Authority: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur
Order Date: 06.07.2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Petitioner – Anand Kumar Ekka, Deputy Account Officer, Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (CSCSC), Sukma; Respondents – State of Chhattisgarh (through Principal Secretary, Food & Civil Supply) and Managing Director, CSCSC.
- Nature of Proceeding: Writ Petition (WPS No. 2345 of 2021) seeking quash of an administrative order dated 03.03.2021 that reverted the petitioner from Deputy Account Officer to Assistant Account Officer.
- Background:
- Appointed Assistant Account Officer initially; promoted to Deputy Account Officer on 21.06.2005 (vide order).
- A departmental enquiry resulted in a penalty of stoppage of three annual increments (cumulative effect) on 14.01.2021.
- On the basis of that penalty, Respondent No. 2 issued an order on 03.03.2021 reverting the petitioner to Assistant Account Officer, without affording a hearing for the reversion.
- Petitioner’s Reliefs Sought:
1. Call for entire case records.
2. Quash the 03.03.2021 order and allow continuation as Deputy Account Officer.
3. Any other relief deemed fit together with costs.
- Respondents’ Contentions: The penalty of three‑increment stoppage justified the reversion; the petitioner had been given sufficient opportunity; the order is appealable under Rule 24 of Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2005.
- Court’s Observations: The petitioner was indeed promoted on 21.06.2005 and penalised on 14.01.2021. However, the reversion order of 03.03.2021 was passed without any hearing or a fresh departmental enquiry concerning the reversion, rendering it unsustainable in law.
Final Outcome
- The High Court quashes the order dated 03.03.2021 that reverted Anand Kumar Ekka to Assistant Account Officer.
- The Respondent (CSCSC) is at liberty to take any future decision regarding the petitioner’s post only after affording a proper opportunity of hearing and in accordance with law.
Topics: Administrative Law, Civil Service Promotion