UCO BANK Vs. MADHAV ANANT KOPARKER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal pertains to selections made by the appellant-Bank in the year 1988 for promotions from Officers grade II to Officers Grade III. The Promotion policy for various promotions including from Officers Grade II to Officers Grade III was set out in a Circular dated 8/10/1987 which was issued to all branches of the appellant-Bank. The Circular sets out the promotion Policy as laid down by the Board of Directors which was deemed to be the policy applicable to all officers under Regulation 17 of the UCO Bank Officers Service regulations. 1979. In the Circular, it was, inter alia, mentioned that there were 200 vacancies in the Grade III posts which were to be filled in by promotions from Grade II. The promotions were to be made on the basis of aggregate marks secured by the eligible officers under the following four heads : (1) Seniority - 40 marks (2) Qualifications - 10 marks (3) Performance appraisal - 30 marks (4) Interview - 20 marks

(2.) The manner of giving marks, inter alia, for qualifications was also set out indicating the corresponding marks for each qualification. Initially under the said Promotion policy, the eligibility for promotions was to be determined as on 31/12/1986.

(3.) We are informed that the Bank was not able to get sufficient number of candidates for promotion from Grade II to Grade III who had completed the minimum length of service of five years. The Board thereafter by its Resolution dated 7/12/1987 resolved that for the purpose of filling up the vacancies, inter alia, for promotion from Grade II to Grade III, the minimum length of service for promotion may be relaxed by one year. The cut-OFF DATE for computing the eligibility for promotion was determined as on 31/10/1987. The marks for seniority, qualifications and performance were to be determined as on 31/12/1986. There were other modifications with which we are not concerned. The minimum length of service was further relaxed thereafter to secure an adequate number of candidates for consideration.