Dismissed¶71

The Union of India v. Manoj Kumar Gupta

Patna HC25 Nov 2025CWJC/15090/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Reservation in promotion; M. Nagraj Vs. Union of India (2006)8 SCC 212; CAT Patna Bench orders dated 29.05.2025; O.A. No. 050/01120/2019; O.A. No. 050/01191/2019; Md. Yaqub Ansari O.A. No. 582 of 2013; C.W.J.C. No. 15010 of 2017; SLP (c) No. 020239 of 2018; East Central Railway Din Dayal Upadhyay porters/levermen/shuntman; redrawal of Class-D promotion panel without SC/ST reservation benefit; writ petitions dismissed; further three months granted to implement CAT order; Patna High Court CWJC Nos. 15090 and 15092 of 2025.

What did the court decide?

Both connected writ petitions (Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case Nos. 15090 and 15092 of 2025) dismissed as bereft of merit; the petitioners granted a further three months' time to implement the CAT order dated 29.05.2025. ¶71

The Union of India Vs Manoj Kumar Gupta — Patna HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶71

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned order dated 29.05.2025 passed by the learned CAT — which rested on the Yaqub Ansari judgment upheld by a coordinate Division Bench of this Court and by the Apex Court — suffers from any legal infirmity warranting interference in these writ petitions. +1 more

¶68

Court's answer

There is no legal infirmity in the impugned order dated 29.05.2025 passed by the learned CAT, since it was rendered by relying on the Yaqub Ansari judgment upheld by a coordinate Bench of this Court and by the Hon'ble Apex Court; consequently, the two writ petitions being bereft of any merit are dismissed.

¶71

Ratio / Principle

Further three months' time is granted to the petitioners (Railways) for implementing the CAT order dated 29.05.2025, as sought by learned counsel.

¶72

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Patna High Court (oral order per Mohit Kumar Shah, J; bench incl. Soni Shrivastava, J), 25-11-2025: dismisses two connected writ petitions by the Union of India / East Central Railway authorities against the orders dated 29.05.2025 of the CAT, Patna Bench in O.A. Nos. 050/01120/2019 and 050/01191/2019. The impugned CAT orders had relied on the CAT judgment dated 02.06.2017 in O.A. No. 582 of 2013 (Md. Yaqub Ansari & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors.), which was upheld by a Division Bench of the Patna High Court on 14.11.2017 in C.W.J.C. No. 15010 of 2017 and by the Supreme Court on 13.07.2018 in SLP (c) No. 020239 of 2018. The reproduced Division Bench portion records that so long as the Constitution Bench judgment in M. Nagraj Vs. Union of India (2006)8 SCC 212 stands, benefit of reservation in promotion cannot be granted, and directs redrawing of the promotion panel without SC/ST reservation benefit from Class-D posts. Counsel for the petitioners conceded he could not differ with the applicability of that judgment; the Court found no legal infirmity in the impugned order, dismissed both petitions as bereft of merit, and granted a further three months to implement the CAT orders.

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

¶2

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 15090 of 2025

¶3

======================================================

¶4

The Union of India through the General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O.- Digghi Kalan P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District- Vaishali, PIN Code- 844101 (Bihar).

¶5

The General Manager (Personnel), East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O. Digghi Kalan, P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District- Vaishali, PIN 844101 (Bihar).

¶6

The Principal Chief Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O. Digghi Kalan, P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District Vaishali, Pin 844101 (Bihar).

¶7

The Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli- 232101 (U.P).

¶8

The Senior Divisional Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli - 232101 (U.P.).

¶9

The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli - 232101 (U.P.).

¶10

The Senior Divisional Financial Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli - 232101 (U.P.).

¶11

... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

¶13

Manoj Kumar Gupta Son of Chandradeo Prasad Gupta, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶14

Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Son of Hargovind Prasad, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶15

Om Prakash Pal, Son of Rajendra Pal, Porter, MTGE/MGS, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶16

Rajeev Ranjan Kumar, Son of Late Devendra Garai, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶17

Anuj Kumar, Son of Jai Ram Prasad, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶18

Ritesh Kumar Yadav Son of Kailash Yadav, Porter/GAQ/MGS, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶19

Manikant Kumar, Son of Ramanand Singh, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶20

Ajeet Kumar Pal, Son of Kashi Nath Pal, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶21

Patna High Court CWJC No.15090 of 2025(2) dt.25-11-2025 2/6

¶22

... ... Respondent/s

¶23

======================================================

¶24

with

¶25

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 15092 of 2025

¶26

======================================================

¶27

The Union of India through the General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O. Digghi Kalan P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District Vaishali, Pin Code844101 (Bihar).

¶28

The General Manager (Personnel), East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O. Digghi Kalan, P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District- Vaishali, Pin - 844101 (Bihar).

¶29

The Principal Chief Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur, P.O. Digghi Kalan, P.S. Hajipur (Sadar), District Vaishali, Pin 844101 (Bihar).

¶30

The Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli- 232101 (U.P).

¶31

The Senior Divisional Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli- 232101 (U.P).

¶32

The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli- 232101 (U.P).

¶33

The Senior Divisional Financial Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli- 232101 (U.P).

¶34

... ... Petitioner/s

¶35

Versus

¶36

Manoj Kumar Son of Late Ram Hari Gope, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶37

Rajmani Kumar Pandey, Son of Bindeshwari Pandey, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District Chandauli.

¶38

Chandradeep Yadav, Son of Raj Kumar Yadav, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶39

Rajesh Kumar-II, Son of Ram Chandra Prasad, Porter, East Central Railway, Haider Nagar.

¶40

Md. Sajid Ansarai, Son of Late Md. Iihaur Ansari, Leverman, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶41

Nilesh Kumar, Son of Kamlesh Prasad Singh, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶42

Satish Kumar Singh, Son of Badri Narayan Singh, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶43

Satya Prakash Yadav, Son of Nirmal Yadav, Porter, East Central Railway,

¶44

Patna High Court CWJC No.15090 of 2025(2) dt.25-11-2025 3/6

¶45

Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶46

Vishwa Mohan Kumar, Son of Lalit Vijay Singh, Leverman, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District Chandauli.

¶47

Ranvir Kumar, Son of Nasib Singh, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District Chandauli.

¶48

Pawan Kumar Saha, Son of Tapan Saha, Shuntman, Porter, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay, District- Chandauli.

¶49

... ... Respondent/s

¶50

======================================================

¶51

Appearance:

¶52

(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 15090 of 2025) For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Kumar Priya Ranjan, Sr. Panel Counsel Mr. Kumar Gangesh Gunjan, Advocate, C.G.C. For the Respondent/s : Mr. (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 15092 of 2025) For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Kumar Priya Ranjan, Sr. Panel Counsel Mr. Kumar Gangesh Gunjan, Advocate, C.G.C. For the Respondent/s : Mr.

¶53

======================================================

¶54

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH and

¶55

HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. SONI SHRIVASTAVA

¶56

ORAL ORDER

¶57

(Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH)

¶58

2 25-11-2025 Though the aforesaid two writ petitions have been preferred against the order dated 29.05.2025 passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna Bench, Patna (hereinafter referred to as the ‘learned CAT’), in O.A. No. 050/01120/2019 and O.A. No. 050/01191/2019, however at the outset the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners has not disputed the fact that the judgment relied upon by the learned

¶59

Patna High Court CWJC No.15090 of 2025(2) dt.25-11-2025 4/6

¶60

CAT in the impugned order dated 29.05.2025 i.e. the one passed by the learned CAT on 02.06.2017 in O.A. No. 582 of 2013 ( Md. Yaqub Ansari & Ors. vs. The Union of India & Ors. ), has not only been upheld by the learned Division Bench of this Court vide judgment dated 14.11.2017, passed in C.W.J.C. No. 15010 of 2017 ( The Union of India & Ors. vs. Md. Yaqub & Ors. ) but has also been upheld by the Hon’ble Apex Court by an order dated 13.07.2018, passed in SLP (c) No. 020239 of 2018.

¶61

At this juncture, it may be relevant to reproduce the operative portion of the judgment dated 14.11.2017 rendered by the learned Division Bench of this Court in the case of Md. Yaqub Ansari & Ors. (supra) herein below:-

¶62

“So long as the Constitution Bench judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered in M. Nagraj Vs. Union of India reported in (2006)8 SCC 212 stands, benefit of reservation in promotion cannot be granted.

¶63

The Tribunal therefore has applied the principles and set aside the panel and directed the Railways to redraw the panel without giving the benefit of reservation to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes candidates in the matter of grant of promotion from the post of Class-D post.

¶64

Similar view of the Tribunal has also been upheld by the High Court and, therefore, no interference is warranted with the decision of the Tribunal in the present writ

¶65

Patna High Court CWJC No.15090 of 2025(2) dt.25-11-2025 5/6

¶66

application.

¶67

The Court also deprecates the conduct of the Railways authorities because they seem to be committing same kind of abrasion time and again which only shows that they have no respect for law. In fact the Court was inclined to impose exemplary cost upon the Railways for such repeated violations which are not condonable. In view of the above, writ is dismissed. Let the order of CAT be complied forthwith.”

¶68

In view of the aforesaid, we find that the learned counsel for the petitioners is not in a position to differ with the applicability of the aforesaid judgment rendered by the learned CAT in the case of Yaqub Ansari & Ors. (supra) as upheld by a coordinate Bench of this Court as also by the Hon’ble Apex Court, consequently has not been able to put forth any ground to assail the validity, correctness and legality of the impugned order dated 29.05.2025.

¶69

Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and having heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, we find that the impugned order dated 29.05.2025 has been rendered by the Ld. CAT by relying on a judgment passed by the Ld. CAT in the case of Yaqub Ansari & Ors. (supra), which has not only been upheld by a coordinate Bench of this Court but also by the Hon’ble Apex Court, hence there is no legal infirmity in the

¶70

Patna High Court CWJC No.15090 of 2025(2) dt.25-11-2025 6/6

¶71

impugned order dt. 29.05.2025, passed by the Ld. CAT, thus the aforesaid two writ petitions being bereft of any merit are dismissed.

¶72

At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the learned CAT has prescribed three months’ time for implementing the order dt. 29.05.2025, which has already expired, hence the petitioners be granted further three months’ time for implementing the said order dated 29.05.2025. Time, so sought, is granted.

¶73

(Mohit Kumar Shah, J)

¶74

(Soni Shrivastava, J)

¶75

S.Sb/-

¶76

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
The Union of India through the General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur¶4
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The General Manager (Personnel), East Central Railway, Hajipur¶5
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Principal Chief Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur¶6
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay¶7
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay¶8
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay¶9
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Financial Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay¶10
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
respondent
Manoj Kumar Gupta¶13
respondent
Ravi Ranjan Kumar¶14
respondent
Om Prakash Pal¶15
respondent
Rajeev Ranjan Kumar¶16
respondent
Anuj Kumar¶17
respondent
Ritesh Kumar Yadav¶18
respondent
Manikant Kumar¶19
respondent
Ajeet Kumar Pal¶20
petitioner
The Union of India through the General Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶27
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The General Manager (Personnel), East Central Railway, Hajipur (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶28
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Principal Chief Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Hajipur (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶29
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶30
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Operating Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶31
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶32
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
petitioner
The Senior Divisional Financial Manager, East Central Railway, Din Dayal Upadhyay (in CWJC No. 15092 of 2025)¶33
Kumar Priya Ranjan, Kumar Gangesh Gunjan
respondent
Manoj Kumar¶36
respondent
Rajmani Kumar Pandey¶37
respondent
Chandradeep Yadav¶38
respondent
Rajesh Kumar-II¶39
respondent
Md. Sajid Ansarai¶40
respondent
Nilesh Kumar¶41
respondent
Satish Kumar Singh¶42
respondent
Satya Prakash Yadav¶43
respondent
Vishwa Mohan Kumar¶46
respondent
Ranvir Kumar¶47
respondent
Pawan Kumar Saha¶48

Coram

AI extract

Mohit Kumar Shahauthor¶57
Soni Shrivastavamember¶55

The Union of India v. Manoj Kumar Gupta

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

The Union of India v. Manoj Kumar Gupta

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

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Parties & counsel

Coram

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