Kapur, J. - (1.) This is a plaintiff's appeal against an appellate decree of District Judge Ishwar Das dated 25-5-1953 confirming the decree of the trial Court dismissing the plaintiff's suit with costs.
(2.) The facts of the case are that the plaintiff is a Drawing Master in the grade of Rs. 50-3-80/4-100. In February 1951 certain teachers were given promotion into the next grade of Rs. 105-7-140 and the plaintiff was not given this promotion which he claims to be contrary to the rules made by the Punjab Government, and he brought a suit on 21-12-1951 for declaration that he was entitled to be placed in the grade of pay of Rs. 105-7-140 in order of his seniority. Both Courts below have decided the case against the plaintiff and he has come up in appeal to this Court.
(3.) Mr. Dua has relied on Rule 7-A which was added by a notification of the Punjab Government dated 25-10-1948, which is No. 7094 (G) - 48/57526. This rule provides : "7-A. Without prejudice to the provisions of Rule 7 no order imposing the penalty specified in Clause (i), (ii) or (iv) of Rule 4 (other than an order based on facts which have led to his conviction in a Criminal Court or an order superseding Him for promotion to a higher post on the ground of his unfitness for that post) on any Government servant to whom these rules are applicable shall be passed unless he has been given an adequate opportunity of making any representation that he may desire to make and such representation, if any, has been taken into consideration before the order is passed: * * *" The penalties are provided in Rule 14-10 of Chapter 14 of Civil Service Rules (Punjab), Volume I of 1941. The reference is to Sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) of this rule, and it is submitted that there hss been a violation of this rule inasmuch as the plaintiff was not given an opportunity to show cause before action was taken against him. The learned Advocate-General has relied on Rule 6(2) of the Punjab Subordinate Educational Service Rules, which provides : "6 (2). Promotions to the higher grades of the Service shall be by (a) seniority and record and/or (b) by selection from amongst such members who not only improve their educational qualifications beyond the level of their seniors, but whose work is definitely considered to be of a consistantly outstanding character: Provided that not more than one-third of the total number of vacancies available for promotion shall be given by selection.";