SC stays CAT order to fine the Union Government

New Delhi, Jun 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed the order of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Madras bench imposing a fine on the Union Government and Mr Ashok Jha, secretary, Union Ministry of Economic Affairs, for contempt of court.

CAT had imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Central Government and Rs 2000 on Mr Ashok Jha vide order dated May 3, 2006. Out of Rs 10,000, Rs 5000 was to be paid by Mr Jha for not complying with the orders of the tribunal, directing to grant reservation in promotion to the respondent Mr P M Rangasami, an Indian Economic Service Officer (IEF) of 1970 batch.

The vacation bench, comprising of Justices A R Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir, also issued notices to the respondent Mr Rangasami on an appeal filed by the Central Government and Mr Jha, challenging the tribunal order. The petitioners, in their petition have contended that the tribunal has overlooked the findings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) which did not recomend him for promotion and the tribunal also ignored that even the DPC, which looked into the matter in consultation with Union Public Service Commission also did not find him eligible for promotion.

The tribunal also failed to appreciate its earlier findings that the orders of the tribunal have been complied with by the appellant herein.

Mr Rangasami had lost his seniority while being considered for promotion from grade 3 (senior time scale) to junior administrative grade on account of denial of benefit of reservation in promotion.

UNI AKS/SC SHB HT1732