Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 30 : The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State Public Works Department (PWD) to complete the pending Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) proceedings for promotion to the post of Executive Engineer before December 31, 2025, to avoid prejudice to an eligible officer who is due to retire.
Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by Dharam Chand Sharma, an Assistant Engineer in the PWD, who had challenged the department's decision to keep his promotion case in abeyance despite his eligibility.
The petitioner contended that although he had completed more than eight years of regular service and had also cleared the departmental examination, his case for promotion under the 30 per cent quota for diploma-holder Assistant Engineers was ignored in DPC meetings held in October and November 2025.
The department had argued that promotion could not be granted until officers senior to him completed the requisite eight years of service.
After examining the Recruitment and Promotion Rules, the Court held that the department's interpretation was incorrect. It was observed that where a junior officer becomes eligible for promotion based on length of service, senior officers are also deemed eligible for consideration, provided they have completed the minimum qualifying service of three years, even if they have not completed the full eight-year requirement.
The Court noted that six officers senior to the petitioner had already completed more than three years of regular service and, therefore, could be considered along with the petitioner, but placed above him in the zone of consideration. It ruled that the department was not required to wait for senior officers to complete eight years of service to proceed with promotions.
Taking into account that the petitioner is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025, the Court directed the State to ensure that the DPC proceedings initiated on October 30 and November 4, 2025, are taken to their logical conclusion on or before his retirement date.
The writ petition was accordingly allowed, with the High Court listing the matter for compliance on January 7, 2026.