S K MATHLJR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE Bank Note Press, Dewas (for short, 'the Press'), which is a departmental undertaking of the Government of India and is engaged in the sovereign function of the printing of the Bank Notes, was established in 1972. THE job of printing and processing of Bank Notes is said to be a unique job which requires intensive and highly technical training with impeccable integrity. According to the counter affidavit filed before us, the production of Bank Notes is completed in two parts, namely, (i) printing of Bank Note Sheets and (ii) processing of Bank Notes right from cutting of sheets into the sizes of Notes to the final delivery to Reserve Bank of India at their cash-chests. THE processing wing is known as Control Wing.

(2.) SINCE at the time of its establishment, the Press did not have its own cadres of various posts, including the post of Inspector (Control), nor were any Recruitment Rules made for these posts, it approached the Government of India for certain posts in the control wing being sanctioned and on its request the Government of India sanctioned 20 posts in the grade of Inspector (Control). SINCE it was felt that it would not be safe or possible to entrust the responsibilities of processing and final supply of Bank Notes to the Reserve Bank of India, to raw hands, namely the new recruits, the Press, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance decided to fill up 50% posts of Inspector (Control) from qualified and trained persons working in the sister organisations, namely the India Security Press, Nasik Road, as also the Security Paper Mill, Hoshangabad, and the remaining 50% by direct recruitment. Consequently, the Press issued a requisition letter dated 1-6-1972 to the sister organisations, including the India Security Press, Nasik Road, for sponsoring the names of the candidates willing to take up the appointment as Inspector (Control), for which the eligibility criteria was five years' experience as Asstt. Inspector (Control).

(3.) S.S.Deshmukh 7-1-1966 3-10-1973