Applicant directed to be promoted against a supernumerary post pending regular vacancies.

The applicant, a Chief Office Superintendent in South Western Railway, challenged Panel No. 163 dated 14 August 2025, issued following a notification for filling four Assistant Personnel Officer (APO) posts under the 70% quota.

He sought, among other reliefs, inclusion in the panel in place of the third respondent, whom he alleged was junior and did not meet the requirements of selection by seniority-cum-suitability.

The Tribunal noted that the issue had been addressed in OA No. 397/2025, Kiran v. General Manager, South Western Railway & Ors., decided the same day, and disposed of this application on similar terms.

1. Whether the applicant was entitled to relief concerning Panel No. 163 and promotion to the APO post under the 70% quota, in light of the decision in OA No. 397/2025.

2. Whether the respondents should create a supernumerary post to accommodate the applicant pending the availability of regular vacancies.

The application was brought under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which provides the procedural basis for an application before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal treated its decision in OA No. 397/2025, Kiran v. General Manager, South Western Railway & Ors. as governing the issue and disposed of this application “in similar terms”.

It also made the relief subject to any further orders of the Supreme Court in the Jarnail Singh batch of cases, in terms of Railway Board letter No. 2018-E(SCT)1/25/9 dated 22 June 2022.

The Tribunal did not set out a separate assessment of the applicant’s challenge to the panel or the relative suitability of the applicant and the third respondent.

Instead, it held that the issue was no longer res integra because of its decision in OA No. 397/2025 and adopted the same approach here.

The operative directions therefore provide for the applicant’s accommodation through a supernumerary post, while making the relief subject to the specified Supreme Court proceedings.

The exercise must be completed within eight weeks of receipt of a certified copy of the order.

The applicant is entitled to consequential benefits, but not arrears of pay and allowances; the directions remain subject to further orders of the Supreme Court in the Jarnail Singh batch of cases.

The OA was disposed of with no order as to costs.