1 2026:CGHC:8437 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 7539 of 2019 Birendra Kumar Singh, S/o. Late Rama Shankar Singh, Aged About 54 Years, R/o. Village - Bijuri Colliery, Q.No. 44, Post - Bijuri Colliery, District - Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. ... Petitioner versus 1 - South Eastern Coal Fields Limited, Through Chairman-Cum Managing Director, South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Seepat Road Bilaspur, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Area General Manager, South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Hasdeo Area, P.O. – Jhagrakhand, District – Korea, Chhattisgarh 3 - General Manager (Personnel), South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Hasdeo Area, P.O. – Jhagrakhand, District – Korea, Chhattisgarh 4 - Deputy Chief Personnel Manager, South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Hasdeo Area, P.O. – Jhagrakhand, District – Korea, Chhattisgarh ... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. Chandresh Shrivastava, Advocate For Respondents : Mr. Sudhir Kumar Bajpai, Advocate ASHOK SAHU Digitally signed by ASHOK SAHU Date: 2026.02.17 17:11:14 +0530 2 (Single Bench) Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal Order on Board 17.02.2026 1. This writ petition is directed against the order dated 09.03.2018 passed by the SECL/respondents by which the petitioner’s date of birth is held to be 12.02.1961 in place of 25.04.1965. 2. Mr. Chandresh Shrivastava, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that without affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, date of birth of the petitioner has been modified, therefore, the impugned order deserves to be set aside. 3. Mr. Sudhir Kumar Bajpai, learned counsel for the respondents would support the impugned order and submit that after proper enquiry, the date of birth of the petitioner was modified, therefore, the petition is liable to be dismissed. 4. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the documents meticulously. 5. Admittedly, before changing the date of birth of the petitioner from 25.04.1965 to 12.02.1961, no opportunity of hearing has been afforded to the petitioner, which is illegal and violative of principle of natural justice. Therefore, the impugned order 09.03.2018 3 (Annexure P-1) is set aside and the matter is remitted back to the SECL for passing a fresh order with regard to date of birth of the petitioner after affording proper opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. Since the petitioner has already been retired, enquiry be concluded and appropriate order be passed within 45 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed to the above extent. No cost. Sd/- (Sanjay K. Agrawal) Ashok Judge