C P KALRA Vs. AIR INDIA LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr. Rakesh Luthra, learned Counsel for the petitioners has restricted his arguments to the limited question whether an employee has a right to notice before any administrative change is made in the promotional policy and whether promotions made on the basis of such changed policy are vitiated for lack of notice.

(2.) The facts are being briefly set out. Petitioner No. 1 Joined Air India on 3rd May, 1964 as Junior Traffic Assistant and was promoted to the post of Assistant Station Superintendent on 1st October, 1979. Petitioner No. 2 joined the service on 3rd April, 1967 and was promoted to the post of Agsistant Station Superintendent also on 1st October, 1979alongwith respondent No. 3. Petitioner No. 3 is the Air India Officers Association.

(3.) It is the admitted case of parties that the circular dated 24th June, 1970 contained the promotional policy and procedure. The zone of consideration was originally three and this was subsequently enlarged in 1977 to five i e. five times the number of posts. It is also the admitted case of parties that in 1981, to be exact on 8th April, 1981 a Panel report indicated certain changas with regard to the promotion of officers from the grade of Assistant Station Superintendent to the grade of Station Superintendent. Subsequently on 6th September, 1982 this policy was circulated to all the departments.