JAIPUR: The Central Administrative Tribunal has reserved its judgment on a petition moved by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer V.B. Singh challenging the appointment of Rajasthan Director General of Police, A.S. Gill, two years ago with the contention that his seniority was bypassed in Mr. Gill's elevation.

This is the second round of litigation on Mr. Gill's appointment as the DGP. The State Government had earlier constituted a selection committee on the directions of the Rajasthan High Court and made fresh appointment of Mr. Gill to the post after Mr. Singh raised a dispute in CAT about his candidature being rejected.

Mr. Singh -- currently posted as Director General (Civil Defence) -- has contended that Mr. Gill, belonging to the 1972 IPS batch, was junior to him by four years and his appointment as the DGP was "illegal and irregular''. The petitioner said he was denied the opportunity without being offered any valid reason.

The CAT Bench, comprising Vice-Chairman V.K. Majotra and Member M.L. Chauhan, reserved the judgment on Wednesday after hearing the arguments of Mr. Singh's counsel and the lawyers representing the Central and the State Governments.

Mr. Singh pointed out that the selection committee for appointment of DGP should comprise the Home Minister and Home Secretary, by whom the recommendation for appointment is referred for approval to the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister. He said the procedure was not followed in Mr. Gill's appointment.

Central Government's standing counsel Bhanwar Bagri contended before the Bench that Mr. Singh had not established any malice against him in Mr. Gill's appointment.

"The judicial scrutiny of an the administrative decision should consider alleged illegality and irregularity in different realms,'' he said, and added that a minor irregularity could not render an administrative decision invalid.

The Central Government was impleaded as a party to the case in view of its authority for the IPS cadre control.

State Government's counsel B.S. Gujjar said the selection committee had found Mr. Gill suitable for the DGP's rank and had taken into account the relevant aspects of competence, integrity and transparency in his appointment.

Mr. Gujjar said no Service Rule had been flouted in Mr. Gill's elevation, since a person having completed 30 years' service in IPS and nominated by the selection committee was fit to be appointed as the DGP.

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