Shimla, Dec. 30 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State Public Works Department (PWD) to complete the pending Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) proceedings for promotion to the post of Executive Engineer before December 31, 2025, to avoid prejudice to an eligible officer who is due to retire.

Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by Dharam Chand Sharma, an Assistant Engineer in the PWD, who had challenged the department's decision to keep his promotion case in abeyance despite his eligibility.

The petitioner contended that although he had completed more than eight years of regular service and had also cleared the departmental examination, his case for promotion under the 30 p...