The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside a state government order that removed senior Public Works Department (PWD) officer P.C. Verma from the additional charge of Chief Engineer, Bridge Zone, Bhopal, and handed the responsibility to another officer who was facing departmental proceedings.
Justice Vivek Kumar Singh, while deciding the matter on June 15, 2026, held that the decision was arbitrary and contrary to the government's own policy governing temporary and additional postings.
Background of the Case
Petitioner P.C. Verma challenged an order dated April 29, 2026, through which his additional charge as Chief Engineer, PWD Bridge Zone, Bhopal was withdrawn.
According to the record, Verma had been holding the additional responsibility since July 2025. On April 29, 2026, a show-cause notice alleging irregularities in tender evaluation was issued to him. Within hours of the notice, the government withdrew his additional charge and assigned it to respondent No. 4.
Verma argued that the move violated a government circular dated July 22, 2004, which bars officers facing disciplinary proceedings or serious vigilance concerns from being given higher or additional responsibilities.
During the hearing, the court closely examined the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the additional charge.
Justice Singh noted that the show-cause notice and the withdrawal order were issued on the same day within a gap of about three hours.
“The timeline in the present case where a show cause notice is issued and the petitioner is divested of his charge within three hours reflects a predetermined mind and bypasses the fundamental tenets of natural justice,” the court observed.
The court also scrutinized the appointment of respondent No. 4, against whom departmental proceedings relating to alleged financial irregularities and a bridge collapse matter were stated to be pending.
In a strong observation, the bench said, “By handing over such additional charge and posting respondent No. 4 in the very office responsible for processing the disciplinary proceedings, the State has effectively permitted a delinquent officer to oversee his own prosecution.”
The court further held that the State failed to explain why it ignored its own 2004 circular while assigning the additional charge.
The judgment also addressed a larger administrative concern regarding temporary postings in senior PWD positions.
Referring to the Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department Engineer-In-Chief and Chief Engineers Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, 1983, the court said temporary arrangements should not be used to bypass the eligibility framework meant for higher posts.
Justice Singh observed that assigning senior posts to officers who fall outside the promotion zone could undermine departmental hierarchy and administrative discipline.
Allowing the writ petition, the High Court quashed the April 29, 2026 order.
The court directed the Principal Secretary, PWD, to assign the additional charge of Chief Engineer, Bridge Zone, Bhopal to another eligible officer with an unblemished service record and who falls within the zone of consideration for promotion.
It further directed that pending departmental proceedings against respondent No. 4 be processed independently and that he should not be posted as In-Charge Chief Engineer in the Bhopal Zone until those proceedings are concluded.
The writ petition was accordingly disposed of.
Case Details
Case Title: P.C. Verma v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Others
Case Number: Writ Petition No. 16652 of 2026
Bench/Judge: Hon'ble Shri Justice Vivek Kumar Singh
Decision Date: 15 June 2026
