Mandatory disposal of long-pending representations regarding MACP financial upgradations through reasoned and speaking orders.

The applicant, a retired Pump Driver (aged 68), filed this Original Application (O.A.) seeking financial upgradations under the 2nd and 3rd Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) schemes.

He contended that despite being senior and similarly situated to other Pump Drivers who received these benefits via an Office Memorandum dated 25.05.2023, the respondents failed to extend the same to him.

The applicant submitted a representation on 08.08.2024, followed by reminders on 29.01.2025 and 03.11.2025, which remained undecided by the Delhi Jal Board.

The applicant requested the Tribunal to direct the respondents to grant the benefits or, alternatively, to decide his pending representations.

1. Whether the respondents are obligated to consider and decide the pending administrative representations regarding the grant of 2nd and 3rd MACP benefits to the applicant in a time-bound manner.

The court followed the administrative law principle regarding the exhaustion of remedies and the duty of competent authorities to pass reasoned orders on employee representations.

The court primarily exercised its power under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, to ensure administrative accountability and the disposal of grievances through "reasoned and speaking orders".

The Tribunal did not delve into the substantive merits of the applicant’s entitlement to MACP benefits or the issue of limitation.

It focused on the procedural lapse of the respondents in failing to respond to multiple representations spanning over a year.

During the hearing, the applicant’s counsel limited the prayer to a direction for the disposal of the pending representations, and the respondents’ counsel expressed no objection to this limited direction.

Consequently, the Tribunal determined that the most appropriate remedy at this stage was to compel the competent authority to perform its administrative duty by reviewing the applicant's case against the benefits granted to his juniors.

It directed the competent authority of the Delhi Jal Board to consider and decide the applicant's representations dated 08.08.2024, 29.01.2025, and 03.11.2025 by passing a "reasoned and speaking order" within eight weeks of receiving the certified copy of the judgment.

No costs were awarded.