DEVADAS K Vs. KERALA STATE FINANCIAL ENTERPRISE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Common issues arise for consideration in these writ petitions. Therefore, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience, WP (C) No. 24647/07 is taken as the leading case.

(2.) The petitioners are employees of the Kerala State Financial Enterprises Limited (for short "the KSFE"), the first respondent. The first petitioner is a Deputy Manager and other petitioners are Assistant Managers. Recruitment Rules have been framed by the first respondent regulating appointments and other service conditions. The posts are divided into Officers Cadre, Assistant Managers Cadre and Subordinate Staff Cadre. The posts of Assistant Manager come under the category of Junior Officers. It was originally known as Junior Executive and later redesignated as Assistant Managers. The promotion post of Assistant Manager is that of Officer Grade IV. What is involved in this case is the selection process undertaken by the first respondent for promotion to the post of Officer Grade IV.

(3.) Appointment to the posts of Officer Grade IV can be by way of promotion or by direct recruitment. There is a ratio prescribed in relation thereto. 75% of the posts will have to be filled up by promotion from the category of Assistant Managers. In Ext. P1 Recruitment Rules, it is stated that 75% of vacancies in the post of Officer Grade IV is to be filled up by promotion "by a selection process based on competitive written test and interview from qualified and suitable officers in the Junior Officer's Cadre". In the absence of such candidates, the same could be filled up by direct recruitment.