GOVT. OF A.P. AND ANR.

G. JAY A PRASAD RAO AND ORS.

MARCH 21, 2007

[A.K. MATHUR AND TAR UN CHA ITERJEE, JJ.]

Service Law:

Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil) Service Rules, 1998:

Note 2 to Rule 3 and_ Proviso to Rule 6-Constitutional validity of- Inspectors of police and Deputy Superintendents of Police-Method. of appointment-Accelerated promotion-By an amendment to the Rule a scheme was introduced for accelerated promotion for the outstanding work D in the field of anti-extremist operation as an incentive for these ofjicers- Constitutional validity of amendment challenged before State Administrative Tribunal-Tribunal struck down the amendment being violative f Arts. 14, 16 and 21-High Court affirmed the decision of the Tribunal and held that the amendment did not satisfo the test of reasonable classification and it farther observed that fortuitous circumstances cannot be made a basis for E creating a separate class within the class-c--Correctness of-Held: The

F classification is apparent which can be differentiated from the class of persons who are prepared to sacrifice their lives as against the persons who want to do the routine policing duties-This cannot be said to be a fortuitous classification-The c/ass.ification is based on rational principle-Moreover; F guidelines have beenji-i1med to check against arbitra1y promotion by picking and choosing among the persons belonging to the same category-Hence, amendment to the Rules declared valid-Constitution of India, 1950, Arts.

14, 16 and 21.

Practice and Procedure:

Validity of Rules-Challenge to-Impleadment of necessary parties- Requirement of-Held: It is not necessary to imp/ead all persons who are likely to be affected as parties as it is not possible to identify who are likely to be affected-Hence, it is not necessary to implead necessary parties when the validity of Rules is challenged 256

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GOVT. OF A.P. v. G. JAY A PRASAD RAO 257

The respondents were all Inspectors of Police working at various places A and in various wings in the police Department in the State. Most of them were working as Inspectors of Police in the city of Hyderabad. The Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil) Service Rules, 1998 were amended by insertion of Note 2 to Rule 3 and proviso to Rule 6. By this amendment a scheme was introduced for accelerated promotion for the outstanding work in the field of anti- B extremist operation as an incentive for the officers .

The respondents challenged the constitutional validity of the amendment of the Rule before the State Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal declared Note 2 to Rule 3 of the Rules and Proviso to Rule 6 being violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution and struck it down.

In appeal, the High Court, while affirming the decision of the Tribunal, held that the amendment did not satisfy the test of reasonable classification and it further observed that fortuitous circumstances cannot be made a basis for creating a separate class within the class. Hence the appeals.

On behalf of the appellant, it was contended that despite these incentives, few officers were prepared to accept the highly risky and challenging job; that after introduction of accelerated promotion scheme naxal activities had considerably decreased to the extent of I/3rd from 1997-2001 and that detailed guidelines were issued for screening by three-tier committees.

On behalf of the respondents, it was contended that the present appeal as well as the original applications filed before the State Administrative Tribunal and the High Court should be dismissed on the question of nonjoinder of parties.

The following question arose before the Court:-

Whether t_he amendment of the Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil) Service Rules, 1998 and insertion of Note 2 in Rule 3 as well as proviso to Rule 6 could be declared ultra vires of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.oflndia?

Allowing the appeals, the Court

HELD: 1.1. It may be said at the outset that the Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil) Service Rules, 1998 were amended, looking to the dire need of the State, in order to give incentive to the Police Officers for voluntarily coming forward to meet the menace of extremist operations. The purpose is a laudable

---{._

A one and nobody can take exception to this. In order to provide this incentive service Rules had to be amended. Those persons who are prepared to volunteer and take more risk in life why such kind of persons should not stand to gain as against those persons who do not want to take risk in their lives. As a matter of fact those who take risk in their lives and prefer to face hazardous

B duties, such kind of persons form a class and such class of persons stand differentiated from other class of person who are not prepared to take risk in their lives and want to continue with the normal police duties and seek their promotion in due course of time. (Para 17) (272-D-GJ >-

Ravi Paul v. Union of India, [1955) 3 SCC 300 and Havaldar Bhagat c Singh v. State of Ha.")lana, (1996J 8 SCC 649, referred to.

1.2. It is true that the Inspectors of Police form one category but in the same category it can have two classes, one who is desirous of taking risk in his life and does service to the society by taking hazardous assignment as against other persons who want to continue with their usual police duties.

D Such classification cannot be-looked down upon as arbitrary or violative of Articles 14 & 16 of the Constitution of India. The classification is apparent which can be differentiated from the class of persons who are prepared to

_._

sacrifice their lives as against the persons who want to do the routine policing ..

duties. This cannot be said to be a fortuitous classification. The classification

E is based on rational principle. Thus, the object which is sought to be achieved in the present case is to meet the challenge of the naxals and. to invite youth and courageous persons to accept this challenge. It is true that some may get an opportunity to serve and some may not but that is exigencies of service.

W-0oden equality is not possible. Similarly placed persons cannot be treated dissimilarly. But that is not the case here. (Para 17J [272-F-H; 273-A-BJ F +

2. The scheme/guidelines issued under the Rules by the State

""' Government are properly insulated against arbitrariness or discrimination.

Therefore, in order to consider the case of accelerated promotion the matter has "to be examined at various channels, first at the Unit head, thereafter a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to the State Government at the State G level and after his prolonged examination a person will be eligible for accelerated promotion. Therefore, these guidelines have been made in order " to check that there should not be any arbitrary promotion and there should not be any picking and choosing among the persons belonging to the same ~~

category. {Para 18) (273-B-C; 274-A-B)

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GOVT. OF A.P. v. G. JAY A PRASAD RAO 259

... 3.l. It is true that sometime it may operate as fortuitous circumstance A '¥

that some get an opportunity and some may not gt the same. But by that fortuitous circumstance the rule cannot be held to be bad. It is possible that in implementation of the rule, some arbitrariness or some favouritsm may be shOwn that can be challenged as an individual action. Therefore, one has to make a distinction between the validity of the Rules and the misuse of the B Rules. In case of misuse of the rule, that individual action can be challenged and it can be challenged on its merits but by that the whole scheme which has .... been introduced for the laudable purpose cannot be said to be bad. (Para 19]

Ram Sharan v. The Dy. Inspector General of Police, AIR (1964) SC 1559 and S.J. Paras Kumar v. S./. Ram Charan, (2004) 6 SCC 88, relied on. c

3.2. There is no gainsaying that those who have performed in extreme situation they deserve better treatment but this has to be done within the four corners of the Rules. In order to achieve that objective in view, this accelerated promotion was conceived and necessary amendments were made in the Rules and scheme/guidelines were issued by the State. Therefore, reading the D amended rules with the scheme/guidelines together it leaves no manner of .. doubt that such an amendment cannot be said to be discriminatory or arbitrary .

~ (Para 211

4. It is true that when the validity of the rules is challenged it is not necessary to implead all persons who are likely to be affected as party. It is E not possible to identify who are likely to be affected and secondly, the question ofvalidity of the rule is a matter which is decided on merit and ultimately, if the rule is held to be valid or invalid, the consequence automatically flows.

Therefore, the original application filed before the State Administrative

t Tribunal or for that matter before the High Court does not suffer from the F .-' vice of non-joinder of necessary party. (Para 25) (278-C-D)

Union of India v. E.S. Soundara Rajan, AIR (1980) SC 959; Makhanlal Waza v. State of Jammu & Kashmir; (1971) l SCC 749; The General Manager, Southern Railway, (1974) 4 SCC 335 and A. Janardhana v. Union of India,

(1983) 3 sec 601, referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 7384-7388 of2003.

-f From the Order dated 4. I0.2002 of the High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in W.P. Nos. 16809, 17119, 17122, 17127 &

17139/2002.

A R. Sundaravardan, P. Vinay Kumar, and D. Bharathi Reddy for the

Appellants.

M.L. Verma, A.T.M. Rangaramanujam, R. Chandra Shekar Reddy, Satish Galla, Satya Mitra, Venkateswara Rao Anumolu, Gouri Karunadas; Anti Gupta, and Rani Jethmalani for the Respondents.

The Judgment of. the Court was delivered by

A.K. MA THUR, J. I. These appeals ar~· directed against the order dated 4th October, 2002 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature, Andhra Pradesh at Hyderab_ad in batch of Writ Petitions filed by the State C against the common order passed by Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh

Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter to be referred to as 'the Tribunal') in batch of original applications on 12th July, 2002 in OA No. 946112001 & others.

2. The respondents herein were the petitioners before the Tribunal.

D They were all Inspectors of Police working at various places and in various wings in the police Department in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Most of them were working as Inspectors of Police in the city of Hyderabad. They approached the Tribunal with a prayer to declare insertion ofNote-2 of Rule 3 and proviso to Rule 6 of the Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil) Service Rules, E 1998 (hereinafter to be referred to as 'Rules of 1998') issued by G.O. Ms. No. 267, Home (Police-E) Department, .dated 26th November, 2001 by amendment of Rule as arbitrary and discriminatory being violative of Articles 14, 16, 21 and 311 of the Constitution of India. •·

3. By this amendment a scheme was introduced for accelerated promotion F for the outstanding work in the field of anti extremist operation . The Note 2 appended to Rule 3 reads as under:

"Note 2: The Government may consider the cases of deserving Inspectors of Police and Deputy Superintendents of Police (Civil), for accelerated promotions to the next higher ranks in recognition of their outstanding work in the field of anti-extremist operation irrespective of their seniority as an incentive by following the relevant procedure as specified by the Government from time to time in this regard."

And the Proviso to Rule 6 reads as under:

H "Provided that in the case of the accelerated promotions, the minimum

I ~-

J- -

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service as specified above shall not apply." A

4. By virtue of these amendments in Service Rules of 1998, some Officers got accelerated promotions on account of their performance in extremist areas.

The tribunal after elaborate consideration of the matter acceded to the prayer of the petitioners (respondents herein) and declared Note 2 to Rule 3 of the Rules and Proviso to Rule 6 being violative of Articles 14 & 16 of the B Constitution and struck it down.

5. Aggrieved against this Order, a batch of writ petitions were filed before the High Court.

6. The stand taken by the State before the Tribunal as well as before C the High Court was that the State of Andhra Pradesh in order to tackle the menace of terrorism conceived this scheme as an incentive for the officers so that more and more officer could come forward to meet this menace to the society and therefore, as a measure of incentive this scheme was conceived by the State. It was .pointed out that the scheme is neither arbitrary nor D discriminatory and it is a scheme for a special class/category of persons who do the daring job in containing the menace of terrorism by naxal groups.

Therefore, it is not discriminatory. It was also pointed out that a scheme had been prepared whereby the cases of such persons were screened at two to three levels and the guideline was issued by Government Order Ms No. 280 on 17.9.2002. As per this guideline, the Unit Officers/ Superintendents of E Police<::ommissioners of Police shall assess the outstanding work done in the Anti-Extremist Operations by the Police Officers working under them. They shall recommend the cases to the Director General & Inspector General of Police for consideration through their immediate superior Officer. The Unit Officers/Superintendents of Police/ Commissioners of Police while forwarding F the recommendations of deserving cases shall broadly be guided by the under mentioned conditions, viz., that the Police Officer shall have;

(i) been an approved Probationer;

(ii) performed outstanding work in the filed of Anti, Extrimist Operations, (here the quality of work turned out shall be taken as criteria); G

(iii) uniformly satisfactory records; and

(iv) clean defaulter sheet for the last (6) years without any major Punishments through out the service.

A These are the guiding factors. The recommended cases shall be reviewed by the Superior Officers and shall be forwarded to the Director General & Inspector General of Police with his remarks. The Director General & Inspector General of Police shall send all such cases received from the various Unit Officers/ Superintendents of Police/Commissioners of Police to the Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Intelligence Department for scrutiny B and his remarks. The Additional General of Police/Inspector General of Police

of Intelligence department will in tum send such cases to the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) of the Intelligence Department which exclusively monitors the Anti-Extremists Operations of the State for scrutiny and recommendations. Thereafter, the Inspector General/Deputy Inspector of Police C of the Special Intelligence Branch will scrutinize all such cases thoroughly as to the quality of each such case and forward back the special remarks. The same shall be forwarded to the Director General & Inspector General of Police by the Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Department with his remarks. All such cases shall be placed before a Departmental Committee which shall have the; D

Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police

(L&O), ... Chairman

Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police(Admn.) ... Member

Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Member

Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police (Grey House) ... Member

Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police (Special Intelligence Branch) ... Member

7. After scrutiny by the High Level Committee the matter will be referred to State Government. It was also clearly mentioned that the aforesaid committee while forwarding the cases will keep in mind the guidelines mentioned above.

G The Additional Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police may order accelerated promotion on the basis of such recommendation from the rank of Police Constable to Sub-Inspector of Polic~ to the next higher rank.

The cases of the Police Officer and above the rank of Inspector of Police shall be forwarded to the Government by the Director General & Inspector General of Police for consideration of Accelerated Promotions and that shall be H considered by a High Level Committee constituted by the Government. That

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"1-- Committee shall be headed by (i) Chief Secretary to Government as Chairman, A

(ii) Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department as Member, (iii) Secretary to Government, Home Department as member, (iv) Secretary to Government (Services), General Administration Department as member and (v) Director General & Inspector General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad as member. The Deputy Secretary or Joint Secretary or Additional Secretary B who is dealing with the police subject in Home Department shall function as Secretary to this Committee. This Committee shall also be guided by the following eligibility conditions namely; the concerned Police Personnel shall have;

(i) perfonned outstanding work in the field of Anti-Extremist. c

(ii) unifonnly satisfactory record; and

(iii) a clean defaulter sheet for the last six years without any Major Punishments through out the service.

This committee shall meet once in three months to review such cases. These D

..) guidelines were issued for the performance of accelerated promotions. It is ,, also pointed out that despite these incentive, few officers were prepared to accept the highly risky and challenging job. The Police Personnel right from the Constable to IPS Officer were targeted by the naxals more than 480 laid down their lives including an I.P.S. Officer. It was also pointed out that after E introduction of accelerated promotion scheme naxal activities have considerably decreased to the extent of 1/3rd from 1997-200 l.

8. Though the Tribunal as well as the High Court found that the amendment in Note 2 to Rule 3 as well as proviso to Rule 6 are held to be

'1 ultra vires as it has been observed by the High Court that it creates a class F within class. The High Court held that the amendment did not satisfy the test __,

of reasonable classification and it further observed that fortuitous circumstance cannot be made a basis for creating a separate class within the class. Therefore, the High Court came to the conclusion that the classification made upon such basis cannot be treated as a reasonable classification. It was also observed that fortuitous circumstances cannot be made the basis for creating class out G of large number of persons similarly situated. It was also pointed out that just because some persons were lucky enough to get a posting in the naxal :-1affected area, they got accelerated promotion but others who were not

fortunate to get a posting in the naxal affected area, they were denied

/ promotion. It was submitted that even the officers posted in same unit may H

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

[2007] 4 S.C.R. .

A not get posting in the Police-station where there is naxal affected area and -\f others are lucky enough to get the posting, then they stand to gain and others who are not lucky enough to get posting in that area they will be denied the, opponity. Therefore, it is. discriminatory as there is a class

ithin class, similarly situated persons are treated dissimilarly i.e. equals are 1-

B treated .uneql!a.lly. Therefore, this classification, according to the High Court

is not reasonable classification and it is not founded on intelligible differentia I which distinguishes one group from the other. .,

'>-

9. Learned counsel' for the appellant-State has pointed out that the ..

reasoning given by the High Court is not correct. It is pointed out that the c classification is based on intelligible differentia that those persons who have faced the bullets and <lid the outstanding job to check the naxal menace then they form class in itself and in order to confer the benefit to such persons

th~ . scheme was conceived. The objet was to encourage more and more persons to come forward for this daring job. Therefore, it was submitted that the amendments have objects sought to be achieved and two class of persons D can be distinguished with each other. The rational basis to distinguish one class from the other class is sacrifice of people to accept the challenge of naxal menace. Those who dare need to be rewarded. In order to substantiate

.....

• his submissions learned counsel invited our attention to the decisions of this Court in Ravi.Paul & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [1995] 3 SCC 300 & E Hava/dar Bhagat Singh & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Anr., [1996] 8 SCC 649.

I 0. In the case of Hava/dar Bhagat Singh and Ors, v. State of Haryana and Anr., reported in [1996] 8 SCC 649, the question was that the State Y-

Government issued a circular dated 7.10.1991 in respect of ex-servicemen who had entered military service before emergency, prohibiting the withdrawal of

.,..__

\- F the benefits from them if they had joined the State Government service before _....

the date of the amendment of the Rules and directing to withdraw the benefits ...__

from such of them as had joined the service. of the State Government subsequent to the date of amendment of the rules. This withdrawal of the benefits were challenged that it was arbitrary and discriminatory. Considering

G the validity of this circular by the State of Haryana, their Lordships observed as under:

' "It was open to the State to withdraw the offer, but not qua those who . had already accepted the offer and joined the State Government service. r Hence was rendered the decision in K. C. Arora case. The State

H Government did not withdraw the offer wholly but restricted it to

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GOVT. OF A.P. v. G . .IA YA PRASAD RAO fA.K.MATHUR . .I.] 265

those who had enrolled or were commissioned in the armed forces A during the emergency. The State Government was entitled to do so.

In our view, there is a clear and intelligible difference between those who had already chosen the armed forces as a career when the emergency was declared and those who, in response to the nation's call, joined the anned forces after the emergency was declared. It was B in the country's interest at that critical juncture to make service in the armed forces attractive and compensate those who would otherwise have chosen other vocations. The grant of benefits to the latter class while denying them to the former class is in no way arbitrary or discriminatory."·

11. In another case of Ravi Paul and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors., reported in [1995] 3 sec 300, their Lordships observed as under:

"The ECOs who were absorbed/appointed to the BSF during the period 1967-71 had joined the Army during the emergency in the wake

of the Chinese aggression. By joining the Army when the country D needed their services they had made a sacrifice. Moreover, they were absorbed in t'1e BSF at a time when there was need for competent officers in the BSF and in order to attract such officers in the BSF it was considered necessary to give the benefit of the service of the Army for the purpose of seniority in the BSF to the officers who were appointed/absorbed in the BSF during 1967-71. The SSCOs had joined E the Anny as a career after the emergency resulting from the Chinese aggression was over. When they were absorbed/appointed to the BSF during the period 1974-78 there was a change in the policy of the Government of India and the benefit of the service in the Army was not to be given to the SSCOs who were absorbed/appointed in the p BSF after release from the Army. This condition was expressly mentioned in their letters of appointment and they opted to join the BSF knowing fully well that their Army service would not be counted for seniority in the BSF. The ECOs who were absorbed/appointed in the BSF during the period 1967-71 and the SSCOs who were absorbed/ appointed in the BSF during the period 1974-78 are officers belonging G to two different categories and they cannot be regarded as persons similarly situate."

12. Therefore, in view of the fact that Officers who have joined the service to the State have been rewarded for their past service rendered during Chinese aggression and such class of persons were found to be treated as H

A class apart.

13. Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the respondents have nothing against the scheme and accelerated promotion but it is going to operate in a very discriminatory and arbitrary fashion. It was pointed out that in one unit if there are ten Police-stations and only three are naxal B affected area and one of the Inspectors gets a chance to serve in that naxal affected area, he stands to benefit. Therefore, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that there is no criteria for posting person in any naxal affected area it gives unbridle power in the hands of unit head in choosing persons for such posting. He pointed out that so far as the condition for C serving for two years in naxal affected are who had benefit of accelerated promotion is understandable but the question is how to pick such persons for posting in that area where he can show his chivalry or bravery.

14. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the records. Before we advert to decide the issue on merits, it may not be out of D place to mention the scheme of the Rules of 1998. The Rules of 1998 laid down the method of recruitment to the posts mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Police service. Rule 2 contemplates the constitution of service. The service is divided into three categories. Category (I) consists of Additional Superintendent of Police (Non-Cadre) including Officeron-Special Duty and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police. Category (2) consists of Deputy E Superintendent of Police including Assistant Commissioner of Police other than Assistant Commissioner of Police (Headquarters and City Armed Reserve).

Category (3) consists of Inspector of Police and Inspector of Police (Women).

Rule 3 deals with method of recruitment. Rule 3 with appended Note 2 is reproduced under : F

3. Method of appointment:

Subject to the, other provisions in these rules, the method of appointment for the several categories mentioned in column (I) shall be by the method specified in the corresponding column (2) of the Table below:

_ ......... _

TABLE

:::ategory (I) Method of appointment (2)

I, Additional Superintendent of By promotion of Deputy Police including Officer on Special Superintendent of Police (Category - B Duty and Additional Deputy 2) Commissioner of Police ..

2. Deputy Superintendent of Police

(i) By direct recruitment; and

including Assistant Commissioner

(ii) By prom<:>tion of Inspector of of Police other than Assistant Commissioner of Police Police (Category-3) c

(Headquarters and City Armed Reserve)

3(a) Inspector of Police By appointment by transfer of Subh,1spector of Police in the Andhra D

Pradesh Police (Civil Police) Subordinate Service.

3(b) Inspector of Police (Women) By appointment by transfer of Sub- Inspector of Police (Women)in the E

Andhra Pradesh (Civil Police) Subordinate Service.

Note 1: In every cycle of ten vacancies, the appointment to the post of

y Deputy Superintendent of Police shall be as follows namely:- F

~ lst vacancy By Direct Recruitment

2nd vacancy By Promotion

3rd vacancy By promotion

4th vacancy By Direct Recruitment

5th vacancy By Promotion G 6th vacancy By Promotion

7th vacancy By Direct Recruitment -f 8th vacancy By Promotion

9th vacancy By Promotion

10th vacancy By Promotion.

! -~

A Provided that appointment by transfer to the posts of Inspectors of -<

Police including Hyderabad City Police shall be made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police concerned, or as the case may be by the Commissioner of Police from a list of candidates approved by the Director General of Police in the order indicated therein.

Note 2: The Government may consider the cases of deserving Inspectors of Police and Deputy Superintendents of Police (Civil), for accelerated promotions to the next higher ranks in recognition of their outstanding work in the field of anti-extremist operation irrespective of their seniority as an incentive by following the relevant procedure as specified by the Government from time to time in this regard."

So far as the method of recruitment is concerned, a Deputy Superintendent of Police is entitled to be promoted to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Superintendent of Police is to be recruited by two methods i.e. by direct recruitment or by promotion from the Inspector. of D Police. The Inspector of Police can be appointed by transfer of Sub-Inspector of Police in the Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil Police) Subordinate Service and Inspector of Police (Woman) can be posted by transfer of Sub-Inspector of Police (Woman) in the Andhra Pradesh Police (Civil Police) Subordinate Service.

Note 2 contemplates additional method of recruitment by way of accelerated promotion out of the Inspectors of Police and Deputy Superintendents of E Police to the next higher rank i.e. Deputy Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police in recognition of their outstanding work in the field of anti-extremist operation irrespective of their seniority as an incentive measure as per the procedure laid down by the Government of Andhra Pradesh from time to time. Rule 4 makes reservation of appointment.

F Rule 5 lays down age and qualification with which we are not concerned. Rule 6 deals with minimum service wh'ich will be relevant for our consideration. It reads as under :

"6. Minimum Service :

No person shall be eligible for appointment by transfer or promotion unless he is an approved probationer and has put in service in the category from which promotion or transfer is made as specified below :

(a) not less than five years for a Deputy Superintendent of Police to be promoted as Additional Superintendent of Police (Non-cadre),

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(b) not less than six years for Sub-Inspector of Police and for A Inspector of Police to be promoted as Inspector of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police respectively.

Provided that in the case of the accelerated promotions, the minimum service as specified above shall not apply."

B As per Rule 6, a Deputy Superintendent of Police will not be entitled for promotion as Additional Superintendent of Police unless he has put in five years of service and not less than six years of service for Su_b-lnspector of Police and Inspector of Police to be promoted as Inspector of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police respectively, meaning thereby that a Sublnspector of Police in order to be promoted as Inspector of Police will have C to put in six years of service and likewise an Inspector of Police will have to put in six years of service to be promoted as Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The proviso to Rule 6 reads as under :

" Provided that in the case of the accelerated promotions, the minimum service as specified above shall not apply. " D

Therefore, for accelerated promotion, the requirement of minimum service has been dispensed with. Rule 7 deals with probation and for direct recruitment to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category-2) the period of probation shall be two years and six months on duty within a continuous E period of three years. Rule 9 deals with tests which are not relevant for our purpose in the present controversy. Rule I 0 deals with the unit of appointment.

It has relevant bearing on the issue involved in the present case. Therefore, it is reproduced as under :

" 10.Unit of appointment

For purposes ofrecruitment, appointment, discharge for want of vacancy, re-appointment, seniority, promotion, transfer and posting and appointment as full member to the posts specified in column (2) of the table below, the unit c, f appointment shall be as specified in column (3) thereof-

.. .).

Category

(I)

(a) Inspector of Police

(b) Inspector of Police

(Woman)

TABLE

Post (2) Zone-I

Zonen

Zone-Ill

Zone-IV

Zone-V

Zone-VI

Unit of appointment (3) Comprising Srikakulam Vizhmaragam and!

Visakhapatllam districts

Comprising EastGodavari, West Godavari and Krishna Districts

Comprising.Guntur; Prakasam:andNellore.

Districts:

Comprising:Chittor, Cuddapah,. Anantapur and Kumool Districts.

ComprisingAdilabad, Karimnagar; Warangal And Kliammam Districts:

Comprising; Nii.amatfad,.

Mahaboobnagar; Medak, Nalgonda. ami: Ranga Reddy DistriCts:

A:rea:under.tHe::jurisdiCtion OftheCommissioner of -

Police; Hyderab-ad;'"

Rule: 11 deals with transfer and postings which reads as under:

1 L Transfer and postings:

(a) A member of the service shall be liable:to serve: in any part of the State of Andina Pradesh or whell' so ordered: by the State Government in any part of India; outside in: the:said State:

Provided that nothing contained in. this. sub"rule: shall effect the H operation of the provisions of Chapter-XII im Part-VII of the

...

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Fundamental Rules in regard to transfer of officers to Foreign Service: A

Provided further that no such member shall be posted or transferred to any post unless he possesses such special qualifications and has passed such special tests as may be prescribed for such post in these rules.

(b) A direct recruit Deputy Superintendent of Police, Category-2 shall be transferred and posted at Assistant Commandant, Andhra Pradesh Special Police Battalions and shall remain in the Battalions compulsorily for a period of three years. The Service rendered in the Andhra Pradesh Special Police Battalion shall be counted for the

purpose of reckoning qualifying service for select list.

(c) The transfers and postings in the case of Additional Superintendent of Police (Non-Cadre) and Deputy Superintendent of Police, shall be made by the Government.

(d) In the case of Inspectors of Police, the transfers and postings D shall be made within the unit specified in rule-10, by the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Inspector General of Police concerned except in the case of Units IV and V. The transfer and postings in the case oflnspectors of Police in Units-IV and V shall be made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kurnool and Warangal, respectively."

15. Reading of Rules 10 and 11 says that there are six zones in the State comprising of various districts and so far as posting of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police is concerned, it has to be made by the State Government though there is no bar to posting any member

of the service in any part of the State of Andhra Pradesh but for the convenient administrative control the State has been divided into various zones and each F zone is headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police or Inspector General of Police, as the case may be. So far as the transfer and posting of Inspector of Police is concerned, it has to be made within the unit as specified in Rule

10, by the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police concerned except in the case of Units IV and V. The transfer and postings G in the case of Inspectors of Police in Units IV and V shall be made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kurnool and Warangal, respectively. Rule I2 lays down uniforms grant etc. We are not concerned with other part of the

Rules.

I 6. Now, in this backdrop of the administrative set up we will have to H

A examine the amendment and the guidelines which have been issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh by G .O.Ms. No.267 dated 26.11.200 I. So far as the posting of the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Additional Superintendent of Police is concerned that is within the_ power of the State Government and so far as the Inspector of Police is concerned, it is within B the power of Inspector General of Police i.e. the Police Commissioner or by the Deputy Inspector General of Police. We are primarily concerned in the present case with regard to the accelerated promotion of the Inspectors of '" Police to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Additional -""- Su.perintendent of Police. The State of Andhra Pradesh is divided into various zones as pointed out above and some of them are very snsitive areas. It has C been pointed out that some zones i.e. Zones V & VI are by and large affected by the extremist operations. Therefore, it was submitted that some who could get posting in naxal area, he may stand to benefit and on account of that fortuitous circumstance he may get accelerated promotion and march over the persons similarly situated.

17. Now, coming to the question whether this amendment of the rules and insertion of Note 2 in Rule 3 as we!l as proviso to Rule 6, could be declared ultra vires of Articles 14 & 16 of the Constitution of India. It may be said at the outset that these rules were amended looking to the dire need of the State in order to give some incentive to the Police Officers for voluntarily E coming forward to meet the menace of extremist operations. The purpose is laudable one and nobody can take exception to this. In order to provide this incentive service Rules had to be amended. Those persons who are prepared to volunteer and take more risk in life why such. kind of persons should not stand to gain as against those persons w_ho do not want .to talce risk in.their life. As a matter of fact those wh~ take risk in their life and prefer to face F hazardous duties, such kind. of persons forms a class and such 9lass of persons stand differentiated from other class of persons who are not prepared to take risk in their life and want to continue with the normal police duties and seek their promotion in due course of time. It is true that the Inspectors of Police form one category but in the same category it can have two classes, G one who is desirous of taking risk in their life and do service to the society by taking hazardous assignment as against other persons who want to con'tinue with their usual police duties. Such Classification cannot be looked down as arbitrary or violative of Articles 14 & 16 of the Constitution of India. The classification is apparent which can be differentiated from the class of persons who are prepared to sacrifice their life as against the persons who want to H do the routine policing duties. This cannot be said to be fortuitous

-Iclassification. The classification is based on rational principle. Thus the A object which is sought to be achieved in the present case is to meet the challenge of the naxals and to invite youth and courageous persons to accept this challenge. It is true that some may get an opportunity to serve and some may not but that is exigencies of service. Wooden equality is not possible.

Similarly placed person cannot be treated dissimilarly. But that is not the case B here.

18. We have already highlighted above the scheme/ guidelines issued under the Rules by the State Government. The guidelines are properly insulated against arbitrariness or discrimination. Principally four guidelines have been laid down, namely that a person who becomes eligible for accelerated promotion C should be an approved probationer and he has performed outstanding work in the field of anti-extremist operations ( here the quality of work turned out shall be taken as criteria); has uniformly satisfactory record and lastly, clean defaulter sheet for the last six years without any major punishments throughout the service. These factors are sufficient guidelines where any individual action can be tested. At one point of time, Mr. Verma, learned senior counsel D appearing for the respondents submitted that the proviso to Rule 6 which dispenses with the minimum period of service would operate as arbitrary and it will give rise to picking and choosing. But one of the guidelines clearly Jays down that a person should have at least last six years very good Annual confidential roll meaning thereby that he should have at least put in six years E of service though under proviso .to Rule 6, the minimum period of service for promotion has been dispensed with but nonetheless in the guidelines it has been clearly laid down that a person should have very good ACR for the last six years. That means though the rule provides that there is no necessity of minimum period of service yet in the guidelines criteria has been laid down F that a person should have at least six years clean service record. Not only this, in order to promote a person on accelerated promotion the recommendations by the Unit Officers are filtered at various stages. After receipt of such recommendations it will go to the Committee of high ranking police officers and in that his performance in extremist area will be examined by the high power committee headed by the Director General and Inspector G General of Police and proper investigation will be done by the Intelligence Branch and they will examine the detailed performance of the incumbent as to how he has performed. Proper investigation is to be done by the Intelligence

Branch who are monitoring anti-extremist operation in the State. After proper scrutiny the matter will be placed before a still higher committee headed by H the Chief Secretary with Home Secretary and Director General of Police.

A Therefore, in order to consider the case of accelerated promotion the matter has to be examined at various channels, first at the Unit head, thereafter a Committee constituted by the Police Department and then a Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to the State Government at the State level and after his prolonged examination a person will be eligible for accelerated promotion.

B Therefore, these guidelines have been made in order to check that there should not be any arbitrary promotion and there should not be any picking and choosing among the persons belonging to the same category. At one point of time, impression was sought to be created that there are no guidelines for giving, such accelerated promotion but after going through the detailed G.O.Ms. No.280 dated 17.9.2002 as discussed above, we are satisfied that C there are sufficient guidelines which check the arbitrary picking and choosing of the persons for accelerated promotion. After going through these guidelines we are of opinion that there is least possibility of picking and choosing of the persons. under accelerated promotion scheme.

19~ However, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that D notwithstanding the fact that the amendment may not be ultra vires of Articles 14 & 16 of the Constitution, it is ca1mble of being operated in an arbitrary fashion because. the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh is not naxal affected area and Zones V & VI are the only naxal affected areas and he tried to illustrate his point by an example that suppose an incumbent is working E in Warangal district which comes under Zone V, which is said to be naxal affected area and in that zone some of the Police-stations may be ear-marked as extremist prone areas, incumbent may not get an opportunity of being posted in that Police-Station for showing his chivalry though he may be willing to work there. Therefore, there is no criteria laid down that how one can secure a posting in that particular area in order to show his chivalry and F secure accelerated promotion. There is some truth in his su.bmission but that is more imaginative than real. It depends upon the In-charge of the Unit, be it Commissioner of Police or the Deputy Inspector General of Police who has to see the worth of the incumbent who can deliver the goods. It will not be proper to interfere with his discretion as to who is suitable and who is not G suitable to be posted in such naxal affected areas. Much depends upon his wisdom and suitability of the incumbent. It is true that sometime it may operate. as fortuitous circumstance that some gets an opportunity and some may not get the same. But by that fortuitous circumstance the rule cannot be ' held to be bad. It is possible that in implementation of the rule,_ some H arbitrariness or some favouritism may be shown, that can be challenged as

an individual action. Therefore, one has to make distinction between the A validity of the Rules and the misuse of the Rule. In case of misuse of the rule, that individual action can be challenged and it can be challenged on its merits but by that the whole scheme which has been introduced for the laudable purpose, cannot be said to be bad.

20. In this connection, learned counsel for the appellant- State has B .... invited our attention to a decision of this Court in Ram Sharan v. The Dy .

_,,_ Inspector General of Police, Ajmer & Ors., AIR (1964) SC 1559'. This was a case which arose from the Rajasthan Police. In that three tier system of the Police administration was there in the State headed by the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Superintendent of Police. c It was pointed out that under Section 2 of the Police Act, one Police force is in the State and the Police administration under the Inspector General of Police could have ranges headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police and the districts are headed by the Superintendents of Police. It was pointed out that it was necessary for efficient functioning of the Police force. It was pointed out that looking to the local conditions and for efficient functioning D

~ of the police force recruitment at the Constable level is done district-wise basis an4 promotion as Head Constable is also done on district-wise basis by the Superintendent of Police who is expected to know their work. Same idea was apparent at the second tier by which Head Constables in a Range are treated as one unit for promotion to the rank of Sub-Inspector which is E vested with the Inspector General of Police. By providing promotion within the range, the area is a little widened as compared to a district It is only when one reaches the third tier and come to promotion of Sub-Inspectors of Police as Inspectors of the Police that local knowledge is not insisted upon so much

-I as the work of Inspectors of Police and those above them is more of a supervisory nature It was pointed out that because the Constable, Head F Constable and Sub-Inspector deal with the public directly and in such a situation local knowledge certainly plays an important part in the matter of efficiency of the Police force and in that background their Lordships considered ..... _ that if the police administration works in three tier system then such administration in three tier system cannot be struck down being discriminatory. G However, the Court was cognizant of the fact that abuse of the power of transfer by Inspector General of Police for one Sub-Inspector from one range -( to another, a case of glaring denial of equality before the law or glaring denial of equal opportunity for employment in the service of the State may arise. But the Court cannot strike down a system on the supposition that an Inspector General of Police may abuse his power and create glaring instances of denial H

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A of equality before the law or of equal opportunity of employment in the service of the State. In case of abuse in individual case same can be struck down and not the system. Therefore, simply because a particular provision is capable of being abused is no ground to strike down the whole system.

21. In the case of SJ.Paras Kumar & Ors. v. S.I. Ram Charan & Ors., B [2004] 6 SCC 88, the question arose with regard to out of turn promotion on the performance of some of the Constables, Head Constables and Assistant Sub-Inspectors of Police in the anti-terrorist areas of Punjab though there was no such provision under the Rules. Their Lordships observed that though the rule does not permit such promotions out of turn for such activities, or for C sports activities but in order to recognize the services rendered by such persons Government shall frame necessary rules for such kind of services rendered by the personnel in the anti-terrorist operation. Therefore, this Court recognized that though the rule does not contemplate such promotion, the courage shown by the persons in anti-terrorist operations should be recognized by framing necessary rules. There is no gainsaying that those who have D performed in extreme situation they deserve better treatment but this has to be done within the four comers of the Rules. In order to achieve that objective in view, this accelerated promotion was conceived and necessary amendments were made in the Rules and scheme/ guidelines were issued by the State of Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, reading the amended rules with scheme/ guidelines E together it leaves no manner of doubt that such amendment cannot be said to be discriminatory or arbitrary.

22. Learned counsel for the appellant- State has invited our attention to the pleadings to show that none of the Inspectors of Police who filed the petitions before the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has nowhere F alleged that at any point of time one of them came forward to go to the naxal affected area and their request had been. turned down. We examined the matter and we found that there is no such allegation_ made in the original application nor learned counsel for the respondents could give us any satisfactory reply whether any of these respondents Caf!Je forward for going to the naxa.l affected area and his request has met with refusal. But the learned G counsel for the resp.ondents only submitted that it is not for the incumbent to make a request but it should come fr9m the State. Be that as it may, learned counsel for the State has a point that when the respondents have no.! come_ forward for going to the naxal affecte~ areas, it does. not lie in their mouth to challenge the scheme. However, we have examined the validity of the H amendment in the light of the submissions made by parties and our answer

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is in negative.

23. Before parting with the matter, in order to further safeguard that in case of postings, though Rule I 0 covers, but especially when the postings

are done in specially naxal affected areas out of the persons posted in that zone, the concerned Unit in charge, be it Inspector General of Police or the Deputy Inspector General of Police or Police Commissioner, may infonnally B seek voluntary option from the Officers working in that zone whether they are willing to be posted in the naxal affected police-stations so that even the remote possibility of picking and choosing can be avoided. However, it is still discretion of the concerned Unit in charge, he may after going through the records may turn down the option of the incumbent if he finds that he may C not come up to the expectation in that area. But the grievance of the person that he was willing to go for an-extremist operation still he was not chosen by the Unit in charge, could be redressed. This could be done by issuing a circular seeking the option for such preferential posting in the unit but the last choice remains with the Unit head and he may, for reasons to be recorded, come to the conclusion that the incumbent may not be suitable for the job D and may turn down the request but at least the incumbent will have the choice to serve in anti-extremist operation.

24. An allegation was also made by some of the persons who have been given ad hoc promotion under the scheme of accelerated promotion for not being made parties. However, they were pennitted as intervenors. Learned E counsel for the intervenors was also heard in the matter. He invited our attention to a decision of this Court in Union of India & Ors. v. E.S.Soundara Rajan etc., AIR (1980) SC 959, on the. question of discrimination and in that case the argument of discrimination among the Railway Officials was not upheld. It was also pointed out by learned counsel for the intervenors that F the present appeals as well as the original applications filed before the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal and High Court should be dismissed on the question of non-joinder of necessary parties. Mr. Verma, learned senior counsel for the respondents submitted that since the validity of the rule has been challenged, therefore the petition before the A.P. Administrative Tribunal or the writ petition before the High Court cannot be dismissed on the ground G of non-joinder of necessary parties. It was also submitted by him that when the question of validity of the rules are concerned, it is not necessary to implead all the persons likely to be affected while challenging the validity of the rules and in support thereofMr.Venna invited our attention to the following decisions of this Court.

A (i) (191111 sec 749

Makhanlal Waza & Ors. v.

State of Jammu & Kashmir & Ors.

(ii) [197414 sec 335

The General Manager, South Central Railway, Secunderabad & Anr. v. A. V.R.Siddhantti & Ors.

(iiO [1983]3 sec 601

A. Janardhana v.Union of India & Ors.

25. It is true that when the validity of the rules is challenged it is not necessary to implead all persons who are likely to be affected as party. It is not possible to identify who are likely to be affected and secondly, the question of validity of the rule is a matter which is decided on merit .and ultimately, if the rule is held to be valid or invalid, the consequence D automatically flows. Therefore, the original.application filed before the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal or for that matter before tne High Court does not suffer from the vice of non-jpinder of necessary party.

26. Since we have already held the rule to be valid, therefore, there is no question of setting aside the promotions which have already been made.

E Hence, as a result of our above discussion, we find that the judgment and order of the High Court cannot be sustained and consequently the orders passed by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal and the High Court of Andhra Pradesh are set aside. The appeals are allowed with no order as to costs.

F v.s.s.

Appeals. allowed.