V K Bhardwaj v. State of H.P
Service law – Annual Confidential Report (ACR)/APAR – communication of entries
Case brief
What is this about?
Non-communication of ACR/APAR entries; 'Good' grading; DPC dated 20.05.2009; promotion of juniors; Chief Engineer, National Highway HP PWD; Dev Dutt (2008) 8 SCC 725; Abhijit Ghosh Dastidar (2009) 16 SCC 146; Sukhdev Singh (2013) 9 SCC 566; U.P. Jal Nigam (1996) 2 SCC 363; Major Bahadur Singh (2006) 1 SCC 368; R.K. Jibanlata Devi (2023) 19 SCC 472; supernumerary post; retrospective/notional promotion; seniority; Article 14 arbitrariness; office memorandum dated 07.03.2011; CWPOA No.2953 of 2019; Himachal Pradesh High Court; Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, Judge; decided 19th May, 2026.
What did the court decide?
Petition allowed: respondents directed to promote the petitioner as Chief Engineer w.e.f. 22.05.2009 with all consequential benefits; respondents-State to create a supernumerary post of Chief Engineer if the post is not available; promotions of private respondents No.3 to 5 (since retired) not to be disturbed; no order as to costs; pending applications disposed of.