WP(C) 2378/2011 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE T VAIPHEI Heard Mr N Barah, the learned counsel for the petitioner also heard Mrs VL Singh, the learned GA appearing for the State respondents. This writ petition betrays a classic case of vendetta on the part of the respondent authorities and is apparently in retaliation to the order passed by this Court from time to time in favour of the petitioner. He was initially appoi nted as LDA in the office of the respondent No. 3 on 30.10.1971. Though he acqu ired eligibility for promotion to the post of UDA, he was never considered for s uch promotion. He was overlooked on 25.02.2009 while promoting twenty LDAs juni or to him to the posts of UDAs. The representations filed by him from time to t ime did not evoke any positive response. He went to the extent of filing an app lication under RTI Act to ascertain the date of initial joining of those promote es. On the basis of the information so obtained, he learnt that those promotees were junior to him. This prompted him to file WP(C) No. 4830/2009 before this Court, which, by the order dated 25.01.2010, allowed the writ petition by direct ing the respondent authorities to consider his case for promotion to the post of UDA on the date in which his juniors were promoted to the posts of UDAs i.e. 25 .02.2009. This Court further directed therein that consequential benefits shoul d also be given to the petitioner while promoting him to the post of UDA. The o rder of this Court was apparently not complied with by the respondent authoritie s, which led him to approach this Court again by filing a Cont. Cas(C) 264/2010. While the contempt petition was pending before this Court, the petitioner was promoted to the post of UDA and posted at Borbhag Anchalik Panchayat under Nalba ri Zilla Parishad vide the order dated 24.01.2011 with effect from 25.02.2009. Resultantly, this Court disposed of the contempt petition by observing that the petitioner might approached this Court again if he is so aggrieved by his place of posting. Taking a cue from this, the petitioner filed a representation to th e Commissioner, Panchayat and Rural Development, Assam on 23.02.2011 to transfer him anywhere under the Lakhimpur Zilla Parishad where there were many vacancies keeping in mind the fact that he was on the verge of retirement. The represent ation was not accepted by the respondent authorities whereupon this writ petitio n has been filed by initiating a new round of litigation. The writ petition is opposed by the State respondents, who have now file d their affidavit-in-opposition. The contention of the learned State counsel is that the petitioner had been transferred on his promotion to a higher post and that he cannot claim that he should be given posting of his choice. Though the affidavit filed by the State respondents runs into four pages, no other substant ial contention is raised by them in the writ petition. The statements of the pe titioner that he is retiring on 31.05.2012 on superannuation, is not disputed by the State respondents. When the petitioner is admittedly on the verge of retir ement, the action of the respondent authorities in posting him outside his distr ict, that too, located about 700 KM from his current place of posting appears to be harsh and irrational. It is true that the scope of interference by this Cou rt in a transfer matter is extremely limited. Nevertheless, if a writ Court fin ds that the impugned action of the State respondents is found to be irrational o r there is reason to believe that the impugned transfer order is in retaliation to a favourable order or orders passed by this Court from time to time in favour of the petitioner, such as when a cost of Rs. 2500/- was directed to be realiz ed from the competent authority, this Court will not hesitate to interfere with such order. The concept of vendetta has no place in a society governed by the r ule of law. In the view that I have taken, the impugned order posting the petit ioner at Borbhag Anchalik Panchayat under Nalbari Zilla Parishad is liable to be quashed. For the reasons stated in the foregoing, this writ petition succeeds. Th e impugned order dated 24.01.2011 posting the petitioner at Borbhag Anchalik Pan chayat under Nalbari Zilla Parishad is hereby quashed. The respondent authoriti es are directed to consider the posting of the petitioner in any office under La khimpur Zilla Parishad without any delay. Before parting, I am constrained to o bserve that the respondent authorities have not released the arrear salaries pay able to him consequent upon his promotion with effect from 25.02.2009 to the pet itioner : they have only released his current salary. The respondent authorities are accordingly directed to release the back-wages due to the petitioner within a period of two months from the date of receipt of this order. No costs.