GUWAHATI, India, March 4 -- Gauhati High Court issued the following order on Feb. 4:

1. Heard Mr. B. Pathak, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. S. S. Roy, learned Central Government Counsel for the respondents.

2. By filing this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to the respondent authorities to consider his case for promotion to the rank of Subedar Major/GD (General Duty) as per his seniority, i.e. with effect from the date when his junior was promoted, by expunging/ignoring any uncommunicated adverse entry in his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) and to grant all consequential service benefits.

3. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that he was enrolled in the Assam Rifles on 19.04.1986 as a Rifleman/GD and was posted to the 19th Assam Rifles in the year 1987. He was promoted to the rank of Havildar/GD in the year 1998 and subsequently to the rank of Naib Subedar/GD in the year 2005 and thereafter to the rank of Subedar/GD in the year 2010.

4. It is the contention of the petitioner that after promotion to Subedar/GD, his next higher promotional rank is Subedar Major/GD. The petitioner has completed the qualitative requirements for promotion and being the senior-most Subedar in his category, was due to be considered for promotion in the year 2022. Despite his eligibility, the petitioner has been deprived of promotion, while the said benefit has been granted to his juniors. Aggrieved by the said action, the petitioner approached the respondent authorities for the grant of promotion as per his seniority or to communicate the reason for non-consideration of his promotion. Despite requesting the respondents to communicate the reason, his grievance was ignored. Thereafter, the petitioner served a legal notice dated 23.12.2024 seeking promotion as per his seniority.

5. It is contended that the respondent authorities, vide letter dated 17.02.2025, informed the petitioner that his case had been considered by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) held in the year 2022, wherein, his last five Annual Confidential Reports/Annual Performance Assessment Reports (ACRs/APARs) for 2017-2021 were examined and he was graded "High Average" (05 points) in 2017, 2018 & 2019 and "Average" (04 points), below the prescribed benchmark of "Above Average" (07 points) i.e. "Very Good" required for promotion. Consequently, the name of the petitioner was not recommended for promotion to Subedar Major/GD, being ineligible under the ACR criteria.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=A9S7c5LDIsB6RXaCf816xwXBO6FayIq0Qz1n8223FZfbW6iFZXw%2FBLkkjGn3f9yQ&caseno=WP(C)/1889/2025&cCode=1&cino=GAHC010066562025&state_code=6&appFlag=)

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