STATE BANK OF INDIA Vs. KASHINATH KHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) JUDGMENT

(2.) THESE appeals by special leave arise from the orders of the Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court made on 27/08/1993 in Misc. Petition Nos. 1965/90 and 2091/90. The facts not in dispute are that the respondents while working as Middle Management Grade Scale II officers (for short, "MMGS-II") in the State Bank of India, its Bhopal Circle have challenged the policy of the appellant-Bank dated 21/03/1990 and 6/08/1990 whereunder the officers who have not completed two years of line assignment and two years Rural/Semi-urban service were to be considered eligible for promotion to Middle Management Grade Scale III (for short, "MMGS-III"). The High Court has held that they are ineligible and such a clubbing of ineligible officers with eligible officers is violative of Article 14 and accordingly struck down the criteria and given directions in the orders. Calling in question of the said order, these appeals by special leave came to be filed.

(3.) IN 1990, by memo dated 21/03/1990 general guidelines for promotion to MMGS-III were envisaged which read as under :