1 2026:CGHC:19784 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 2955 of 2021 1 - Naresh Kumar Dewangan S/o Ramesh Chandra Dewangan Aged About 42 Years Working As Assistant Grade - Iii, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kalcha, Block Jagdalpur, District Bastar Chhattisgarh., District : Bastar(Jagdalpur), Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Education Department, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur Chhattisgarh., District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Director Public Instructions Indrawati Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, District Raipur Chhattisgarh., District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 3 - Collector Jagdalpur, District Bastar Chhattisgarh., District : Bastar(Jagdalpur), Chhattisgarh 4 - District Education Officer Jagdalpur, District Bastar Chhattisgarh., District : Bastar(Jagdalpur), Chhattisgarh ---- Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. CJK Rao, Advocate For State : Mr. Abhyuday Tripathi, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 29.04.2026 1. Heard. 2. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking following relief(s) : “10.1. That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus setting-aside the impugned gradation list dated 17.01.2011 (Annexure P/4). 10.2. That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to consider the seniority of the petitioner w.e.f. 17.01.2011 in place of 09.08.2012. 10.3. That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other relief as it may deems fit and appropriate.” REKHA SINGH -2- 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that initially, the petitioner was appointed on the post of Assistant Grade-III in the office of Collector, Bijapur vide order dated 30.12.2010. He joined services on 17.01.2011. He would further submit that services of the petitioner were transferred to the office of the Collector Jagdalpur, District Bastar (C.G.) vide order dated 30.07.2012 and he joined services on 09.08.2012. He would contend that seniority list of Assistant Grade-III was published by the District Education Officer Bastar, District Bastar as on 01.04.2020, wherein, seniority of the petitioner was reckoned from 09.08.2012, whereas, according to Circular dated 21.05.2013, it should be reckoned from initial date of appointment i.e. 17.01.2011. He would further contend that the representation was made before respondent No.4 on 24.02.2021 but till date, said representation has not been decided. 4. On the other hand, learned Panel Lawyer appearing for the State would oppose the submissions. He would submit that services of the petitioner were transferred to the office of the Collector Jagdalpur vide order dated 30.07.2012 and the petitioner joined services on 09.08.2012, therefore, his seniority is being reckoned from said date. He would further submit that the petition deserves to be dismissed. 5. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the documents placed on record. 6. Clause 3 of the Circular dated 21.05.2013 reads as under : “3. इस सबंध में शा सन द्वा रा यह स्पष्ट किय जा ता ह कि उपराक्ता अधिधसचन दिन  17.01.2012 जा रा हन! ! पर्व# स! ह किर्वभि%न्न जिजालों) में  य#राता में#च रिराय) + सर्वर्ग#र्व रा र्वरिराष्ठता सच , प्रचलिलोंता प्र र्वध न) ! अन0स रा पर्व# ! जिजालों! में ह सध रिराता + जा एर्ग एर्व उस र्वरिराष्ठता ! आध रा परा %किर्वष्य में उन+ पन्नकिता % हर्ग ताथा प्रशा स+य आध रा परा उन अन्तारा जिजालों स्था न न्ताराण % ह स! र्ग । लों!किन उक्ता अधिधसचन दिन  17.01.2012 जा रा हन! ! पश्चा ता: एर्व %किर्वष्य में अन्य स% र्ग ! जिजालों) स! स्था न तारिराता हरा बंस्तारा एर्व सरार्ग0जा स% र्ग ! जिजालों) में पस्था हन! र्व लों! में#च रिराय) + र्वरिराष्ठता , स्था न न्तारिराता नए जिजालों! में उन! सर्वर्ग# में पर्व# स!  य#राता 3 में#च रिराय) ! ठी= न च! किनध #रिराता हर्ग ताथा उन! में मेंलों! में अन्ताराजिजालों स्था न न्ताराण प्रकिताबंधिधता रान! सबंध समेंस्ता किन>शा लों र्ग ह)र्ग!।" 7. The petitioner was initially appointed on the post of Assistant Grade- III in the Office of the Collector, Bijapur vide order dated 30.12.2010 and he joined services on 17.01.2011. His services were transferred to the office of the Collector jagdalpur vide order dated 30.07.2012 and he joined services on 09.08.2012. Respondent No.4 published the gradation list, wherein, seniority of the petitioner has been reckoned from 09.08.2012 contrary to Clause 3 of the Circular dated 21.05.2013. The authority concerned should have reckoned the seniority of the petitioner from initial date of appointment i.e. 17.01.2011 as he was transferred within the Division. 8. Taking into consideration the above-discussed facts, this petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.4 to decide the pending representation dated 24.02.2021 preferably within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The respondent authorities are directed to consider subsequent claim of the petitioner also. 9. With the aforesaid observation(s)/direction(s), the present petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) Judge Rekha