EMPLOYMENT OF A.P,DAIRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE FEDERATION LTD Vs. MANAGING DIRECTOR A.P. DAIRY DEVELOPMENT COPERATIVE FADRATION LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is ah association of the employees of the A.P. Dairy Deve-lopment Co-operative Federation Limited ('the Federation', for short). The petitioner-association consists of Indian Dairy Diploma-holders and it is constituted for protecting the welfare and service interest of the Diploma-holders. Respondent No. 1 is the Federation which is the employer. Respondents 2 to 5 are impleaded as parties. They are also employees of the Federation, but they are Degree- holders who will be affected if the peti-tioner's contention is accepted.

(2.) The petitioner-association seeks a declaration that the fixing up of ratio of 1:3 between the Diploma-holders and Graduates for promotion as Grade I officer, is illegal, null and void and is violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. The petitioner seeks a consequential direction to the first respondent to promote the Degree-holders as Gr. -I Officers from Gr. II without following the basis of ratio of promotions as between the Diploma-holders and the Degree- holders. The Federation and respondents 2 to 5 maintain that the ratio of promotion between the Diploma-holders and the Degree-holders is justifiably founded and contend that there is no case for interference by this Court.

(3.) I heard Sri K. Nageswarao, learned Counsel for the petitioner-association, Sri C. Ramakrishna Government Pleader for the first respondent and Sri. V. Venkataramanaiah, learned Counsel for respondents 2 to 5. I also perused the counters filed by respondent No. 1 and respondent 2 to 5.