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Supreme Court of India

THE COMMISSIONER, CORPORATION OF MADRASversusMADRAS CORPORATION TEACHERS MANDRAM AND ORS.

Citation
1996 INSC 1315
Decided
8 November 1996
Disposal
Appeal(s) allowed

Holding

The Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to direct the creation of a post or prescribe qualifications; such matters are governed by the executive policy of the Government.

Summary

The Corporation of Madras adopted a dual policy for appointing Education Officers, upgrading the post to Deputy Director and seeking to fill it by transferring a Government officer. The Madras Corporation Teachers' Mandram challenged this action before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, which directed the Corporation to create a post equivalent to District Educational Officer and prescribe experience requirements. The Corporation appealed, arguing that creation of posts and prescription of qualifications are matters of governmental executive policy, beyond the Tribunal's jurisdiction. The Supreme Court held that it is indeed the legal or executive policy of the Government to create posts and set qualifications, and that neither the Court nor the Tribunal can issue such directions. Consequently, the Tribunal's order was declared illegal and the appeals were allowed without costs.

Issues considered

  • Whether the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal has the authority to direct the creation of a post and prescribe the minimum qualifications for that post.
  • Whether such directions encroach upon the executive policy of the Government, which is exclusively within its domain.

Subjects

service lawappointmentcreation of postprescription of qualificationsadministrative tribunalexecutive policyjudicial review

Judgment

A          THE COMMISSIONER, CORPORATION OF MADRAS
                                       V.
      MADRAS CORPORATION TEACHERS' MANDRAM AND ORS.

                             NOVEMBER 8, I996

8             [K. RAMASWAMY AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]

         Service LaH' :

          Creation of post and prescribing qualification therefor-Power of
C   Court to give direction-Held, it is the legal or executive policy of the
    Government to create a post or to prescribe qualifications therefor-Court
    or Tribunal is devoid ofpower to give such direction.

         CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 15074-
    75 of 1996.
D
        From the Judgment and Order dated 2.8.94 of the Tamil Nadu
    Administrative Tribunal, Madras, in 0.A. No. 708 of 1993.

         R. Mohan R. Nedumaran, V.G. Pragasan and Ms. Pushpa Rajan for
    the Appellant
E
         Naveen R. Nath and S.R. Bhat for the Respondents.

         The following Order of the Court was delivered :

F        Leave granted.

        These appeals by special leave arise against the order of the
  Administrative Tribunal, Tamil Nadu passed in OA No. 708193 and 1685/
  93 on August 2, 1994. The appellant-Corporation had adopted a dual
G policy of appointment of Education Officers either by promotion from
  the subordinate cadre or appointment by deputation from the Government
  service. It would appear that the post of Education Officer was upgraded
  to the post of Deputy Director and they sought appointment by transfer of
  a Government officer to fill up the post of Deputy Director to supervise
  the educational standards in the Corporation. The respondents-Union
H challenged the said action of the appellant in the Tribunal. The Tribunal
                                      660
            COMMR, CORPN. OF MADRAS r. MADitAS CORPN. TEACHERS' 1\.1.ANDRAM   661


 while upholding the power of the Corporation had directed thus:                     A

                 "Therefore, a post in the cadre of the Corporation equivalent
                 to the District Educational Officer should be created to which
                 persons from the Corporation's cadre could be appointed and
                 such persons could be considered after a minimum period of
                 experience for advancement to the higher post in the rank of        B
                 Chief Educational Officer to be in overall charge of the
                 Corporation's Educational Departments."

        Feeling aggrieved against this order, this appeal has been filed, Shri
 R. Mohan, learned senior counsel for the Corporation, has contended that
 the creation of the post and prescription of qualifications are the legal           C
 policy of the Government or the executive policy of the Government.
 The Tribunal cannot give the direction to create a post or to prescribe the
 experience as may be required as an incumbent to hold the post. We find
 that there is force in the contention.

         Learned counsel for the respondents, in fairness, was unable to meet        D
  the contention but he sought to sustain this order on the ground that
  appointment by transfer affects in-service candidates. We cannot go into
· it because it is not the subject matter in this case. Under these circumstances,
  as stated earlier, the question is: whether the Tribunal can give direction to
  create a post or to prescribe the minimum qualifications for the post? It is       E
  well settled legal position that it is the legal or executive policy of the
  Government to create a post or to prescribe the qualifications for the post.
  The Court or Tribunal is devoid of power to give such direction. The
  impugned direction, therefore is clearly illegal.

          The appeals are accordingly allowed. But in the circumstances without      F
 costs.

 R.P.                                                            Appeals allowed.


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