New Delhi, March 7 : The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by former West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order which transferred a case filed by him from Kolkata to Delhi. A Bench headed by Chief Justice D N Patel and comprising Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order. Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, had knocked the doors of the Delhi High Court challenging a CAT order which transferred a case filed by him from Kolkata to Delhi. The Delhi High Court had on February 25 reserved the petition filed by Bandyopadhyay after hearing the detailed arguments and submissions from Bandyopadhyay and respondents and all three parties. “This court finds no reason to interfere with the aforesaid order. The petition is dismissed. It is made clear that the court has made no comments on the disciplinary proceedings, including the competence of the Central government to initiate such proceedings,” the High Court said. It was alleged that Bandyopadhyay turned up late to a meeting presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2021. Subsequently, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) initiated proceedings against him. The Centre subsequently set up a panel to probe the charges against him. This move was challenged by Bandyopadhyay before the Kolkata Bench of CAT. But the CAT transferred the matter to Delhi before any hearing could take place. Bandyopadhyay challenged the order of the CAT Chairman before the Calcutta High Court which set it aside. Bandyopadhyay then moved the Delhi High Court challenging the transfer of case. “The order passed by the Principal Bench of CAT was in complete violation of the principles of natural justice, equity and fair play as he was not even granted a right to file his written objections to the transfer petition filed by the Centre, which was allowed on the very first day of its listing,” he claimed in his petition. SM MR