L CHOCKALINGAM Vs. CHAIRMAN PANDYAN GRAMA BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONER's challenges is non-selection for promotion to Scale-II Officers and seeks Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to quash the order No. PAD/01/1999-2000 dated 17. 4. 1999 of the 1st Respondent in so far as promotion of the 2nd Respondent is concerned.

(2.) PETITIONER entered into service in Pandyan Grama Bank on 21. 2. 1979 as Accountant and the said post was redesignated as Officer Junior Management I (OJM I ). Next avenue of promotion available to the Petitioner is to the post of Senior Manager ? Scale II (MMG ). Employees of the Bank, particularly in the Officer's cadre have been representing to the Management about the necessity for making available adequate avenues of promotion. By Circular No. PAD/40/95-96 dated 19. 02. 1996, 1st Respondent announced a promotion policy i. e. promotion to Scale?ii Officers shall be the seniority-cum-merit and a minimum length of service of 8 years in the post of OJM-I.

(3.) BY Circular No. PAD/21/98-99 dated 03. 08. 1998, it was announced that 45 vacancies of Senior Manager/area Manager (Scale-II) posts had been created and that the promotion process for 45 vacancies along with three existing vacancies would commence shortly. Although, Regional Rural Banks (Appointment and Promotion of Officers and other Employees) Rules, 1998 (for short Promotion Rules) were notified on 29. 7. 1998. By Circular No. PAD/47/98-99 dated 16. 12. 1998 a new promotion policy was announced, whereby the posts of Scale-II officers were to be filled up by selection (i) written test; (ii) interview and (iii) performance appraisal report. Vacancies announced by Circular dated 03. 8. 1998 were filled up on the basis of new promotion policy/guidelines.