Holding

Retrospective regularisation of both temporary promotee and directly appointed temporary Health Inspectors is valid, and the orders fixing their seniority are upheld.

Summary

The appellants, who were temporarily appointed as Health Inspectors between 1958 and 1962, challenged the Andhra Pradesh Government's order that retrospectively regularised the services of temporary promotee Health Inspectors (respondents No. 4‑121) under Rule 37(e) of the Public Health Subordinate Service Rules. They also sought similar retrospective regularisation for themselves, which the Government granted on 22‑Feb‑1985 under Rule 23(a). The respondents argued that the promotion of temporary promotees was not in accordance with the Rules because deletion of names from the selection list does not constitute a valid promotion. The Supreme Court examined whether the retrospective regularisation of both categories of temporary appointees was permissible and whether the Tribunal’s dismissal of the appellants’ petition was correct. It held that the order regularising temporary promotees under Rule 37(e) was valid and, consequently, there was no reason to deny the same benefit to the directly appointed temporary Health Inspectors under Rule 23(a). The Court upheld the Government’s orders fixing inter‑se seniority and allowed the appeal.

Issues considered

Whether retrospective regularisation of temporary promotee Health Inspectors under Rule 37(e) of the Andhra Pradesh Public Health Subordinate Service Rules is valid.
Whether the same principle permits retrospective regularisation of directly appointed temporary Health Inspectors under Rule 23(a).
Whether deletion of names from the Public Service Commission selection list amounts to promotion in accordance with the Rules.
Whether the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal was correct in dismissing the appellants’ representation petition.
How inter‑se seniority should be fixed among Health Inspectors after retrospective regularisation.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 309

Subjects

service lawretrospective regularisationtemporary appointmentpromotion rulesseniorityadministrative tribunalpublic health subordinate serviceRule 37(e)Rule 23(a)

Judgment

M. JANARDHAN AND ORS. A
v.
STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ORS.

NOVEMBER 26, 1993

[AM. AHMADI AND N. VENKATACHALA, JJ~) B

Constitution of India, 1950: Art. 3~oviso Special Rules for Andhra
Pradesh public health subordinate service framed ·undet-Made applicable
retrospectively-Whether promotion on temporary basis and subsequent
regularisation of the promotees not in accordance with the Rules and therefore C
bad.

Service Law-Andhra Pradesh Public Health Surbordinilte Service
Rules-Regularisation and inter se seniority between temporary-Direct
recruits and temporary promotees-Temporary direct recruits appointed prior
to appointment of temporary promotees in the -cadre of Health Inspe~- D
tors-On representation, the State Government regularised retrospectively the ·
services of temporary promotees from the respective dates of their ille~ility
for promotion as Health Inspectors, making the temporary direct rec1Uits
junior to the temporary promotees. Whether the services of temporary Direct
appointees can likewise be regularised with retrospective effect ? E
During the years 1958 to 1962, the Appellants were directly ap-
pointed as Health Inspectors in Andhra Pradesh Public Health Subor·
dinate Service (APPHSS), on a temporary basis. During the years 1961 to
1969, the respondents cadre the feeder were temporarily promoted as
Health Inspectors in the APPHSS. In the mean time, on 31st Dec. 1964 P
Special Rules for APPHSS were framed under Article 309 Proviso, which
were given retorspective effect from 1.11.1956. The Rules required 3 years
qualifying service in the feeder cadre for promotion to the post of Health
Inspector. In 1968, the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission made
selection to the cadre of Health Inspectors in APPHSS, 01,1 a permamnent G
basis. ,The Appeallants as well as the respondents w.:;e selected, but.
respondents were given rankings below the Appellants.

Temporary promotes, respondents No. 4 to 121 approached the State
Government for their regularise~ion as Health Inspectors from the respec-
tive dates of their eligibility for promotion on temporary basis by deleting H
845
846 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1993) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A their names from the select list so as to make them Senior to the Appellants.
By proceedings dt. April, 1977 the Services of temporary promotees were
regularised by the Govt. from the respective dates of their ilegibility.

The appellants challenged the regularisation of temporary
promotees with retrospective effect before the Tribunal in R.P. No. 507 of
B 1977 but on· June 11, 1979 the Tribunal dismissed that petition.

Aggrieved thereby, the Appellants approached this court by way of
special leave. Leave was granted.

In the meanwhile, the Appellants also made a representation to the
C State Govt. seeking retrospective regularisation as Health Inspectors with
reference to their initial appointments on temporary basis as had been
done in the case of Respondents Nos. 4 to 121, the promotees. By its order
dt. 22.2.1985, the A.P. Govt. regularised the services as of direct appointees
as Health Inspectors with retrospective effect. The promotees Health In-
D spectors challenged the retrospective regularisation of the directly ap-
pointed Health Inspectors by filing a petition before the Tribunal. By its
order dated 7.3.1986, the Tribunal di.smissed that petition but that order
was made subject to the outcome of the Appeal pending in this Court, on
2.2.89 the respondent No. 2 submitted a report to the State Government on
the follow up action.
E
Allowing the Appeal, the Court

HELD : 1. Rule 37 (e) of the A.P. Public Health Subordinate Service
Rules eM\.kd regularisation of temporary promotee Health Inspectors in
the Cadre of APPHSS from an anterior date. However, there is no material
F which would show that such regularisation of the temporary promotee
Respondents No. 4 to 121 had been made subsequent to their promotion, in
accordance with the Rules, a pre-condition envisaged under Rule 37(e) of
the Rules. Public Service Commission's deletion of names from the selec-
tion list cannot amount to their promotion in accordance with the Rules.
G Ht>wever, the Appellants have not sought to challenge on that ground and
therefore, the decision cannot be made on that infirmity. [853-D-E]

2. If the order of the State Government giving retrospective
regularisation to promotee Health Inspectors Under Rule 37(e) of the
Rules can stand, there is no good reason why the order of the said Govem-
H ment dt. 22.2.1985 giving retrospective regularisation for directly appointed
- M. JANARDHAN v. STATE [VENKATACHALA, J.] 847

Health Inspectors cannot stand, particularly when giving of such retrospec- A
tive regularisation is traceable to rule 23(a). [853-F-G]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 979 of
1981.

From the Judgment and Order dated 11.6.79 of the Andhra Pradesh B
Administrative Tribunal in Representation Petition No. 507 of 1977.

- H.S. Gururaj Rao and T.V. Ratnam for the Appellants.

K. Madhava Reddy, G. Prabhakar, T.V.S.N. Chari, Ram Kumar,
c
J anaki Ramachandran for the Respondents.

S.Markandeya, Ajay Singh and Ms. C. Markandeya for the inter-
vener.

Y.P. Rao for impleading party Respondents. Nos. 122-125.
D
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

VENKATACHALA, J. This appeal is directed against the Order
dated June 11, 1979 of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, by
which Representation Petition No. 507 of 1977 in which retrospective E
regularisation of the services of promotee Health Inspectors in the cadre
of Health Inspectors in Andhra Pradesh Public Health Subordinate Service
had been questioned by direct recruit Health Inspectors in that very cadre,
is dismissed.

The factual context which furnishes the background in which this F
appeal needs consideration and decision, warrants mention at the outset.

During the years 1958 to 1962 Respondent-2 the Director of Medical
& Health Services, Andhra Pradesh appointed the appellants and a few
others in the Andhra Pradesh Public Health Subordinate Service
(APPHSS) on a temporary basis since all of them had successfully com- G
pleted Sanitary Inspector's Course in Osmania Medical College. Similarly,
during the years 1961 to 1969 Respondent-2 appointed Respondents 4 to
121 who were Health Assistants. Health Sub-Inspectors, Vaccinators etc.
in the feeder cadre, as Health Inspectors in cadre of APPHSS by promot-
ing them temporarily, even though they were not qualified for appointment H
848 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A by promotion as Health Inspectors, in that, they had not put in the requisite
-
•.

service in the feeder cadre. When, in the year 1968, the Andhra Pradesh
Public Service Commission (PSC) invited applications from qualified can-
didates for selection and their appointment as Health Inspectors in the
cadre of APPHSS on a permanent basis, the appellants and Respondents,
4 to 121 who were already in the cadre of APPHSS on temporary basis,
B applied to PSC for being selected and appointed on a permanent basis as
Public Health Inspectors in the said cadre. Indeed, all of them were
selected by PSC and a selection list was prepared by it giving the selectees
rankings on the basis of their comparative merit. The delay in appointing
the selectees according to the selection list, appears to have made some of
C the selectees to approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court, for relief. The
High Court by its Order dated September 20, 1971 in Writ Petition No.
3981 of 1970 has indeed, directed the Government to take steps to appoint
the selectees in the selection list of PSC, as Health Inspectors on a
permanent basis in the cadre of APPHSS.
D
However, Respondents 4 to 121, who were given rankings below the
appellants in the selection list of PSC, but were not to be appointed
accordingly, moved the State Government for their regularisation as Health
Inspectors in the cadre of APPHSS from the respective dates of their
eligibility for promotion to that cadre on temporary basis by getting their
·E names deleted from the selection list of PSC, so as to ·make them become
seniors to appellants in the cadre.

By then, Special Rules for Ancllira Pradesh Public Health Subor-
dinate Service, issued under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution
F of India on December 31, 1964, which were given retrospective effect,
required of persons in the categories of Health Assistants, Health Sub-In-
spectors, Vaccinators etc. of not less then three years of service in those
. posts for being promoted as Health Inspectors. Respondent 2, who wished
to concede to the representation of promotee Health Inspectors, appears
G to have written to PSC, requesting it to delete the names of Respondents
4 to 121 who had been temporarily promoted as Health Inspectors, from
its selection list of Health Inspectors, so as to enable to give retrospective
promotion to them according to the dates on which they had become
eligible for promotion as Health Inspectors. On deletion by the PSC of the
names of Respondents 4 to 121, accordingly, Respondent 2 issued proceed-
H ings dated ' April 1, 1977 ordering commencement of the Probation of
M.JANARDHANv. STATE [VENKATACHALA,J.) 849

promotee Health Inspectors with effect from the dates from which they A
became eligible for promotion as Health inspectors, obviously in exercise
of his powers under rule 37(e) of the Rules, which read :

"37 (e). If such person subsequently promoted to the higher
category in accordance with the rules he shall commence his
probation if any, such category from the date of such subsequent B
promotion or from such earlier date as the appointing authority may
detemiine."

(Emphasis supplied)

It is those proceedings which were questioned by the appellants by
c
filing R.P. No. 507 of 1977 before the Tribunal. As that petition was
dismissed by the Tribunal by its Order·dated June 11, 1979, the present
appeal is filed by the appellants questioning ~he correctness of that Orde~-.

In the meantime, a representation is made to the State Government D
on behalf of the appellants - Health Inspectors who had been temporarily ·:
appointed as Health Inspectors between the years 1957 and 1963 and who
were appoint ... l as Health Inspectors permanently on the· basis of their
selection by PSC and pursuant to the order of the High Court made in a
Writ Petition, seeking their retrospective regularisation as Health Inspec- E
tors with reference to their initial appc;>intment on temporary basis, as had
been done in the case of Respondents 4 to 121, who had been promoted
as Health Inspectors in the cadre of Health Inspectors of APPHSS from

- the Feeder cadres. By its Memorandum No. 46/Hl/84-11, M&H dated
22-2-1985, the Andhra Pradesh Govermr.ent made an order which reads,
thus: F

"In G.O. Ms. No. 3842, Health, dated 31.12.1964 adhoc rules
were framed governing various posts under Andhra Pradesh Jflublic
Health Subordinate services; These rules were given retrospective
effect from 1.11.1956 in G.O, Ms. No. 802, Health dated 29.12.1981 G
certain categories included as Feeder category for promotion to
the post of Health Inspectors were given retrospective effect rang-
ing from 1.11.1956 to 7.9.1%5.

2. The Director of Health & Family Welfare had appointed certain
Health Inspectors directly in the Year 1%2. The Andhra Pradesh H
850 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A Public Service Commission conducted interviews for the post of
Health Inspectors in 1968. The Health Inspectors appointed tem-
porarily have appeared for interviews and the services of these
candidates on selection were regularised in !969. Due to giving
retrospective effect to the certain amendments issued the persons
holding those posts has become seniors as their services were
B regularised retrospectively. Therefore, the Andhra Pradesh Health
(Inspectors (Direct Recruits) Association has represented that
they were appointed 31-s Health Inspector in 1962, temporarily and
they were fully qualified to hold the posts of Health Inspectors
compared to the personnel holding feeder categories have become
c seniors to them. They, therefore, requested to regularise their
services from 1962 to 1968 as they are not responsible for the delay
in holding the examination by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service
Commission.

3. The Government have examined the representation of AP.
D Health Inspectors (Direa Recruitees) Association and consider
that personnel working in the feeder category were given the
benefit of retrospective regularisation of services from 01.11. 1965
to 07.09.1%5 in view of giving retrospective effect to certain
amendments issued and who were fully qualified to hold the post
E had become juniors and they hereby decide to regularise the
services of direct recruit Health Inspectors with retrospective
effect of their continuance in temporary services on the following
conditions subject to the outcome of the SLP (Civil No. 7995179)

F
pending before the Supreme Court.

That the regularisation of direct recruitees Health Inspectors
should be done with retrospective effect by arranging the seniority
-
as per the merit list assigned by the AP. Public Service Commis-
sion by giving notice to the persons to be affected.

The Director of Health & Family Welfare is instructed to take
G
action to regularise the services of direct recruitees Health Inspec-
tors as noted above.

This Memorandum issued with the concurrence of General
Administration (Ser.D) Department vide their U.G.No. 1013/Ser.
H D/84-1 dated 28.11.1984."
M.JANARDHANv. STATE [VENKATACHALA,J.] 851

Promotee Health Inspectors challenged the said order relating to A
retrospective regularisation of Health Inspectors (Appellants) who had
been directly appointed temporarily and later on appointed on the basis of
their selection by PSC, by filing Representation Petition before the
Tribunal. These petitions were dismissed by the Tribunal by an Order
dated 7.3.1986 made thereon, the operative portion of which reads thus :
B
"To sum up whatever consequential steps have been taken in
pursuance of Memo No. 46 dt. 22.2.1985 should be treated as
tentative and the final decision in regard to the retrospective
regularisation of direct recruits should be taken by the Government
after itself considering all the objections or representations made . C
in this connection. As far as consequential steps taken in pursuance
of G.O. Ms. No. 802, are concerned the appointing authorities
should consider any objections that may be raised against the
revision of dates or regularisation on the basis of the said G.O ..
Ms. and give their decision thereon before giving effect to revised D
dates of regularisation on the basis of the said G.O. Ms. No. 802.

I might make an incidental observation that litigation among
the various categories of Health Inspectors is the result of Govern-
ment frequently tampering with the cadre of Health Inspectors in
order to give benefit to one group or other. E
An interesting point to be noted is that Memo No. 46 has been
issued to give benefit to direct recruits keeping in view certain
developments in favour of direct recruits and the judgment of the
Tribunal in R.P. 507/77. The decision taken i,. Memo No. 46 has
been made subject to the decision in the appeal filed in the F
Supreme Court against the Judgment ir. :.P. 507/77. The decision
in the present R.Ps. will also be subject to the same condition in
the circumstances of the case."

The State Government having taken pursue action on .the basis of the G
Order of the Tribunal and obtained reports thereon from Respondent 2,
issued G.O. (Ms) No. 105, Health dated 2.2.1989, the operative part of
which reads, thus :

"4. The Director of Health has submitted his reports along with
the dates of regularisation of direct recruit Health Inspectors, H
852 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A Zone-wise and they are examined and it is decided that the direct
recruits, who were temporarily appointed and subsequently ap-
pointed by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission may
be given the dates of regularisation zone-wise as shown in the
statements I, II, III, IV, V, VI Annexed to this order. It is also
decided that the Departmental Promotees, who have also been
H selected by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, will
be given the dates of regularisation either the dates of selection by
the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission or the dates of
their promotion whichever is advantageous to them.

c 5. The Government, therefore, approve the dates of regularisation
of the Health Inspectors temporarily appointed directly and sub-
sequently selected by Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commissiqn
zone-wise as shown in the Statements I, II, III, IV, V, VI annexed
to this order and communicate to the Director of Health. The
Director of Health is requested to issue necessary instructions to
D the concerned Regional Directors to review the dates of regularisa-
tion of promotees (Departmental candidates) with reference to the
orders issued in G.O. Ms. No. 802, Health, dated 28-12-1981 ,
strictly, according to the rules position i.e., minimum service of 3
years in the feeder category etc. duly fixing the appropriate stage
E for regularisation after considering the objections from the affected
parties fixing a date for the purpose and take a final decision on
the integrated seniority of the Health Inspectors in the respective
zones, subject to outcome of the appeal filed in the Supreme Court
against the orders of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal
in RP.No. 507n7. The departmental promotees, who have also
F
been selected by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission,
shall be given the dates of regularisation either the dates of
selection by Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission or the
dates of their promotion after completion of minimum required
period of 3 years in the feeder category by deleting their names
G from the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commissio~ list,
whichever is advantageous to them."

It becomes apparent from the orders made by the State Government
from time to time and the orders of the Tribunal relating to regularisation
H of Health Inspectors who were directly appointed temporarily in APPHSS,
M.JANARDHANv. STATE [VENKATACHALA,J.] 853

that all of them are made subject to the decision of this Court in the appeal A
pending against the earlier order of the Tribunal in R.P. No. 507177, that
is, the present appeal under consideration.

Having regard to.the aforesaid orders made by the State Government
and the Tribunal in favour of the appellants subsequent to the order of the B
government which was affirmed by the Tribunal's order under the present
appeal, the learned counsel for the appellants submitted before us that the
appellant s would rest content if they are given the benefit of the orders
contained in Memorandum No. 46/Hl/84-11, M&H dated 22.2.1985 and
G.O. (Ms.)No. 105, Health, dated 2.2.1989 of the Government of Andhra
Pradesh, having regard to the hard fact that prolonged litigation may not C
do good to either of the contesting parties. The submission, so made on
behalf of the appellants, warrants our acceptance if regard is had to the
facts and circumstances of the case and its agonising history. As seen from
rule 37 (e) of the Rules to which we have adverted to earlier, it has enabled
regularisation of temporary promotee Health Inspectors in the cadre of D
APPHSS from anterior date. However, we are not shown any material
which would show such regularisation of the temporary proinotee Respon-
dents 4 to 121 had been made after their subsequent promotion in accord-
ance with the Rules, a pre-conditions envisaged under rule 37 (e) of the
Rules. PSC's deletion of their names from the selection list cannot amount
to their promotion in accordance with the Rules. E

Be that as it may, the said flaw was not sought to be availed of, on
behalf of the appellants to have the order of the Tribunal under appeal set
aside, by way of concession. We do not, therefore, propose to base our
decision in this appeal on that infirmity. However, if the order of the State F
Government giving retrospective regularisation to Promotee Health In-
spectors under rule 37(e) of the Rules can stand, we do not see any good
reason why the order of the State Government in memo No. 46/Hl/-84-11,
M&H dated 22.2.1985 giving retrospectively regularisation for directly
appointed Health Inspectors cannot stand, particularly when giving of such
retrospective regularisation is traceable to rule 23 (a), which corresponds G
to rule 37 (e) and reads :

"Rule 23. (a) Date of commencement of probation of persons first
appointed temporarily : If a person, having been appointed tem-
porarily under sub-rule (a) or sub-rule(c) of Rule 10 to a Post H
854 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A borne on the cadre of any service, class or category or having been
appointed to any service, class or category otherwise than in
accordance with the rules governing appointment thereto is sub-
sequently appointed to any service, class or category in accordance
with the rules, he shall commence his probation from the date of
such subsequent appointment or from such earlier date as the ap-
B
pointing authority·may detennine."

(Emphasis supplied)

Hence, giving due regard to the peculiar facts of the case and the
C circumstances in which Orders of retrospective regularisation of temporary
promotees and temporary direct appointees, as Health Inspectors in the
cadres of APPHSS are made, we uphold those Orders and the subsequent
Order made by the State Government in G.O. (Ms.) No. 105, Health dated
2.2.1989, as to fixation of Inter se seniority among them and dispose of this
appeal accordingly, with no costs.
D
A.G. Appeal allowed.