SC: Transfers/postings can’t be challenged being a necessary part of Army Services

Maj. Amod Kumar  V Union of India & Anr. WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 918 OF 2017 WITH WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 965/2017 AND WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1077/2017 Decided on 06/09/2018 Bench: A two-judge bench of the Apex Court decided this case, headed by:

• Justice R.F. NARIMAN
• Justice INDU MALHOTRA

Facts: The Petitioners are personnel belonging to the Army Service Corps (ASC).   The Petitioners in these 3 Writ Petitions   (Civil)   are Officers holding the ranks of Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Sepoy. The Petitioners   have impugned Posting Orders issued by the Respondents, posting them to operational areas. The  Major Amod Kumar was posted to 44 Rashtriya Rifles as a Mechanical Transport Officer, Sepoy Prahalad Singh was being trained for driving special vehicles and posted to 4 Rashtriya Rifles and Lieutenant Colonel Shubhankar Mishra was posted to 694 Coy ASC (Tank and Transport) as an Officer Commanding. The   Posting   Orders   issued   by   the Respondents in operational units/areas were challenged as being in gross violation of their Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and principles of natural justice. Contentions of the petitioners: It was submitted that the Petitioners had been  classified   to   be   ‘non­-operational’   for promotional avenues according to the decision of this Court in Lt. Col. P.K. Choudhary’s Case, the same classification should apply as a necessary corollary for the purposes of deployment and postings also. The preference given to ‘operational’ Corps in the matter   of promotions was unjustified. Conclusion: The Supreme Court dismissed the writ petitions filed under article 32 with no order to costs and concluded that:

• Petitioners had failed to substantiate how their Fundamental   Rights   have   been violated.   Postings   and transfers   are   a   necessary   incident   of   service.   Hence,   the grievance, if any, cannot be entertained under Article 32.
• The Petitioners couldn’t challenge posting/transfer orders directly before the Supreme Court inspite of having an alternate statutory remedy available i.e., the Armed Forces Tribunals.
• The decision of this Court in Lt. Col. P.K. Choudhary’s  Case (supra) was quashed later, and directions were issued to the UOI to consider the personnel belonging to the Arms, Arms Support, and ASC for promotion to the rank of Colonel by creating supernumerary posts.
• Lastly considering the Oath which is taken before joining the services it was observed that the personnel are duty bound to serve wherever they are ordered to.

For full judgement refer: https://www.supremecourt.gov.in/supremecourt/2017/29777/29777_2017_Judgement_06-Sep-2018.pdf