IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.M.No.8301 of 2008 and C.W.P.No.2331 of 2008 Date of Decision:28.04.2008 Surinder Kumar .....Petitioner versus Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala and others .....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA AND HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA. Present: Mr.Vipin Mahajan, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.Sukhbir Singh, Advocate, for the respondents. *** ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA, J.(Oral) C.M.No.8301 of 2008 C.M. is allowed and written statement filed on behalf of the respondents is taken on record. C.W.P.No.2331 of 2008 The petitioner has prayed for quashing the order dated 29.01.2008 (Annexure P-12/T) vide which the transfer order of the petitioner issued on 13.12.2007 (Annexure P-9/T) has been cancelled. The petitioner was working as a Sub Station Attendant in the Punjab State Electricity Board. As is evident that the petitioner has been transferred more than eight times from 07.06.2007 up to 29.01.2008. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no administrative exigencies to transfer the petitioner so frequently and hence, the order regarding cancellation of his transfer i.e. Annexure P-12/T be quashed. C.M.No.8301 of 2008 and --2-- C.W.P.No.2331 of 2008 Reply has been filed on behalf of the respondents wherein it has been averred that the petitioner has been transferred for eight times as has been averred, but five times, though, the place of postings may be eight in number. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner has been transferred within the Circle where he was transferred and there is no mala fide involved in transferring the petitioner. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and are of the considered opinion that there is no valid reason to transfer the petitioner so frequently. An employee who is transferred more than 7-8 times in approximately eight months time, cannot obviously settle down himself or his family. We also find that the frequent transfers are against the rules of working institutions and the transfer of the petitioner does not seem in the public interest. In view of the above, we quash the order dated 29.01.2008 (Annexure P-12/T). We permit the petitioner to remain at Wadala Granthian, District Gurdaspur for a period of one year from today. The petitioner may be transferred on expiry of one year from today. (ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA) JUDGE April 28, 2008 (KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA) seema JUDGE