immediately after their retirement.
But, subsequently, they have made a representation. This has been rejected by the Director General of Police refusing to give them the benefit of upgradation with retrospective effect. Therefore, the impugned order is liable to be interfered with, he pleaded.
3. The learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents, placing on record an order dealing with a similar issue rejecting the prayer of the petitioners therein vide order dated 15.7.2013 passed in W.P.No.19181 of 2013 (S.Senthamarai and others v. The State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Secretary to Government, Home Department and two others), submitted that this Court has held that when there is no Government Order stating that all the police personnel shall be granted upgradation as Sub Inspector of Police on completion of 25 years of service, blindly, without anything more, even if he does not render 10 years of service as Head Constable out of 25 years of service, the petitioners cannot ask for retrospective
upgradation. Moreover, the Government, nowhere in any of the Government Orders, provided for any such upgradation, as claimed by the petitioners.
4. The issue raised in these writ petitions has already been decided by this Court in the Writ Petition No.19181 of 2013 dated 15.7.2013 (S.Senthamarai and others v. The State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Secretary to Government, Home Department and two others), wherein it has been held as follows:- "18. No Government Order states that all the police personnel shall be granted upgradation as Sub Inspector of Police on completion of 25 years of service, blindly, without anything more, even if he does not render 10 years of service as Head Constable out of 25 years of service. The Government Orders no where provide for such upgradation as claimed by the petitioners.
19. Hence, there is no reason for the petitioners to claim the benefit of upgradation of Special Sub Inspector of Police, by counting 25 years of service from the date of their appointment without reference to the services rendered as Head Constable for 10 years of service. On completion of 10 years of service as Head Constable, one can seek for upgradation as Special Sub Inspector of Police, if he has rendered a total service of 25 years of service.
20. In this case the petitioners were rightly granted upgradation for the post of Special Sub Inspector of Police on completion of 10 years of service as Head Constable, as they have put in 25 years of total service. Now the petitioners want upgradation as Special Sub Inspector of Police even before they were upgraded as Head Constables and that is not permissible.
21. I do not find any merit in the Writ Petition. The Writ Petition fails and the same is dismissed. No costs. The connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed."
5. When a similar and identical prayer was already refused by this Court way back on 15.7.2013 in the aforementioned writ petition, this Court finds no merit in these writ petitions as well. Accordingly, for the same reasons, these
writ petitions are dismissed. Consequently, W.M.P.No.1974 of 2018 is also dismissed. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS II ) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ss To
1. The Secretary to Government Home Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The Director General of Police Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore Chennai 600 004
3. The Commissioner of Police No.132, EVK Sampath Road Vepery, Periyamet Chennai 600 007 +3cc to Mr.R.Karthikeyan, Advocate SR.No.5856,5857,5858 W.P.Nos.1571 to 1573 of 2018 PA(CO) GN(14/02/2018)