UNION OF INDIA Vs. REGISTRAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE Union of India represented by the Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department and the Central Ground Water Board along with the Union Public Service Commission are the petitioners. THE challenge is to the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal dated 30.09.2002 passed in O.A.No.419 of 2002. THE issue concerns the promotion of respondents 2 and 3 from the post of Assistant Hydrogeologist to the post of Scientist 'B', viz., Junior Hydrogeologist.

(2.) THE second and third respondents joined the post of Assistant Hydrogeologist in the year 1987 and 1988 respectively. As per the Rules, on completion of three years of service in the post of Assistant Hydrogeologist, they are entitled to be considered for promotion to the post of Scientist 'B' namely Junior Hydrogeologist. THE second and third respondents became eligible for being considered for Scientist 'B' post in the year 1990. However, they were actually promoted to Scientist 'B' post only in the year 2001. THE grievance of the second and third respondents was that they ought to have been promoted to Scientist 'B' post once they became eligible in the year 1990 and therefore, the petitioners should be directed to accord such promotion to Scientist 'B' post from the year 1990 onwards. In support of the said claim, the second and third respondents placed reliance upon Rule 6 (2) and (3) of the Central Ground Water Board (Scientific Group 'A' Post) Recruitment Rules 1987.

(3.) WE heard Mr. A.S. Chakravarthy for the petitioners and Mr. Karthick Mukundan for respondents 2 and 3. WE also perused the above referred to Rule 6.