HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNAversusMADAN MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.

                    (2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 972


A           HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                                  v.
                MADAN MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.
                 (Civil Appeal No. 7630 of 2011)
                       SEPTEMBER 05, 2011
B
            [J.M. PANCHAL AND H.L. GOKHALE, JJ.]

         Service Law - Promotion and grant of consequential
   benefits - Respondent-Munsif in State Judicial Services,
c suspended from service - Thereafter, writ petitions and SLPs
   filed - Suspension order as well as departmental proceedings
   withdrawn - Notification issued posting the respondent as
   Additional Munsif (lowest post) - Challenged by respondent
  - He sought direction to the High Court on its administrative
0 side to give him promotions from the dates when his juniors
  named in the petition were promoted during the period 1970
  to 1981, with all increments and other benefits - Thereafter,
  respondent retired from service - Various petitions as also
  representations filed - Finally in a writ petition, the Division
E Bench directed the appellant-High Court on its administrative
  side to consider the case of promotion of the respondent as
  also consequential benefit in accordance with Jaw - On
  appeal, held: Promotion is not a matter of right much less a
  fundamental right, more particularly when promotion in the
  subordinate judiciary is to be dealt with by the High Court
F which has complete control over the subordinate judiciary in
  view of Article 235 - On facts, respondent was claiming
  promotions to the post of Civil Judge, thereafter to the post
  of Additional District Judge and finally to the post of District
  Judge when his juniors were given such benefits in the years
G 1971, 1974 and 1978 respectively- Record shows that till the
  respondent had superannuated from service, he was
  discharging duties as Additional Munsif and was never
  confirmed in the cadre of Munsif - Thus, his claim for

H                               972
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 973
          MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.
promotion to higher post could not have been considered A
unless and until he was confirmed on the posfof Munsif -
Claim of promotion was stale one and could not have been
entertained by the High Court-Juniors to the respondent who
were given benefits of promotion were not impleaded as
parties - In their absence, claim of the respondent could not B
be examined - Earlier the respondent had filed petition
claiming promotions from retrospective dates with all claims,
benefits and increments in various cadres from various dates
as and when they had accrued and were given to his
imm~diate juniors was dismissed and also attained finality c
and thus, would operate as res judicata - Also all rights and
claims of respondent got crystallized - Neither at the time of
disposal of SLP respondent claimed any other relief nor
obtained permission to claim relief of promotion in future -
Thus, the High Court erred in directing appellant to consider D
the case of respondent for promotion - Order of the High
Court set aside.

     Supreme Court Rules, 1966 - Or. XVI r. 10(1) proviso -
Requirement of - Held: When a petition for special leave is
filed beyond the period of limitation prescribed and is          E
accompanied by an application for condonation of delay, the
Court should not condone the delay without notice to the
respondent - Once the Court forms an opinion that sufficient
cause is made out for condonation of delay then issuance of
notice to the respondent to show cause as to why delay should    F
not be condoned may become an empty formality - In order
to see that the respondent does not incur unnecessary
expenditure for coming to Delhi from far off places and
engage an advocate for contesting the said application, delay
is condoned ex-parte - However, if the respondent is not         G
issued a notice, then a right would be available to him at the
stage of hearing to point out that the Court was not justified
in condoning the delay and that the leave, if granted, should
be revoked or notice issued should be dismissed.
                                                                 H
    974   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A       Respondent No.1-Munsif in State Judicial Service
   filed a writ petition challenging his dismissal from service
   and he was reinstated in service. However, two years
   later he was suspended from service and departmental
   proceedings were initiated against him. Aggrieved,
B respondent No. 1 filed writ petitions and the. same were
   dismissed. Thereafter, respondent No. 1 filed SLPs.
   During pendency thereof, the High Court issued a
   Notification suspending respondent No. 1 from service.
   This Court directed the High Court to withdraw the
c suspension order passed against the resp9ndent No.1 as
   well as departmental proceedings initiated against him.
   By Notification dated October 12, 1981, respondent No.1
   was posted as Additional Munsif (lowest post) which he
   had joined initially. Subsequently by another Notification
   dated December 10, 1981 he was posted as Additi.onal
0
   Mun!iif at place 'D'. Meanwhile he made various
   representations to release his dues and to keep one post
   of appropriate rank reserved for him but did not receive
   any reply. He then filed CWJC No.1924 of 1982 for
  quashing Notification dated December 10, 1981 and
E seeking direction to the High Court on its administrative
  side to give him promotions from the dates when his
  juniors named in the petition were promoted during the
  period 1970 to 1981, with all increments and other
  benefits. The charge sheet was amended and fresh
F departmental proceedings were initiated against
  respondent No. 1 on August 19, 1982. Respondent No.1
  retired from service on September 1, 1983. Various
  petitions which were filed became !nfructuous and were
  disposed of as withdrawn. Thereafter, in one of the SLP,
G this Court directed the State Government to restore
  pension payable to him and pay arrears due on the basis
  that he had superannuated from service from the date of
  superannuation, and a direction was given to pay him
  Provident Fund, Gratuity and leave salary as might be
H
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 975
          MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.
admissible to him on superannuation. However, no A
direction was given to the appellant to consider the case
of the respondent No.1 with retrospective effect with all
benefits. Pension matter of respondent No.1 was
finalized. Thereafter, he filed CWJC No. 4862 of 1987 in
the High Court for lawful claims as were given to his B
juniors. The said petition was disposed of with a direction
to the respondent No.1 to submit representation to the
High Court on its administrative side. Pursuant thereto,
the respondent No.1 submitted representations and the
same were rejected. Respondent No.1 then filed CWJC c
 No. 6538 of 1990 in the High Court. The Division Bench
 directed the appellant - High Court of Patna on its
 administrative side to consider the case of promotion of
 the respondent No.1 as also consequential benefit in
 accordance with law. Therefore, the appellant filed the 0
 instant appeal.

    Disposing of the appeal, the Court

     HELD: 1.1. The submission that writ petition was filed
by the respondent No.1 on November 10, 1990 i.e. seven        E
years after he had superannuated from service, and
therefore, writ petition should have been dismissed on
the ground of delay and !aches, cannot be accepted. The
impugned judgment nowhere shows that such a point
was argued by the appellant before the High Court. No         F
grievance is made in the memorandum of SLP, that point
regarding delay and !aches was argued before the High
Court but the same was not dealt with by the High Court
when impugned judgment was delivered. Further it
becomes evident that by the order passed in CWJC No.          G
4862 of 1987, the High Court had directed the respondent
No.1 to submit representation to the High Court on its
administrative side claiming benefits which were given to
his juniors but were denied to him, pursuant to which the
respondent No.1 had filed last representation on June 23,     H
    976   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A 1990 which was rejected by High Court on September 17,
  1990. The question of delay and !aches would have to be
  considered from the communication dated September 17,
  1990 by which claim made by the respondent No.1 to
  give him benefits which were given to his juniors was
B rejected and not from the date of superannuation. Thus,
  the respondent No.1 is not liable to be non-suited on the
  ground of delay and laches in filing writ petition after his
  superannuation from service. [Para 12] [987-C-G]

         1.2. It is clear from C.W.J.C. No. 6538of1990 that the
C petitioner is claiming promotions to the post of Civil
  Judge, Senior Division, thereafter to the post of Additional
   District Judge and finally to the post of District Judge
  when his juniors were given such benefits in the years
  1971, 1974 and 1978 respectively. The record shows that
D till the respondent No.1 had superannuated from service
  on August 31, 1983, he was discharging duties as·
  Additional Munsif and was never confirmed in the cadre
  of Munsif. Therefore, his claim for promotion to higher
  post could not have been considered unless and until he
E was confirmed on the post of Munsif. There is no manner
  of doubt that claim of promotion made in C.-W.J.C. No.
  6538 of 1990 was stale one and could not have been
  entertained by the High Court. The juniors to the
  respondent No.1 who were given benefits of promotion
F in the years 1971, 1974 and 1978 were not impleaded as
  respondents in the petition. In their absence, claim
  advanced by the respondent No.1 could not have been
  examined by the High Court. [Para 12] [988-D-F-G-H]

G      P.S. Sadasivaswamy vs. State of Tamil Nadu (1975) 1
    SCC 152: 1975(2) SCR 356 - referred to.
        1.3. The submission of the respondent No.1 that
    Interlocutory Application No. 1 of 2009 was filed for

H
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 977


condonation of delay in filing SLP and delay was A
condoned without issuing notice to him though it is
mandatorily provided in the proviso to sub-rule(1) of rule
10 of Order XVI of the Supreme Court Rules that there
shall be no condonation of delay without notice to the
respondent and therefore, the SLP should be dismissed B
as barred by limitation cannot be accepted. The Office
Report on limitation which was placed before this Court
along with papers of SLP indicated that there was delay
of eight days in filing SLP and delay of nine days in re-
filing the petition. [Para 14) [989-D-F]                   c
      1.4. The proviso to sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of Or. XVI
 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 requires that when a
 petition for special leave has been filed beyond the period
 of limitation prescribed therefore, and is accompanied by
 an application for condonation of delay, the Court should D
 not condone the delay without notice to the respondent.
 However, it is noticed that it is consistent practice of this
 Court even .after framing of Rules of 1966 that delay is
 condoned ex-parte without issuing notice to the
 respondent, if the Court hearing the special leave petition E
 is of the opinion that sufficient cause is made out for
 condonation of delay and the petitioner has good case
·on merits. There is no manner of doubt that once the
 Court forms an opinion that sufficient cause is made out
 for condonation of delay then issuance of notice to the F
 respondent calling upon him to show cause as to why
 delay should not be condoned may become an empty
 formality and in order to see that the respondent has not
 to incur unnecessary expenditure for coming to Delhi
 from far off places and engage an advocate for contesting G
 application for condonation of delay, delay is condoned
 ex-parte. However, in view of requirements of proviso to
 sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of Order XVI of 1966 Rules, it may
 be prudent to issue notice to the respondent before
 condoning the delay caused in filing the special leave H
     978   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A petition. However, if the respondent is not issued a notice,
  then a right would be available to him at the stage of
  hearing to point out that the Court was not justified in
  condoning the delay and that the leave, if granted, should
  be revoked or notice issued should be dismissed. [Para
B 18] [995-C-G]

         Mis. Ram Lal Kapur and Sons (P) Ltd. vs. Ram Nath and
    Ors. AIR1963 SC 1060:1963 Suppl. SCR 242;
    Commissioner of Customs vs. Rangi International (2003) 11
    sec 366 - referred to.
c
         1.5. At the beginning, respondent No. 1 had
     attempted to argue that there was unexplained delay of
     seven months and not of eight days, as was mentioned
     in the Office Report, but he could not make his
D   submission good. It could not be pointed out to this
    Court that the calculation of delay of eight days made by
    the registry was erroneous. The explanation offered by
    the appellant-High Court in the application for
    condonation of delay is plausible and acceptable. The
E   averments made in the application for condonation of
    delay would not indicate that the appellant-High Court
    was either negligent or diligent in prosecuting the matter
    nor the record indicates that the High Court had given up
    lis and acquiesced in the impugned judgment of the High
F   Court. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case,
    this Court was justified in condoning the delay when the
    special leave petition was placed for preliminary hearing
    and was also justified in issuing notice to the respondent.
    Thus, the submission relating to condonation of delay,
G   which was caused in filing the special leave petition is
    rejected. [Para 20] [996-G-H; 997-A-C]
     1.6. Earlier the respondent No.1 had filed CWJC No.
  1924 of 1982 in the High Court of Patna claiming
  promotions from retrospective dates with all claims,
H benefits and increments in various cadres from various
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 979
          MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.
dates as and when they had accrued and were given to A .
his immediate juniors. His prayer was to direct the High
Court on its administrative side to issue a revised
notification incorporating all the promotions to which he
was entitled to from various dates as they had accrued
when his immediate juniors were promoted and to post s
him as District Judge. His another prayer in the writ
petition was to quash Notification dated December 10,
1981 by which he was posted as Additional Munsif. The
writ petition was dismissed by the High Court as having
become infructuous. Feeling aggrieved, the respondent c
No.1 filed SLP (C) No.8923 of 1983 in this Court which
was dismissed as withdrawn. Thus, the order passed in
CWJC No. 1924 of 1982 had attained finality when SLP
filed against the said order was dismissed as withdrawn.
There is no manner of doubt that the order dated
                                                          0
February 24, 1983 passed in CWJC No. 1924 of 1982
refusing to grant promotions with retrospective dates
read with order passed by this Court in SLP (C) No. 8923
of 1983, would operate as res judicata. [Para 21) [997-D-
 H; 998-A]
                                                          E
     1.7. Promotion is not a matter of right much less a
fundamental right, more particularly when promotion in
the subordinate judiciary is to be dealt with by the High
Court which has complete control over the subordinate
judiciary in view of Article 235 of the Constitution. All F
rights and claims of the respondent No.1 got crystallized
when order was passed in SLP (C) No.8621 of 1985 read
with the order was passed in SLP (C) No. 8923 of 1983. If
the respondent No. 1 had any other claim he ought to
have made the same before this Court when the above G
said Spe~ial Leave Petitions were disposed of. In fact
 both the Special Leave Petitions were dismissed and
therefore, all his claims stood finally rejected, except the
 direction given to pay him the pension etc. mentioned in
 the order passed in SLP (C) No.8621 of 1985. No H
    980   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A grievance was made by the respondent No.1 in C.W.J.C.
  No. 6538 of 1990 that the direction given in SLP (C)
  No.8621 of 1985 were not complied with by the appellant.
  Neither at the time of disposal of SLP (C) No.8923of1983
  nor at the time of disposal of SLP (C) No. 8621 of 1985,
B respondent No.1 had claimed any other relief and had not
  obtained permission to claim relief of promotion in future.
  Therefore, the relief claimed in C.W.J.C. No.6538 of 1990
  could not have been granted by the Court. [Para 22] [998-
  8-F]
c       1.8. It is evident that CWJC No. 6538 of 1990 was filed
   for the same reliefs which were claimed in CWJC No.
   1924 of 1982 and were rejected, and therefore, it could
  not have been entertained. Further SLP No. 8261 of 1985
  which was filed by the respondent No.1 against the order
D of the High Court in CWJC No. 2059 of 1984 was
  dismissed and the only relief granted was to direct the
  State to restore pension payable to him with arrears due
  on the basis that he had superannuated from service
  from the date of superannuation and a further direction
E was issued to pay him Provident Fund, Gratuity and leave
  salary as might be admissible to him on superannuation.
  It was never directed that the High Court on its
  administrative side should consider the claim of the
  respondent No.1 regarding deemed promotions. [Para
F 23] [998-G-H; 999-A-B]
      1.9. The Division Bench of the High Court erred in law
  in directing the appellant to consider the case of
  respondent No.1 for promotion as also the consequential
  benefits in accordance with law by the impugned
G judgment. Thus, the impugned judgment is set aside.
  [Para 24] [999-C-D]
                       Case Law Reference:
       1975 (2) SCR 356           Referred to.    Para 13
H
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 981
          MOHAN PRASAD & ORS.

    1963 Suppl. SCR 242           Referred to.      Para 17, 18      A
    (2003) 11 SCC 366             Referred to.      Para 19
    CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.
7630 of 2011.
                                                                     B
    From the Judgment & Order dated 27.6.2008 of the High
Court of Judicature at Patna in C.W.J.C. No. 6538 of 1990.

     P.H. Parekh, Ajay Kr. Jha, Pallavi Srivastava, Praekh &
Co. for the Appellant.
                                                                     c
    Gopal Singh, Rudreshwar Singh, Gaurav Sharma, Anjani
Aiyagari, Sushma Suri Respondent-In-Person for the
Respondent.

     The Judgment of the Court was delivered by                      D
     J.M. PANCHAL, J. 1. Leave Granted

     2. This appeal by grant of special leave, is directed against
judgment dated June 27, 2008, rendered by the Division Bench
of High Court of Judicature at Patna in Civil Writ Jurisdiction      E
No. 6538 of 1990 by which the High Court of Patna on its
administrative side is directed to consider th'e case of
promotion of the respondent No.1 as also grant of
consequential benefits to him in accordance with law.
                                                                     F
     3. The respondent No.1 was appointed to the Bihar
Judicial Service as Munsif at Hajipur on January 13, 1955. On
May 9, 1970, High Court of Patna recommended to the State
Government the dismissal of respondent No.1 from service. On
the basis of recommendation made by the High Court, the
State Government issued a Notification dated January 15, G
1972, dismissing the respondent No.1 from service. Thereupon
the respondent No.1 filed W.P. No.121 of 1972 under Article
32 of the Constitution challenging his dismissal from service
before this Court. The petition filed by the respondent No.1 was
allowed vide judgment dated February 23, 1972 on the ground H
     982    SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


 A that the termination of service was stigmatic and was ordered
    without holding an enquiry. It may be mentioned that judgment
    of this Court rendered in the petition filed by the respondent
    No.1 is reported in (1973) 4 SCC 166. In view of the above
    mentioned judgment of this Court, the respondent No.1 was
 B reinstated in service. However, he was suspended from service
    on April 12, 1974 and departmental proceedings were initiated
    against him. Suspension order was challenged by him by filing
    CWJC No. 820 of 1974 and initiation of departmental
    proceedings was challenged by filing CWJC No. 593 of 1975
c   in the High Court of Patna. Both the writ petitions were
    dismissed in the year 1977 by the High Court. Thereupon, he
    had filed SLP (C) No.4344 of 1977 challenging dismissal of
    writ petition filed against suspension order and SLP (C) No.
    4345 of 1977 challenging the decision in CWJC No. 593 of
D 1975 by which his prayer to set aside departmental
    proceedings was rejected. During the pendency of above
    numbered two SLPs another Notification dated January 30,
    1978 was issued by the High Court suspending him from
    service. On March 01, 1978 this Court admitted both these
E Special Leave Petitions which were then converted into C.A.
    No.525 of 1978 and 526 of 1978 respectively. This Court by
   judgment dated 24.09.1981 directed the High Court of Patna
   to withdraw the suspension order dated January 30, 1978
   passed against the respondent No.1 as well as departmental
   proceedings initiated against him and granted liberty to the High
F Court to amend the charge sheet before initiating departmental
   proceedings and to consider the question of his suspension
   from service afresh. By Notification dated October 12, 1981,
   the respondent No.1 was posted at Sasaram as Additional
   Munsif, which is the lowest post in judiciary and which post he
G had joined initially on January 13, 1955. Another Notification
   was issued on December 10, 1981 posting him at Darbhanga
   as Additional Munsif. Meanwhile he made various
   representations to rele.ase his dues and to keep one post of
   appropriate rank reserved for him. He did not receive any reply
H to those representations. Therefore, he filed CWJC No.1924
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 983
   MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
of 1982 on May 6, 1982 for quashing Notification dated A
December 10, 1981 issued by High Court posting him as
Additional Munsif in Darbhanga and prayed to direct the High
Court on its administrative side to give him promotions from
the dates when his juniors named in the petition were promuted-
during the period 1970 to 1981, with all increments and other B
benefits. He also prayed to direct the High Court to issue a
revised notification incorporating therein all the promotions to
be given to him from due dates and to post him as a District
Judge. After necessary amendment in the charge sheet, fresh
departmental proceedings were initiated against him on August c
19, 1982. No reply was filed by the respondent No.1 before the
Inquiry Officer. After inquiry, the Inquiry Officer submitted his
report dated December 10, 1982 holding that the charges
levelled against him were proved. Thereupon, notice dated
January 12, 1983 with copy of the report of Inquiry Officer was
                                                                  0
served upon him calling upon him to show cause as to why he
should not be removed from service. The respondent No.1 did
not file reply to the show cause notice.
     4. When CWJC No.1924 of 1982 had come up for hearing
before the Court on February 24, 1983, the learned Additional        E
Advocate General had informed the Court that the departmental
proceedings had concluded and second show cause notice
was served upon him, calling upon him to show cause as to
why he should not be removed from service. Thereupon, the
court had expressed the view that the Writ Petition had become       F
infructuous and dismissed th~ same accordingly by order dated
February 24, 1983.
     After receipt of show cause notice dated January 12, 1983
the respondent No.1 instituted CWJC No. 2959 of 1984 to              G
quash (i) notification dated August 19, 1982 issued by High
Court initiating departmental proceedings against him (ii) inquiry
report dated December 10, 1982 forwarded by the District
Judge Darbhanga and (3) notice dated January 12, 1983 calling
                                                                     H
    984   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A   upon him to show cause as to why he should not be removed
    from service.

        5. The learned Additional Advocate General who
  appeared for the Patna High Court in CWJC No. 2059 of 1984
  had informed the Court on February 26, 1985 that the
8
  respondent No.1 had retired from service on September 1,
  1983 and after his retirement the High Court had considered
  the question of penalty to be imposed on him and by
  Memorandum dated June 11, 1984, he was directed to show
  cause as to why the High Court should not make a
C recommendation to the State Government for withholding his
  pension permanently, and as no cause was shown by the
  respondent No.1, the High Court had recommended to the
  State Government for withholding his pension permanently but
  no final decision was yet taken by the State Government in that
D respect. The Division Bench hearing CWJC No. 2059 of 1984
  was of the view that writ petition as filed had become
  infructuous and an opinion was expressed that respondent No.1
  should wait till the final decision was taken by the State
  Government about finalization of pension. Accordingly, writ
E petition was dismissed as having become infructuous by
  judgment dated February 26, 1985 reserving liberty to the
  respondent No.1 to renew his prayer for monetary claims after
  finalization of pension matter.

F      6. The grievance of the respondent No.1 was that his claim
  for promotion from the various dates when his immediate juniors
  were promoted was not considered by the High Court nor was
  he paid benefits. Under the circumstances, he had approached
  this Court by filing SLP (C) No. 8923 of 1983 against order
G dated February 24, 1983 dismissing CWJC No. 1924of1982,
  as having become infructuous. The said SLP was listed for
  hearing on August 30, 1983. It was brougt-• to the notice of this
  Court that second show cause notice had been issued to the
  respondent No.1 and that the respondent No.1 was to retire from
  service on August 31, 1983 i.e. the next day when SLP (C) No.
H
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PAI NA v. MADAN 985
   MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]

 8923 of 2003 was taken up for hearing on August 30, 1983.          A
 The respondent No.1 had thereupon stated before the Court
 that the SLP had become infructuous and sought permission
 to withdraw the same. In view of the statement of the respondent
 No.1, the SLP was disposed of as withdrawn by order dated
 August 30, 1983.                                                   B

      Thus, there is no manner of doubt that order dated
 February 24, 1983 passed by the Division Bench of Patna High
 Court in CWJC No. 1924 of 1983 refusing to grant relief of
 promotion with deemed dates and monetary benefits had
 attained finality when SLP (C) No. 8923 of 1983 filed against      C
 the said order was unconditionally withdrawn by the respondent
 No.1 on August 30, 1983.

      7. Again the respondent No.1 had filed SLP (C) No. 8621
·of 1985, against order dated February 26, 1985 dismissing          D
 CWJC No. 2059of1984 as having become infructuous. During
 the pendency of the said SLP, a Resolution No. 10383 dated
 August 11, 1985 was passed forfeiting permanently pension
 payable to respondent No.1. The said Resolution was
 produced on the record of SLP (C) No. 8621 of 1985 on              E
 November 25, 1986. This Court had passed following order on
 November 25, 1986 in SLP (C) No. 8621 of 1985 :-

      "The Special Leave Petition is dismissed, but we would
      direct the State of Bihar to restore within six weeks the
      pensions payable to the petitioner with arrears due on the    F
      basis that ·he had superannuated from service from the
      date of superannuation. Provident Fund, Gratuity and leave
      salary as may be admissible to him on superannuation will
      also be paid to the petitioner."
                                                                    G
      8. The above quoted order makes it evident that the
 special leave petition which was against order dated February
 26, 1985 passed by the Division Bench of High Court in CWJC
 No. 2059 of 1984 was dismissed. The learned counsel for the
 petitioner states at the bar that the respondent No.1 was a        H
    986    SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A Judicial Officer and therefore, when it was brought to the notice
  of this Court that his pension had been forfeited permanently,
  this Court had shown compassion, concern, sympathy and
  clemency to the respondent No.1 and had directed the State
  of Bihar to restore pension payable to him and pay arrears due
B on the basis that he had superannuated from service from the
  date of superannuation, and a direction was given to pay him
  Provident Fund, Gratuity and leave salary as might be
  admissible to him on superannuation. However, it is relevant
  to notice that no direction was given to the appellant to
c consider the case of the respondent No.1 with retrospective
  effect with all benefits.

       9. According to the respondent No.1 his pension matter
  was finalized on July 14, 1987. After finalization of pension
  matter, he filed CWJC No. 4862of1987 in the High Court for
D lawful claims as were given to his juniors. The said petition was
  disposed of on November 9, 1989 with a direction to the
  respondent No.1 to submit representation to the High Court on
  its administrative side for legitimate claims as were given to
  his juniors. Pursuant to the above mentioned direction, the
E respondent No.1 had submitted representation dated February
  12, 1990. The said representation was considered by the
  Standing Committee of the Patna High Court and was rejected
  on March 30, 1990.

F       10. Again respondent No.1 had sent representation dated
  April 30, 1990 repeating his prayer to grant him his lawful claims
  as were given tQ his juniors. The same was rejeded by High
  Court on its Administrative side vide order dated May 25, 1990.
  The respondent No.1 had made third representation dated June
G 23, 1990 to the same effect which was rejected by the High
  Court vide communication dated September 17, 1990.
  Thereupon the respondent No.1 had filed CWJC No. 6538 of
  1990 in the High Court of Patna. The Di11ision Bench hearing
  the same has directed the appellant High Court to consider the
  case of promotion of the respondent No.1 as also
H
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 987
   MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
consequential benefit in accordance with law vide judgment        A
dated June 27, 2008 which has given rise to the instant appeal.

     11. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the
appell::int and the respondent No.1 who has appeared in
person. The Court has also considered the documents forming       8
part of the appeal.

      12. The contention advanced on behalf of the appellant that
writ petition was filed by the respondent No.1 on November 10,
1990 i.e. seven years after he had superannuated from service,
and therefore, writ petition should have been dismissed on the C
ground of delay and latches cannot be accepted. The
impugned judgment nowhere shows that such a point was
argued by the appellant before the High Court. No grievance
is made in the memorandum of SLP, that point regarding delay
and latches was argued before the High Court but the same D
was not dealt with by the High Court when impugned judgment
was delivered. Further from the facts noticed, it becomes
evident that by order dated November 9, 1989, passed in
CWJC No. 4862 of 1987, the High Court had directed the
respondent No.1 to submit representation to the High Court on E
its administrative side claiming benefits which were given to
his juniors but were denied to him, pursuant to which the
respondent No.1 had filed last representation on June 23, 1990
which was rejected by High Court on September 17, 1990. The
question of delay and latches will have to be considered from F
the communication dated September 17, 1990 by which claim
made by the respondent No.1 .to give him benefits which were
given to his juniors was rejected and not from the date of
superannuation. Thus, the respondent No.1 is not liable to be
non-suited on the ground of delay and latches in filing writ G
petition after his superannuation from service.

    However, there is no manner of doubt that the respondent
No.1 is claiming promotions to different cadres from the post
of Additional Munsif as well as promotional benefits from the
                                                                  H
    988     SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A due dates as were given to his juniors in the years 1971, 1974
  and 1978. In C.W.J.C. No. 6538of1990 from which the present
  appeal arises the petitioner had claimed following relief in
  paragraph 20 of the writ petition :

          "It is therefore respectfully prayed Your Lordship may be
B
          graciously pleased to admit this Writ Petition and may be
          pleased to direct the respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to give all
          the service claims of this petitioner as given to his juniors
          during the period he was illegally kept out of service and
          adequate compensation for having ruined the career of
c         petitioner as fully stated in para 1 and 4 of this writ petition
          and may be pleased to pass such other order or orders
          as may be considered fit and proper".

       If one looks to the averments made in the petition it
D becomes at once clear that the petitioner is claiming
  promotions to the post of Civil Judge, Senior Division,
  thereafter to the post of Additional District Judge and finally to
  the post of District Judge when his juniors were given such
  benefits in the years 1971, 1974 and 1978 respectively.
E
       The record shows that till the respondent No.1 had
  superannuated from service on August 31, 1983, he was
  discharging duties as Additional Munsif and was never
  confirmed in the cadre of Munsif. Therefore, his claim for
  promotion to higher post could not have been considered
F unless and until he was confirmed on the post of Munsif. On
  this ground alone, the writ petition filed by him was liable to be
  dismissed.

       There is no manner of doubt that claim of promotion made
G in C.W.J.C. No. 6538of1990 was stale one and could not have
  been entertained by the High Court. Further juniors to the
  respondent No.1 who were given benefits of promotion in the
  years 1971, 1974 and 1978 were not impleaded as
  respondents in the petition. In their absence, claim advanced
H by the respondent No.1 could not have been examined by the
  HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 989
     MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
 High Court. Thus, the impugned judgment is liable to be set           A
 aside on the ground that stale claim of promotions to differen't
 cadres was advanced by the respondent No.1 after great delay
 and that too without impleading his juniors.

       13. In P.S. Sadasivaswamy Vs. State of Tamil Nadu               8
  (1975) 1 sec 152, this court has laid down a firm proposition
 of law that 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 and the High
  Court can refuse to exercise its extraordinary powers under          C
  Article 226 in case the person aggrieved does not approach
  the Court expeditiously for appropriate relief and puts forward
. stale claim and tries to unsettle settled matters. Therefore,
  C.W.J.C. No. 6538 of 1990 in which stale claim of promotion
  was made by the respondent No.1 was_ liable to be dis~issed.         D

        14. The contention of the respondent No.1 that Interlocutory
  Application No. 1 of 2009 was filed for condonation of delay in
  filing SLP and delay was condoned without issuing notice to
  him though it is mandatorily provided in the proviso to sub-
  rule(1) of rule 10 of Order XVI of the Supreme Court Rules that      E
  there shall be no condonation of delay without notice to the
- respondent and therefore, the SLP should be dismissed as
  barred by limitation has no substance. The Office Report on
  limitation dated December 24, 2008 which was placed before
  this Court along with papers of SLP indicated that there was         F
  delay of eight days in filing SLP and delay of nine days in re-
  filing the petition. The SLP was placed for preliminary hearing
  before the Court on February 9, 2009 and after hearing the
  learned counsel for the petitioner, following order was passed:-

       "Delay condoned.                                                G

       Issue notice.

       There shall be interim stay of the impugned order until
  further orders."                                                     H
    990      SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A      15. In order to deal with the contention raised by the
  respondent No. 1 it wo'.lld be necessary to refer to the Scheme
  envisaged by the Supreme Court Rules, 1950, which was
  subsequently amended and the Scheme contemplated by the
  Supreme Court Rules, 1966 as well as certain relevant
B decisions on the point.

       16. The Supreme Court of India, in the exercise of its rule-
  making powers, and with the approval of the President, had
  made the Supreme CoJrt Rules, 1950. Order XIII of the Rules
C of 1950 dealt with appeals by special leave. Rule 1, which is
  relevant for the purpose of deciding the issue raised in this
  appeal by the respondent No. 1, was reading as under: -

          "1. A petition for special leave to appeal shall be lodged
          in the Court within sixty days from the date of refusal of a
D         certificate by the High Court or within ninety days from the
          date of the judgment sought to be appealed from,
          whichever is longer:

          Provided that
E          (i)    in computing the period of ninety days the time
                  requisite for obtaining a certified copy of the
                  judgment sought to be appealed from shall be
                  excluded;

F          (ii)   where the period of limitation claimed is sixty days
                  from the date of the refusal of a certificate, the time
                  taken subsequent to the date of refusal in obtaining
                  a certified copy of the judgment (in cases where no
                  certified copy of the judgment had been obtained
G                 prior to the date of such refusal) shall be excluded
                  in computing the period of sixty days;

          (iii)   where an application for certificate made to the High
                  Court is dismissed as being out of time the period
                  of limitation shall count from the date of the
H
HIGH COURT OF JWDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 991
   MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
            judgment sought to be appealed from and not from         A
            the date of the dismissal of the said application;

     (iv)   where an application for leave to appeal to the High
            Court from the judgment of a single Judge of that
            Court has been made and refused, the period from         8
            the making of the application to the rejection thereof
            shall be excluded in computing the period under
            this Rule;

      (v)   the Court may for sufficient cause extend the time
            on application made for the purpose."                    C

     The Supreme Court Rules, 1950 were published in the
Gazette of India Extra Ordinary dated January 28, 1950 and
amended by the Supreme Court of India Notifications dated
April 25, 1950, July 5, 1950, August 19, 1950, June 18, 1951,        D
May 6, 1952, January 16, 1954, July 10, 1954, April 12, 1955,
March 19, 1956, July 14, 1956, July 11, 1957, November 22,
1957, January 9, 1958 and April 8, 1959. After amendment
Order XIII Rule 1 provided as under: -

    ·1. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4; 5, 12 and 14        E
    of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963) a Petition for
    Special Leave to Appeal shall be lodged in the Court in a
    case where a certificate for leave to appeal was refused
    by the High Court within sixty days from the date of the
    order of refusal and any other case within ninety days from      F
    the date of judgment or order sought to be appealed from."

     Till the Supreme Court Rules 1966 were made by the
Supreme Court, it was the practice of this Court to condone
the delay caused in filing Special Leave Petition, without issuing   G
notice to the respondent.
    17. At this stage, it would be relevant to notice a
Constitution Bench judgment of this Court in Mis. Ram Lal
Kapur and Sons (P) Ltd. vs. Ram Nath and others AIR 1963
SC 1060. In the said case the first respondent Ram Nath was          H
    992   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A owner of a building in Delhi of which the appellant company was
   one of the tenants. The appellant moved the Rent Controller,
   Delhi under Section 7A of the Delhi and Ajmer Rent Control
   Act, 1947 for fixation of the fair rent of the portion in its
   occupation. The Rent Controller, Delhi computed the fair rent
B for the entire building at Rs.565/- per month and the fair rent
   payable by the appellant at Rs.146/- per month. The
   respondent landlord preferred an appeal against the order of
   the Rent Controller to the learned District Judge, Delhi, but the
   appeal was dismissed. Thereafter, he moved the High Court
c of the Punjab under Article 227 of the Constitution challenging
   the correctness and propriety of every finding by the Rent
   Controller and of the District Judge on appeal. The petition
   came on for hearing before a learned single Judge of the High
   Court. A Division Bench of the High Court had sometime
D previously held in another batch of cases that Section 7A was
  unconstitutional and void. Following this decision the learned
  single Judge allowed the petition of the first respondent Ram
  Nath and set aside the order of the Rent Controller as without
  jurisdiction, without considering the other matters which would
  arise if the Section was valid and the Rent Controller had
E jurisdiction. From this decision of the learned single Judge the
  appellant preferred an appeal under the Letters Patent to a
  Division Bench.

       Meanwhile, the judgment of the Division Bench holding that
F Section 7A was unconstitutional was brought up by way of
  appeal to this Court. As the said appeal was getting ready to
  be heard, the appellant, i.e., M/s. Ram Lal and Sons (P) Ltd.
  applied for and obtained special leave to appeal to this Court
  though the appeal filed by the appellant before the High Court
G was pending. Letters Patent Appeal was thereafter withdrawn
  by the appellant. An appeal against judgment of the Division
  Bench of the High Court holding that Section 7A was
  unconstitutional was heard by this Court and the same was
  allowed by judgment dated August 2, 1961 and this Court held
H
                             '
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 993


reversing the judgment of the High Court that Section 7A of the      A
Act was valid.

     It would thus be seen that only point which the learned
Judge considered and on which the revision petition of the
landlord respondent was allowed no longer subsisted and              B
hence the appellant was entitled to have the appeal allowed.
As the learned single Judge did not consider the other
objections raised by the first respondent to the order of the Rent
Controller fixing the standard fair rent payable by the appellant,
the appeal had to be remanded to the High Court for being            C
dealt with according to law.

      However, a preliminary objection to the hearing of the
appeal was raised by the learned counsel for the landlord
re~pondent. His submission was that the special leave which
was granted by this Court ex-parte should be revoked as having       D
been improperly obtained. The judgment of the learned single
Judge to appeal from which the leave was granted was dated
January 5, 1955 and the application to this Court seeking leave
was made on January 5, 1959, i.e., after a lapse of four years.
It was obvious that it was a petition which had been filed far       E
beyond the period of limitation prescribed by the Rules of this
Court. The learned counsel for the respondent urged that there
were no sufficient grounds for condoning that long delay and
that this Court should, therefore, revoke the leave. The
Constitution Bench of this Court was not disposed to accede          F
to this request for revoking the leave. The learned counsel had
drawn attention of the Constitution Bench to a few decisions in
which leave granted ex-parte was revoked at the stage of
hearing of the appeal on an objection raised by the respondent.
However, the Constitution Bench did not consider that the facts      G
of the appeal before it was bearing any analogy to those in the
decisions cited. The Five Judge Constitution Bench was of the
opinion that in fact the grant of special leave in the
circumstances of the case merely served to shorten the
proceedings and this Court had acceded to the petition for           H
    994      SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A leave obviously because the appeals in this Court from
  judgments in the cases where view was taken that Section 7A
  was unconstitutional, were getting ready for hearing and there
  was some advantage if the appellant was in a position to
  intervene in those other appeals. However, the Constitution
B Bench made following pertinent observations in paragraph 9
  of the reported decision. They are as under: -

          "9. Nevertheless, we consider that we should add that,
          except in very rare cases, if not invariably, it should be
          proper that this Court should adopt as a settled rule that
c         the delay in making an application for special leave should
          not be condoned ex parte but that before granting leave
          in such cases notice should be served on the respondent
          and the latter afforded an opportunity to resist the grant of
          the leave. Such a course besides being just, would be
D         preferable to having to decide applications for revoking
          leave on the ground that the delay in making the same was
          improperly condoned years after the grant of the leave
          when the Court naturally feels embarrassed by the injustice
          which would be caused to the appellant if leave were then
E         revoked when he would be deprived of the opportunity of
          pursuing other remedies if leave had been refused earlier.
          We would suggest that the rules of the Court should. be
          amended suitably to achieve this purpose."

F      18. The Rules framed in the year 1950 were replaced by
  the present Rules, which are known as The Supreme Court
  Rules, 1966. They came into force with effect from January 15,
  1966. The weighty recommendations made by the Constitution
  Bench in Ram Lal and Sons (P) Ltd. case (Supra) were taken
G into consideration and proviso to sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of
  Order XVI was enacted, which reads as under:-
          . "1 O (1) Unless a caveat as prescribed by rule 2 of Order
            XVIII has been lodged by the other parties, who appeared
            in the Court below, petitions for grant of special leave shall
H           be put up for hearing ex-parte, but the Court, if it thinks fit,
 HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 995
    MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]
     may direct. issue of notice to the respondent and adjourn     A
     the hearing of the petition:

           Provided that where a petition for special leave has
     been filed beyond the period of limitation prescribed
     therefor and is accompanied by an application for
                                                                   8
     condonation of delay, the Court shall not condone the delay
     without notice to the respondent."

  Naturally, the proviso requires that when a petition for special
  leave has been filed beyond the period of limitation prescribed
  therefore and is accompanied by an application for condonation C
  of delay, the Court should not condone the delay without notice
  to the respondent. However, it is noticed that it is consistent
  practice of this Court even after framing of Rules of 1966 that
  delay is condoned ex-parte without issuing notice to the
. respondent, if the Court hearing the special leave petition is of D
 the opinion that sufficient cause is made out for condonation
  of delay and the petitioner has good case on merits. There is
  no manner of doubt that once the Court forms an opinion that
 sufficient cause is made out for condonation of delay then
  issuance of notice to the respondent calling upon him to show E
 cause as to why delay should not be condoned may become
 an empty formality and in order to see that the respondent has
  not to incur unnecessary expenditure for coming to Delhi from
 far off places and engage an advocate for contesting
 application for condonation of delay, delay is condoned ex- F
 parte. However, in view of requirements of proviso to sub-rule
 (1) of Rule 10 of Order XVI of 1966 Rules, it may be prudent
 to issue notice to the respondent before condoning the delay
 caused in filing the special leave petition. However, if the
 respondent is not noticed, then a right would be available to G
 him at the stage of hearing to point out that the Court was not
 justified in condoning the delay and that the leave, if granted,
 should be revoked or notice issued should be dismissed.
    19. In Commissioner of Customs vs. Rangi International
(2003) 11 SCC 366, the SLP from which the appeal arose was         H
    996 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A filed after a delay of 246 days. When the matter came up for
  preliminary hearing, it was found that without noticing the
  provisions of Supreme Court Rules in regard to the condonation
  of delay, this Court on 12.7.2000, had condoned the delay ex-
  parte and granted leave. On 2.4.2002, when the respondent
B appeared before the Court, a preliminary objection was raised
  that the condonation of delay was contrary to the Supreme Court
  Rules. Therefore, the Court hearing the appeal had looked to
  the papers. The Court found that proper particulars were not
  given in the application for condonation of delay. Therefore, the
C Court hearing the appeal had called upon the appellant to file
  an additional affidavit in support of the application for
  condonation of delay. Accordingly, the appellant had filed
  additional affidavit. To this the respondent had filed a counter
  pointing out that the explanation given by the appellant even in
  the additional affidavit did not explain the delay satisfactorily
0
  nor had the appellant been diligent in filing the appeal. This
  Court heard the learned counsel for the appellant as well as the
  respondent and having considered the reasons given for
  condonation of delay in the original affidavit as well as in the
  additional affidavit filed by the appellant was of the opinion that
E the appellant had not satisfactorily explained the delay in
  preferring the appeal. Therefore, accepting the contention of the
  respondent this Court had revoked the leave granted on
  12.7.2000 and consequently dismissed the SLP as barred by
  limitation. .                    ·
F
        20. In view of the course adopted by this Court in the
   above mentioned decision this Court had heard the appellant
   and the respondent to satisfy itself as to whether sufficient
   cause was made out for condonation of delay of eight days.
G At the beginning, the respondent No. 1 had attempted to argue
   that there was unexplained delay of seven months and not of
   eight days, as was mentioned in the Office Report, but he could
   not make his submission good. It could not be pointed out to
   this Court that the calculation of delay of eight days made by
H ·the registry was erroneous. The explanation offered by the
  HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 997
     MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.)

 appellant High Court in the application for condonation of delay      A
 is plausible and acceptable. The averments made in the
 application for condonation of delay would not indicate that the
 appellant High Court was either negligent or diligent in
 prosecuting the matter nor the record indicates that the High
 Court had given up lis and acquiesced in the impugned                 B
 judgment of the High Court. On the facts and in the
 circumstances of the case this Court is of the opinion that this
 Court was justified in condoning the delay when the special
 leave petition was placed for preliminary hearing and was also
 justified in issuing notice to the respondent. Thus, this Court       c
 does not find any substance in the contention raised by the
 respondent No. 1 relating to condonation of delay, which was
 caused in filing the special leave petition and, therefore, the
 same is hereby rejected.

        21. Coming to the merits of the matter this Court finds that   D
   earlier the respondent No.1 had filed CWJC No. 1924of1982
   in the High Court of Patna claiming promotions from
   retrospective dates with all claims, benefits and increments in
   various cadres from various dates as and when they had
   accrued and were given to his immediate juniors. His prayer         E
   was to direct the High Court on its administrative side to issue
   a revised notification incorporating all the promotions to which
   he was entitled to from various dates as they had accrued when
   his immediate juniors were promoted and to post him as
   District Judge. His another prayer in the writ petition was to      F
   quash Notification dated December 10, 1981 by which he was
 , posted as Additional Munsif in Darbhanga. The writ petition
· was dismissed by the High Court vide order dated February
   24, 1983 as having become infructuous. Feeling aggrieved, the
   respondent No.1 had filed SLP (C) No.8923 of 1983 in this           G
   Court which was dismissed as withdrawn by order dated August
   30, 1983. Thus the order dated February 24, 1983 passed in
   CWJC No. 1924 of 1982 had attained finality when SLP filed
   against the said order was dismissed as withdrawn. There is
   no manner of doubt that the order dated February 24, 1983           H
    998    SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2011] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.


A   passed in CWJC No. 1924of1982 refusing to grant promotions
    with retrospective dates read with order passed by this Court
    in SLP (C) No. 8923 of 1983, would operate as res judicata.


       22. It is well settled that promotion is not a matter of right
8
  much less a fundamental right, more particularly when promotion
  in the subordinate judiciary is to be dealt with by the High Court
  which has complete control over the subordinate judiciary in
  view of Article 235 of the Constitution. All rights and claims of
C the respondent No.1 got crystallized when this Court passed
  order dated November 25, 1986 in SLP (C) No.8621 of 1985
  read with order dated August 30, 1983 passed by this Court
  in SLP (C) No. 8923 of 1983. If the respondent No. 1 had any
  other claim he ought to have made the same before this Court
  when the above numbered Special Leave Petitions were
D disposed of. In fact both the Special Leave Petitions were
  dismissed and therefore all his claims stood finally rejected,
  except the direction given to pay him the pension etc.
  mentioned in order dated November 25, 1986 passed in SLP
  (C) No.8621 of 1985. No grievance was made by the
E respondent No.1 in C.W.J.C. No. 6538 of 1990 that the
  direction given by this Court on November 25, 1986 in SLP (C)
  No.8621 of 1985 were not complied with by the appellant.
  Neither at the time of disposal of SLP (C) No.8923 of 1983
  nor at the time of disposal of SLP (C) No. 8621 of 1985 the
F respondent No.1 had claimed any other relief and had not
  obtained permission to claim relief of promotion in future.
  Therefore, the relief claimed in C.W.J.C. No.6538 of 1990
  could not have been granted by the Court.

        23. It is evident that, CWJC No. 6538 of 1990 was filed
G for the same reliefs which were claimed in CWJC No. 1924 of
  1982 and were rejected, and therefore, it could not have been
  entertained. Further SLP No. 8261 of 1985 which was filed by
  the respondent No.1 against judgment and order dated
H February 26, 1985 of the High Court of Judicature at Patna ill
· HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA v. MADAN 999
     MOHAN PRASAD & ORS. [J.M. PANCHAL, J.]

CWJC No. 2059 of 1984 was dismissed and the only relief             A
granted by this Court was to direct the State of Bihar to restore
pension payable to him with arrears due on the basis that he
had superannuated from service from the date of
superannuation and a further direction was issued to pay him
Provident Fund, Gratuity and leave salary as might be               B
admissible to him on superannuation. This court had never
directed that the High Court of Patna on its administrative side
should consider the claim of the respondent No.1 regarding
deemed promotions.
      24. In view of the above discussion, this Court is of the     C
 opinion that the High Court has erred in law in directing the
original respondent No.2 i.e. present appellant to consider the
cas·e of promotion of respondent No.1 as also the
consequential benefits in accordance with law by the impugned
judgment. Thus the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside.     D
     For the foregoing reasons the appeal succeeds, the
judgment dated June 27, 2008 rendered by the Division Bench
of High Court of Judicature at Patna in CWJC No. 6578 of
1990, directing the present appellant to consider the case of       E
respondent No.1 for promotion as also consequential benefits,
is hereby set aside. The appeal accordingly stands disposed
of.
N.J.                                      Appeal disposed of.