In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday set aside the State of Jharkhand’s stance in denying retrospective promotion to former officer Jyotshna Singh. The bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran held that Singh must be promoted from the same date as her immediate junior, with all consequential financial and pensionary benefits.
Background
Singh, who served as a Block Development Officer and later rose through the Jharkhand Administrative Service, had faced disciplinary proceedings that lingered for years. The issue stemmed from a 2007 audit objection over alleged misappropriation of ₹5.6 lakh. Both the Deputy Commissioner and the State Audit Team had cleared her of wrongdoing in 2009. Yet, nearly a decade later, a charge-sheet was issued in 2017, leading to a penalty of withheld increments in 2019.
Read also: Karnataka High Court Pauses Rs.200 Movie Ticket Cap After Multiplex Owners, Producers Cry Foul
The High Court later quashed the disciplinary case, terming it a “sham proceeding” initiated after an unreasonable delay of 10 years. It also directed that Singh’s promotions and benefits be reconsidered.
Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court noted that while Singh’s junior, Uma Mahato, was promoted as Joint Secretary in March 2020, Singh was only given that post in November 2022- just months before her retirement. The State argued that she was ineligible due to the five-year service rule and the pending penalty.
Rejecting this, Justice Chandran remarked, “The punishment has been set aside and the departmental proceeding found to be in violation of established principles. Consequential benefits including retrospective promotion were directed. The appellant should be considered from the date her junior was promoted.”
The bench emphasized that relaxation of service requirements had already been applied in Mahato’s case and Singh could not be denied similar treatment.
Decision
Allowing the appeal, the Court ordered that Singh be deemed promoted as Joint Secretary from March 13, 2020-the date her junior was elevated. It directed Jharkhand to recalculate her pay, allowances, and pension based on this retrospective promotion.
The State has four months to issue fresh orders and settle dues. The Court clarified that Singh would not claim interest if payment is made on time, but any delay would attract 7% interest, recoverable from responsible officers.
With this, Singh’s long battle for recognition of her rightful seniority has reached closure, with the apex court making it clear that “justice delayed cannot mean justice denied.”
Case: Jyotshna Singh vs State of Jharkhand & Others
Case No.: Civil Appeal @ SLP(C) No.15932 of 2024
Date of Judgment: September 22, 2025