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Judgment
L. Narasimha Reddy, J
The applicant was working as Senior Accountant in the Ministry of External Affairs. She made a representation on 30.01.2019 to the respondents, with a request to promote her on ad hoc basis, to the post of Assistant Accounts Officer. The matter was examined by the concerned authorities and through a communication dated 08.03.2019, the applicant was informed that the request cannot be acceded to, since the left over service of the applicant is less than three months from the date of her representation. The applicant retired from service on 30.04.2019. This O.A. is filed with a prayer to direct the respondents to promote the applicant on notional basis, with all consequential benefits.
The applicant contends that several juniors to her were promoted on ad hoc basis and there was no justification for the respondents in denying the same benefits to her.
We heard Sri Ajai Kumar Srivastava, learned counsel for applicant and Sri Ashok Kumar, learned counsel for respondents, at the stage of admission.
It may be true that some Senior Accountants in the Department, who were juniors to the applicant, were promoted on ad hoc basis, to the post of Assistant Accounts Officer. Things would have been different, had it been a case the applicant approached the Tribunal at a time when she was in service. The respondents were also under obligation to respect the seniority even in the context of making ad hoc promotions. That relief could have certainly been considered. The fact, however, remains that the applicant retired from service on 30.04.2019.
Whatever be the circumstances, though rare, under which an employee can be extended the benefit of notional promotion even after retirement, such a facility does not exist in the case of ad hoc promotions. By their very nature, the ad hoc promotions are granted only to meet the immediate exigencies in the service and no employee would have any right to be promoted on ad hoc basis. At the most, in the context of making ad hoc promotions, the seniority can be required to be respected. Since the applicant has retired from service, such a relief cannot be granted.
We do not find any merit in this O.A. It is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.