The
Secretary to Govt. Agriculture & Cooperation Govt. of A.P. and Ors Vs. K. Kesavulu
[2007] Insc 1198 (29
November 2007)
Dr.
Arijit Pasayat & Aftab Alam
CIVIL
APPEAL No. 5525 OF 2007 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.21225 of 2005) Dr. ARIJIT
PASAYAT, J.
1.
Leave granted.
2.
Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a Division Bench of the
Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing the writ petition filed by the appellant.
In the writ petition correctness of order passed by the Andhra Pradesh
Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad, (In short the 'Tribunal') was
questioned.
3.
Background facts in a nutshell are as follows:
Respondent
was appointed as Watchman at the Seed Stores, Pitchatoor, by proceedings dated
21.4.1980 on a temporary basis. Initially he was getting Rs.290/- p.m.
Subsequently,
the services of the respondent and eighteen others were converted into regular
last grade service by ROC No.A3/3291/85 dated 1.3.1991. However, by subsequent
proceeding in G. O. Ms. No.98 dated 1.4.1999, the service of the respondent was
again regularized pursuant to the orders of the Government in G.O.Ms No.212
dated 22.4.1994.
Consequently
proceedings dated 8.4.1999 were issued considering him as a regular employee w.e.f.
1.4.1999. As a result, respondent was denied the benefit of regularisation into
last grade service w.e.f. 1.3.1991. The respondent filed O.A. No.3051 of 2000
before the A.P. Administrative Tribunal seeking invalidation of the proceedings
in G.O.Ms. No.98 dated 1.4.1999 and consequential proceedings dated 8.4.1999
and for a declaration that he was entitled to be treated as a regular employee
in the last grade service w.e.f. 1.3.1993 with all consequential benefits.
4. By
Order dated 4.8.2004, the Tribunal held that the service of the respondent was regularized
pursuant to the order in G.O. Ms. No.98 dated 1.4.1999 and basing on order in G.O.Ms
No.9 of 1981 proceedings dated 1.3.1991 were issued and his service stood
converted into a regular last grade service and the subsequent scheme of
regularization issued in G.O. Ms. No.212 dated 22.4.1994 would not deprive the
respondent of the benefits of earlier regularization. The order was challenged
before the High Court which, as noted above, dismissed the writ petition.
5. In
support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that
Notification dated 1.2.1991 inter alia provided the following condition to be
fulfilled:
"Government
have examined the issue carefully and decided that the services of the full
time contingent employees appointed before 1.2.1980 be converted into last
grade service after completion of 5 years subject to fulfilling the conditions
laid down in Govt. Memo 1st and 2nd."
6.
Admittedly, the respondent was appointed in April, 1980 and, therefore, was not
entitled to the benefit flowing from the G.O.Ms. 124 dated 22.2.1991. It was
further pointed out that the order by which the regularization was directed on
1.3.1991 referred to a wrong G.O. i.e. G.O.Ms. No.9 (F&P (FW.PRC VI) Dept.
dated 8.1.1981. The same related to regularization and conversion into regular
posts. Noticing the illegality in the order of regularization cancellation was
directed by order dated 23.9.1991 wherein the correct G.O.Ms. i.e. 124 dated
22.2.1991 was referred to and it was clearly stated that the concerned
workman-respondent had not fulfilled the conditions laid down in G.O. Ms. 124
(F & A Agri.IV) dated 21.2.1991. The regularization in 1999 was done
pursuant to G.O.Ms. No.98 dated 1.4.1999 which inter alia provided as follows:
"Government
after careful consideration hereby accord permission for regularization of the
services of the following daily wage employees working in Chittoor District
against the existing vacancies as indicated against their names from the date
of issue of orders i.e. with prospective effect as they have fulfilled all the
conditions stipulated in G.O. Ms. No. 212, Finance and Planning (F.W.P.C.III)
Department dated 22.4.1994."
7.
This regularization was under another scheme. In any event writ petition was
filed in 2004. It is highlighted that the 1999 scheme stipulated a condition
about the regular vacancy and, therefore, regularization was done in 1999.
8.
Learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand submitted before the
Tribunal that it was clearly highlighted that G.O.Ms. No.212 dated 22.4.1994
provided that regularization of services of those who were working for five
years prior to November, 1993.
9. The
Tribunal held that the services of the respondent and others were regularized
under earlier orders, and, therefore, G.O.Ms. No.98 dated 1.4.1999 cannot be
applied to the case of the respondent.
10. It
is to be noted that the order dated 23.9.1991 was passed because the respondent
and several others did not fulfil the conditions laid down in G.O.Ms. No.124
(F&A) Agrl.V) dated 1.2.1991. The condition which is relevant has already
been extracted above. Undisputedly, the concerned G.O. related to persons who
had completed five years of service before 1.2.1990. Undisputedly the
respondent was appointed on 21.4.1990 and, therefore, he did not fulfil the
condition.
11.
That being so, the question of his regularization did not arise. After the
order of regularization was passed the discrepancy was noticed and was
subsequently rectified. It is not the case of the respondent that he was to be regularised
in terms of G.O.Ms. No.124 dated 1.2.1991. The Tribunal and the High Court
clearly lost sight of this basic fact. That being so, the orders of the
Tribunal and the High Court are indefensible and are set aside.
12.
The appeal is allowed. There shall be no order as to costs.
Back