SUPREME COURT ORDER ON GDS PETITION

ITEM NO.8                                            COURT NO.2                                       SECTION X

S U P R E M E   C O U R T   O F   I N D I A

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO(s). 1003 OF 2013

NATIONAL FED. OF POSTAL EMP. & ANR                                                Petitioner(s)

                 VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA                                                                                    Respondent(s)

(With office report )

[FOR PREL. HEARING]

Date: 13/12/2013  This Petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

            HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.M. LODHA

            HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVA KIRTI SINGH

For Petitioner(s)           Mr. M.R. Calla, Sr. Adv.

                                    Mr. Uday Gupta, Adv.

                                    Ms. Shivani M. Lal, Adv.

                                    Mr. M.K. Tripathi, Adv.

                                    Ms. Pratiksha Sharma, Adv.

                                    Mr. Ankit Achariya, Adv.

                                    Mr. Mohan Pandey,Adv.

For Respondent(s)

UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following

                                                O R D E R

            Writ Petition is disposed of in terms of the signed order.

(Rajesh Dham)                                                                         (Sneh Lata Sharma)                   

Court Master                                                                              Court Master                         

(signed order is placed on the file)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1003 OF 2013

NATIONAL FED. OF POSTAL EMP. & ANR.                                              Petitioner(s)

                        VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA                                                                       Respondent(s)

O  R  D  E  R

            This is a Writ Petition  filed  under  Article  32  of  the      Constitution of India by the National Federation of  Postal Employees and All India Postal Employees Union GDS (NEPE). The principal prayers in the Writ Petition are, (one) that a  direction  be  issued  to  the respondent to treat the Gramin Dak Sevaks as Civil  Servants  for  all purposes at par with the other regular members of the civil services and regular employees in relation to all service matters including the pension and all retiral benefits,  and (two) the Department of  Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 be declared invalid and unconstitutional.

2.         Having regard to the controversy raised in the  matter, we are satisfied that the grievance of the petitioners can be adequately considered by the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution  of India.

3.         Since about three lakh persons serving as Extra Departmental Agents (Dak  Sevaks)  are  concerned  about  the subject matter and they are spread all over the country, we are satisfied that to avoid multiplicity of proceedings  in  different  High  Courts,  it would be appropriate that the matter is considered by one High Court.

4.         We, accordingly, transfer this Writ Petition to the Delhi High Court for consideration.

5.         The Registry shall transmit the record and  proceedings of  the Writ Petition to the Delhi High Court.

6.         Upon receipt of the record  and  proceedings of the Writ Petition, the Registry of the Delhi High Court shall register the Writ Petition and proceed with the matter accordingly.

7.         So far as this Court is concerned, Writ Petition stands disposed of.

......................J.

 ( R.M. LODHA )

......................J.

 ( SHIVA KIRTI SINGH )

NEW DELHI;

DECEMBER 13, 2013