STATE BANK OF PATIALA Vs. O P LATKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Letters Patent Appeal arises out of the judgment in Civil Writ Petition No. 10971 of 988 given by learned Single Judge, who had allowed the petition. Being aggrieved by the said judgment dated 2.5.1991, respondents No. 1 to 3 have preferred this Letters Patent Appeal before this Court.

(2.) the contentions of the petitioners i.e. the present respondent are that he is working as Branch Manager in the State Bank of Patiala, Mataur, District Jind. In 1987, he was promoted as Officer Junior Management Grade Scale-I. The next promotion from the said post is the Middle Management Grade Scale-II (in short MMGS-II). He contends that the promotions to all grades in the Bank are to be made in accordance with the policy laid down by the Board or the Executive Committee in accordance with the guidelines formulated by the State Bank from time to time.

(3.) A promotion policy was framed by the Bank vide circular No. 68 dated 5.6.1985 and according to the policy, there were two channels of promotions i.e. (i) seniority channel and (ii) merit channel. The petitioner was competing in the merit channel. All Officers of Junior Management Grade Scale-I having six years of service in the Bank as on 1.1.1984 were eligible to compete and they were to appear in a written test and an interview. The petitioner contends that the promotions in the merit channel were to be given effect from 1.8.1984. He further contends that he was fully eligible to compete for the promotion to MMGS-II under Merit Channel on 1.1.1984. A written test for the promotion was held on 18.8.1985 and the interview was held on 21.12.1985. The petitioner was selected for promotion being higher on merit but his result was kept in a sealed cover as per 'sealed cover Vacancies Procedure'. According to the said procedure, the cases of all eligible officers are to be considered for promotions including the officers of following categories at par with other officers :