Rabi Narayan Nanda finally got into the IAS cadre, though it is too late for him as he has already superannuated from service.
Upholding the decision of the Odisha High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal, the Supreme Court has found Nanda’s promotion to the IAS is legal and justified.
A Division Bench of the apex court comprising Justices TS Thakur and R Bhanumati rejected the appeal of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which had in 2010 decided to deprive Nanda of promotion from the OAS cadre.
Notably, when the UPSC rejected Nanda’s promotion, he approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which deemed the decision of the UPSC illegal and ordered appointment of Nanda in an IAS post vacant in the 2008 batch.
Apparently not satisfied with CAT’s decision, the Union Government and the UPSC went on an appeal to the Odisha High Court, which also rejected their plea and upheld the CAT’s decision in Nanda’s favour.
Subsequent to High Court’s decision, the UPSC had gone to the Supreme Court on an appeal.
Now, retired Nanda will be entitled to the benefits as applicable to an IAS officer from the date of his promotion in 2008. Nanda had held a number of crucial assignments in the State Government during his long service period.