1 2026:CGHC:9149 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 2945 of 2023 1 - Ignasius Kerketta S/o Shri Amrus Kerketta Aged About 60 Years R/o Parpatiya, Police Station Gandhinagar, District : Surguja (Ambikapur), Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary General Administrative Department, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest Raipur, Aranya Bhawan North Block, Sector-19 Kotara Bhantha, Naya Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 3 - Divisional Forest Officer Sarguja Division, Ambikapur, District : Surguja (Ambikapur), Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Harsh Verma, Advocate on behalf of Mr. Arham Siddiqui, Advocate. For Respondent(s)/State : Mr. Shangharsh Pandey, G.A. RAGHVENDRA JAT Digitally signed by RAGHVENDRA JAT 2 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 20/02/2026 1. By way of this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:- “10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly pleased to direct the respondent authority particularly respondent no. 2 to decide and act upon the representation dated 06-03-2023 made by the petitioner. 10.2 That, the respondent authority may also be directed to pay the back wages from the date of dismissal from the service dated 31-12-2011 till the date of acquittal order passed by this Hon'ble court in favor to the petitioner with interest of 12% interest till the realization of the said amount. 10.3 Any other relief, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper, may also be passed in favor of the petitioner together with cost of the petition.” 2. Brief facts of the case, is that, the petitioner most respectfully invokes the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Hon’ble High Court seeking an appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the respondent authorities, particularly Respondent No. 2, to consider, decide and act upon the detailed representation dated 06.03.2023 (Annexure P-1) submitted by the petitioner. It is submitted that the 3 petitioner has been honourably acquitted of all the criminal charges levelled against him vide judgment dated 16.08.2022 passed in Criminal Appeal No. 203/2022, and therefore the very foundation of his dismissal order dated 31.12.2011 no longer survives in the eyes of law. Despite such acquittal, the respondents have failed to take consequential action for reinstatement. Hence, the petitioner further prays that this Hon’ble Court be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to reinstate him in service with continuity and all consequential benefits, including payment of full back wages from the date of his dismissal i.e., 31.12.2011 till the date of acquittal, along with interest at the rate of 12% per annum on the arrears until actual realization, in the interest of justice. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the present petition has been filed seeking a direction to the concerned respondent authorities to consider and decide, in accordance with law, the petitioner’s pending representation for grant of back wages and consequential service benefits. It is contended that the petitioner was initially convicted by the learned Trial Court, and on account of such conviction he was unable to discharge his official duties; thereafter, he was placed under suspension and subsequently dismissed from service pursuant to the said conviction. It is further submitted that the petitioner was ultimately acquitted by the Hon’ble High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 894/2011, and in view of such acquittal, he is legally entitled to restoration of all 4 consequential benefits, including back wages for the period during which he remained out of service. Learned counsel emphasizes that despite submission of a detailed representation before the competent authorities seeking redressal of his grievance, the same is still pending consideration, thereby compelling the petitioner to invoke the writ jurisdiction of this Hon’ble Court for appropriate directions. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State submits that the competent authority shall duly consider and decide the representation submitted by the petitioner in accordance with law, and that the same shall be disposed of expeditiously within a reasonable time frame. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and taking into account the submissions made, the concerned respondent authorities are hereby directed to consider and decide the representation of the petitioner within a period of 45 days. It is further observed that, if the petitioner intends to submit a fresh and better representation, he shall be at liberty to do so, and upon such submission, the respondent authorities shall duly consider the same. In such an event, the representation shall be taken up for consideration within 10 days of its receipt, and the final decision thereon shall be rendered strictly in accordance with law within a period of 45 days from the date of submission of the said 5 representation. 7. With this observation and direction, the writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Raghu Jat