CAT Rejects Rajasthan Govt Plea in Pankaj Chaudhary DIG Promotion Case
Tribunal terms transfer bid unwarranted, setback for state in Pankaj Chaudhary promotion matter
- CAT Principal Bench rejects Rajasthan government’s transfer petition
- DIG Pankaj Chaudhary’s promotion pending for over three years
- Tribunal notes Jaipur Bench had almost completed hearing
- Fresh setback for state after earlier 2020 ruling in Chaudhary’s favour
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Dec: The Rajasthan government suffered a major setback on Thursday as the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), New Delhi, rejected its transfer petition in the long-pending promotion case of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Pankaj Chaudhary, IPS.
The state had sought to transfer the matter from the Jaipur Bench to the Principal Bench in New Delhi, despite the case being at the final stage of arguments in Jaipur. The petition was heard on December 19 by the CAT Principal Bench.
During the hearing, counsel for Pankaj Chaudhary argued that the officer is posted in Jaipur and that the Jaipur Bench had almost completed proceedings in the matter. The lawyer contended that the state government had kept Chaudhary’s promotion pending for nearly three years and, instead of taking a decision, was attempting to delay the process by seeking a transfer of the case to Delhi.
Advocate Nidhi Jaiswal represented the State of Rajasthan, while Supreme Court advocate Ravindra S. Garia appeared on behalf of the applicant, Pankaj Chaudhary.
Rejecting the arguments put forward by the state, the Chairman of the CAT Principal Bench dismissed the transfer plea. The ruling marks another legal setback for the Rajasthan government in Chaudhary’s case. In 2020, the same Principal Bench had passed a landmark order reinstating him into the Indian Police Service, dealing a significant blow to the state government at that time as well.
Legal observers noted that repeated delays in administrative matters reflect poorly on governance. While it is common for aggrieved officers to approach the CAT Principal Bench in New Delhi for relief, the Rajasthan government itself moving the Principal Bench as a petitioner, despite the case nearing completion in Jaipur, raised eyebrows.
Pankaj Chaudhary is currently serving as Commandant of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Nodal Officer for Community Policing in Rajasthan. In 2024, Rajasthan’s Community Policing initiative received a National Award following his efforts, bringing rare recognition to what was earlier considered a niche wing of the police force.
Through his work in SDRF and Community Policing, Chaudhary has helped enhance public awareness and credibility of these departments across the state.
