The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Jaipur has stepped in to provide interim relief to IPS officer Pankaj Choudhary, directing the Rajasthan government to provisionally consider his long-pending promotion. The order brings a significant development in the officer's career, which has been stalled due to unresolved investigations.
CAT Bench Issues Directive for Provisional Consideration
A bench of the tribunal, comprising members Ranjana Shahi and Lok Ranjan, passed this crucial order on Friday while hearing a petition filed by the officer. Pankaj Choudhary, who currently serves as the Superintendent of Police and Nodal Officer for Community Policing in Rajasthan, had approached the judicial body seeking relief from the prolonged denial of his career advancement.
His counsel, Anupam Agarwal, argued before the tribunal that three promotions due to the IPS officer have been withheld because multiple cases are pending against him. Agarwal highlighted that the CAT had earlier instructed the state government to conduct time-bound investigations into all these cases. However, the government failed to complete the probes within the stipulated timeframe, leading to a continued stall in his promotions.
The Path to Deputy Inspector General Rank
Taking serious note of the inordinate delay, the tribunal has now directed the state authorities to include Choudhary's case for provisional consideration in the forthcoming Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting. If his case is taken up in this year's DPC as per the tribunal's order, Pankaj Choudhary is likely to be promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG).
This interim relief offers a provisional pathway for career progression that has been blocked for an extended period. The tribunal's intervention underscores the importance of timely departmental processes and the rights of officers awaiting promotions due to procedural delays.
Promotion Subject to Final Case Outcome
However, the CAT bench also attached a clear condition to its order. It stated that any provisional promotion granted to the IPS officer would be subject to the final outcome of his petition as well as the completion and results of the pending investigations against him.
This caveat ensures that the provisional relief does not prejudice the ongoing legal processes. The final decision on his promotion will ultimately depend on the conclusions drawn from the investigations that are yet to be completed by the state government.
The order from the Central Administrative Tribunal brings a ray of hope for the officer while balancing the need for due process. It highlights a common administrative challenge where pending inquiries, often delayed, can significantly impact the careers of serving officials. The case will now await the state government's compliance with the tribunal's directive in the next DPC meeting.
