- (1.) D. S. Sinha, J. Heard Sri J. J. Moonir, holding brief of Sri J. A. Azmi, learned counsel for the petitioners.
(2.) THE petitioners are Lekhpals serving at Tahsil Phoolpur in the district of Azamgarh. By the impugned order dated 17th August, 1994 they have been transferred to Tahsil Bhoodanpur. THE petitioners feel aggrieved by the transfer. Hence this petition. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that the impugned order of transfer has been passed in contravention of sub-rule (b) of Rule 21 of the Lekhpals' Service Rules, 1958 (hereinafter called the Rules) inasmuch as Tahsil Phoolpur is under operation for consolidation of holdings and the transfer of the lekhpal from the area where the consolidation operations are on cannot be effected without consulting the Records or Settlement Officer or the Settlement Officer of Consolidation. Sub-rule (b) of Rule 21 of the Rules provides that when any tract is under survey, record or settlement operation or under the operations for consolidation of holdings, the transfer of a Lekhpal outside the area under the aforesaid operation, shall not be made by the Collector or the Assistant Collector without consulting the Records or Settlement Officer or the Settle ment Officer of Consolidation, as the case may be.
(3.) IT is to be noticed that before the provision of sub-rule (b) of Rule 21 of the Rules can be invoked, it has to be demonstrated that the area is under survey, records or settlement and the transfer of a Lekhpal outside the area has been ordered without the consultation envisaged by the sub-rule. In the instant petition, there is no factual foundation to sustain the plea that the Tahsil Phoolpur is under the consolidation operation. Likewise;