SAVITA GUPTA Vs. INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this Writ Petition Petitioner impugns the letter dtd. 27/3/2020 issued by Respondent, whereby her services have been terminated from the post of General Manager (Finance), on the ground of not meeting the mandatory eligibility criteria of having minimum three years experience in Heading the Finance and Accounting Department of a Bank or one level below the Head of Finance and Accounting Department in a Bank.

(2.) The facts as set out by the Petitioner are that she is a qualified Chartered Accountant and worked with IDBI Bank for about 26 years, since 21/5/1990. Respondent, which is a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, invited applications for various posts in scale VII, in 2016, which included the post of Chief Financial Officer/General Manager (Finance). In response thereto, Petitioner on 14/10/2016 made an online application. The interview was held on 10/11/2016 during which she provided all the documents sought by the Respondent viz., documents relating to Educational Qualifications, detailed Resume, Experience and No Objection Certificates from the erstwhile employer/ IDBI and the latest salary slip. On successful completion of the interview, an Offer Letter dtd. 16/12/2016 was received by the Petitioner. Petitioner vide letter dtd. 19/12/2016 sought clarification regarding emoluments etc., payable to her on assuming office to the post of Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/ General Manager (Finance). On receiving a response vide letter dtd. 26/12/2016 from the Respondent, Petitioner sent her acceptance on 30/12/2016. On 1/3/2017, Petitioner assumed office, after resigning from her previous job in IDBI Bank.

(3.) As per the terms in Clause 3 of the Offer Letter, period of probation was one year and thus ended in March, 2018. However, Petitioner received no communication regarding confirmation or extension of period of probation for another year. Two years being the maximum period of probation, grievance was raised by the Petitioner against her non-confirmation, but there was no response from the Respondent.