(1.) Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents. It has been stated that the petitioner had joined in service, as an Inspector of Industries, Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamilnadu, on 1.11.1973. Subsequently, he had been promoted as an Assistant Director of Industries and Commerce, by way of a Government Order, in G.O. 4D No. 16, dated 4.4.1995.
(2.) It had been further stated that the petitioner was fully qualified for being promoted, as Deputy Director of Industries and Commerce. A panel had been drawn for the post of Assistant Director of Industries and Commerce, for the year 1993-1994. The name of the petitioner had been included in the panel for the year 1993-1994. Later, the name of the petitioner had been approved for being appointed to the post of Deputy Director of Industries and Commerce, for the year 1997-1998, as per the Government Order, in G.O. Ms. 4D No. 164, dated 11.12.1997. While so, certain frivolous charges had been framed against the petitioner, on 3.12.1997, under Rule 17(b) of the Tamilnadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955. In view of the said charges, the petitioner had not been promoted to the post of Deputy Director of Industries and Commerce, on 21.1.1998.
(3.) It has been further stated that, on 15.3.1999, the first respondent had issued a Government Order, in G.O. (2D) No. 10, dated 15.3.1999, dropping the charges levelled against the petitioner, as they had not been proved. Subsequently, the petitioner had been given the promotion, as a Deputy Director of Industries and Commerce, only on 30.4.1999, by way of a Government Order, in G.O. 4(D) No. 24. Thereafter, the seniority of the petitioner, in the post of Deputy Director (Materials), Category II, had been fixed in between A. Danendra Babu and S. Kalirajan.