WhatsApp ‘OK’ does not prove leave sanction: CAT
Rajesh Kumar Pandeytnn 23.10.2026
Prayagraj: Dismissing a railway employee’s petition challenging his transfer from Prayagraj to Fatehpur, the Allahabad bench of Central Administrative Tribunal has held that an officer’s response of “OK” to a leave request on WhatsApp “cannot by itself be treated as conclusive proof of sanction of leave”. CAT judicial member Rajnish Kumar Rai dismissed the application filed by Priya Ranjan Kumar, an employee of North Central Railway, by an order dated Oct 7.
Kumar had got leave from July 14 to July 16 last year to visit his native village. He subsequently sought an extension of two days via WhatsApp. He claimed senior divisional commercial manager Himanshu Shukla approved his request by replying “OK”. However, when Kumar returned on July 21, he was suspended. Four days later, he was transferred to Fatehpur.
A disciplinary chargesheet was issued on July 31. Kumar’s counsel argued that his transfer was a punitive measure connected to the dispute over his leave. The railways submitted the transfer was necessitated by the development of a new entry and booking office at Fatehpur station. The tribunal accepted the railways’ explanation and concluded that Kumar had failed to establish mala fide or punitive intent behind the transfer.
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