CAT order on transfer: Hassan DC Rohini moves High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of former Hassan deputy commissioner Rohini Sindhuri's petition, challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal's order on technical grounds.

Rohini has moved the court challenging the CAT order that upheld her transfer as Hassan DC. Rohini was posted as the commissioner, department of employment and training, Bengaluru, on March 7

A division bench headed by Justice H G Ramesh adjourned the hearing of the petition to Wednesday on the request of the petitioner's counsel.

The court observed that one of the pages of the CAT order upholding her transfer was missing. The petitioner's counsel sought time to submit the same and requested to adjourn the hearing.

The petitioner contended that the CAT had ignored the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Prakash Singh and others Vs Union of India case (2006), in which it said the transfers of IAS officers should be done as per the recommendations of the board of civil services. The Supreme Court’s judgement is binding on all courts and tribunals, she said.

The CAT had dismissed Rohini's petition that questioned her transfer within a short period of seven months, alleging mala fide reasons. The petitioner says the transfer order violated IAS regulations, which mandate a minimum two-year stint for cadre posts.

D Randeep, the IAS officer who has been transferred to the post of Hassan DC, has filed a caveat, praying the court to hear him before passing any order in the matter.