The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Chandigarh, and other respondents to provisionally allow five constables to undergo the Lower School Course for promotion to the post of Head Constable along with 42 other candidates already deputed for the course.
Karandeep Sodhi and four other constables approached the Tribunal through advocate Nitin Sharma, seeking directions to allow them to participate in the course along with the other candidates, in accordance with Standing Order No. 48 of 2023 issued by the Chandigarh Police.
Counsel for the applicants argued that due to non-implementation of the standing order, they were denied the opportunity to participate in the course. As per Standing Order No. 48 of 2023, 63 vacancies for the post of Head Constable were required to be calculated. However, the department allegedly calculated only 42 vacancies, which the applicants termed a clear violation of the standing order.
The counsel further argued that because of the incorrect calculation, the applicants were denied the opportunity to attend the course despite having cleared the written and medical examinations for the Lower School Course in List B along with the other 42 candidates.
It was also argued that the respondents committed procedural errors in violation of rules and regulations, causing hardship to the applicants without any fault on their part.
After hearing the arguments, the Tribunal observed that the respondents had placed no material on record to justify why the applicants had not been deputed for the Lower School Course.
“As such, we find force in the arguments of the applicants for interim relief. In view of the above observations, we are of the considered opinion that a prima facie case for interim directions is made out in favour of the applicants,” the Bench observed.
Accordingly, the Tribunal directed the respondents to provisionally depute the applicants to undergo the Lower School Course along with the 42 candidates already sent for training.
The Tribunal clarified that the interim directions would not create any vested right in favour of the applicants and that the further promotion process concerning them would remain subject to the final outcome of the original application.
The matter has been adjourned to July 27, 2026.