Promotion cancellation is unsustainable absent departmental inquiry, charge-sheet, or adverse material.

The four petitioners, Assistant Teachers (L.B.) in Gariyaband district, sought consideration for promotion to Head Master (Primary School) under the promotion order dated 31 October 2022.

They relied on the High Court’s order dated 1 April 2026 in WPS No. 1011 of 2023 and a connected matter, and requested disposal on the same terms.

The Court found the controversy substantially identical and noted that the State had shown no distinguishing feature.

Whether the petitioners’ promotion claims should be considered on the same terms as the claims in WPS No. 1011 of 2023 and the connected matter.

Whether any distinguishing circumstance justified a different conclusion in the present petition.

No statute or separate legal provision was identified in this order.

where no departmental inquiry is pending, no charge-sheet has been issued, and no adverse material is identified, the authorities must consider the employees’ promotion claims in accordance with law; a cancellation of promotion in those circumstances is liable to be set aside

The Court treated the earlier decision as controlling because the present controversy was substantially identical and the State demonstrated no relevant distinction.

It therefore applied the earlier decision’s directions and disposed of the petition on the same terms, without undertaking a separate assessment of the petitioners’ individual eligibility.

That order directed the authorities to consider the petitioners’ promotion claims in accordance with law and set aside the relevant promotion-cancellation order in the absence of a departmental inquiry, charge-sheet, or adverse material.