HARJIT SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner Harjit Singh has filed this writ petition being dissatisfied with the judgment rendered by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, Chandigarh, dismissing the Original Application No. 979/CH/1999 filed by the petitioner. He prays that the judgment of the Tribunal be set aside and a direction be issued to the Department of Posts to promote him to the Postal Service Group-B grade. The relevant factual matrix of the case is as hereunder.

(2.) The petitioner joined the Department of Posts as a Postal Assistant on 3.7.1969. He was further promoted as an Accountant and still further as an Assistant Post Master in the lower selection grade.

(3.) That as per the Department of Postal Superintendent/Post Masters Group-B recruitment rules 1987, 6% of postal service Group-B grade posts are to be filled up by promotion from amongst the clerical line officials working against the posts in the lower selection grade and above. For this purpose, a departmental examination is held from time to time. Vide letter dated 12.8.1997 applications were invited to fill up a total of 6 Group-B grade posts by holding a departmental examination on 30/31.12.1997. The petitioner also appeared in the said examination. The petitioner's name however did not figure in the list of successful candidates in spite of the fact that 3 vacancies in the general category remained unfilled.