Facts
The applicant, Mrs. V. Nirmaladevi, born on June 5, 1966, is an Assistant Physiotherapy Officer with the Southern Railway
Source reference: p.2She is due to retire on June 30, 2026
Source reference: p.2Initially appointed as Physiotherapist Grade-II on May 2, 1994, she was promoted to Physiotherapist Grade-I on November 30, 2006
Source reference: p.2She was further promoted to the Group ‘B’ Gazetted post of Assistant Physiotherapy Officer on December 26, 2022, after qualifying a written test on September 7, 2022, and a viva voce on November 10, 2022, conducted by Northern Railway pursuant to Railway Board authorization
Source reference: p.2-3The Railway Board had also introduced Group ‘A’ Junior Scale posts for Physiotherapists, with selection processes authorized
Source reference: p.3The applicant, claiming eligibility and availability of vacancies for Group ‘A’ promotion, submitted a representation dated June 16, 2025, to the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Southern Railway Headquarters, requesting consideration for said promotion
Source reference: p.3As of February 19, 2026, despite seven months having passed, no response was communicated to her
Source reference: p.3This OA was filed seeking a direction for consideration of her representation
Source reference: p.3Issues
Whether the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Southern Railway Headquarters, should be directed to consider the applicant's representation dated June 16, 2025, regarding promotion to Group 'A' Junior Scale posts for Physiotherapists
Source reference: p.2, 3Law Applied
The Tribunal did not explicitly cite any specific statutory provisions, rules, or precedents in its oral order.
Source reference: no citationThe underlying principle applied is the general power of administrative tribunals to issue directions to competent authorities to consider representations made by aggrieved parties, ensuring natural justice and timely administrative action
Source reference: p.4, 5Reasoning
The applicant sought a specific direction for the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Southern Railway, to consider her representation dated June 16, 2025, which concerned her promotion to Group ‘A’ Junior Scale posts
Source reference: p.2Despite the representation being submitted on June 16, 2025, and acknowledged, no action or response had been communicated to the applicant for over seven months when the OA was heard on February 19, 2026
Source reference: p.3The counsel for the applicant specifically requested a direction for the respondents to dispose of the representation within a fixed timeframe
Source reference: p.4The Tribunal, observing the limited nature of the relief sought, decided it was appropriate to direct the competent authority to consider the representation
Source reference: p.5The Tribunal explicitly stated that it was not delving into the merits of the case at this preliminary stage, focusing solely on ensuring the representation was addressed by the administration
Source reference: p.5Holding
The Tribunal disposed of the Original Application at the admission stage
The competent authority among the respondents was directed to consider the applicant's representation dated June 16, 2025 (Annexure A-7), and pass an appropriate, speaking, and well-reasoned order within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of the Tribunal's order
Source reference: p.5The Tribunal clarified that it was not entering into the merits of the case
Source reference: p.5Original Court PDF
V NirmaladevivsSOUTHERN RAILWAY
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