SANAL Vs. STATE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners have approached this Court, challenging the steps taken by the 1st respondent State Bank of India, proposing to make campus recruitment to the post of Probationary Officer. The brief facts of the case are the following :

(2.) The first petitioner is a graduate in B. Sc. Physics with 70% marks. He is doing the Post Graduate course in the Cochin University of Science and Technology. The second petitioner is doing B. Tech. in Electronics, in the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara. They submit, they have cleared all the examinations, scoring very high marks. The second petitioner is a member of the Scheduled Caste. On coming to know that the 1st respondent is going to make campus recruitment to 30% of the vacancies in the cadre of Probationary Officers, this Writ Petition is filed by them. They challenge the campus recruitment, mainly on the ground that the same offends their fundamental rights, guaranteed under Arts. 14 and 16(1) of the Constitution of India.

(3.) The second respondent, who is the Zonal Manager of the 1st respondent Bank, has filed a counter affidavit, resisting the prayers in the Writ Petition and supporting the steps taken for campus recruitment. The said respondent rely on Ext. R2(a) circular, issued by the Government of India to the Chief Executives of all Public Sector Banks, empowering them to recruit up to 30% of the vacancies in the post of Probationary Officer, earmarked for direct recruitment, by way of campus recruitment from recognised management and other professional institutions. On the basis of Ext. R2(a), the Bank has framed a recruitment policy, which is produced as Ext. R2(b), which provides, inter alia, for campus recruitment from reputed management institutions. It is also pointed out that the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has issued Ext. R2(c) policy, concerning Managerial autonomy of Public Sector Banks. The said policy also enables the Bank to proceed with the campus recruitment. It is further submitted that the executive committee of the Central Board of the lst respondent has approved Ext. R2(b) policy on campus recruitment.