PRUTHVI H.T Vs. SYNDICATE BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners are graduates in Agricultural and allied sources. Respondent No.1 invited applications for recruitment of 750 Assistant Managers (Rural Development in Junior Management Grade Scale-I). Last date for online submission of applications was 16.3.2011. Petitioners applied for the said posts. 10,432 candidates including the petitioners appeared in the written tests held on 15.5.2011. 4,494 candidates were short listed for interview. The interviews were conducted at 20 centers from 5.9.2011 to 11.9.2011. The Board of Directors of the Bank took a decision to drop the process for recruitment of the Assistant Managers (Rural Development) in JMGS-I, due to administrative reasons, particularly, in view of the announcement of the result of the common written examination conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, Mumbai, on 18.9.2011 and 13.11.2011, for recruitment for the Probationary Officers and the Management Trainees. As a result, on 30.1.2012, the Bank informed the candidates vide Annexure-F, that the entire process of recruitment has been dropped due to administrative reasons, particularly, in view of the announcement of the result of the common written examination of Probationary Officers conducted by IBPS, Mumbai on 18.9.2011 and 13.11.2011. Seeking quashing of the said decision and to direct the bank to revive and complete the recruitment process by issuing appointment orders, these writ petitions have been filed.

(2.) DETAILED statement of objection has been filed in justification of the decision to drop the process of recruitment of Assistant Managers (Rural Development) in JMGS-I in the Syndicate Bank.

(3.) SRI Radesh Prabhu, learned advocate, appearing for the respondents, on the other hand, contended that the Management Committee of the Indian Banks Association had prepared a proposal jointly with the Institute of Banking Personnel Section, Mumbai, for conducting a common written examination on behalf of the Public Sector Banks and recommended the proposal to the Government of India and that the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, vide a letter No. F.No.10/30/1/2010-IR, dated 20.9.2010 conveyed approval of the proposal for conducting common recruitment programme for recruitment of both clerks and officers in Public Sector Banks and that the Indian Bank Association directed the Banks to offer the mandates to the Institute of Banking Personnel Section, Mumbai, to conduct the written examination by obtaining the approval of the Board of Directors. He submitted that the respondent No.1 - bank also participated in the common written examination conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Section, Mumbai and hence, the Board of Directors of the Bank, in the meeting held of 16.12.2011, decided to drop the process of recruitment of the Assistant Manager (Rural Development), in view of the announcement of the result of the common written examination conducted by IBPS for recruitment of the Probationary Officers/Management Trainees, on 12.12.2011. He submitted that there is a nexus between the dropping of the recruitment process and the announcement of common written examination of the Probationary Officers conducted by respondent No.2. Placing reliance on a decision in the case of Shankarsan Dash Vs. Union of India, (1991) 3 SCC 47, he contended that the petitioners have no right to appointment merely on account of participation in the process of recruitment undertaken and that the writ petitions being devoid of merit may be dismissed.