DURGA DAS SAMANTA Vs. STATE BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed for a direction to the respondent -authorities to promote the petitioner in the Senior Management Grade V from the date his immediate juniors have been promoted or with effect from 1.8.1987, the date on which his promotion in such a grade became due and accordingly make payment of the consequential benefits to which he may be legally entitled.

(2.) THE petitioner was initially appointed and joined as trainee Officer Grade I of the State Bank of India. He was later promoted to Middle Management Grade III in the year 1979 and thereafter in Senior Management Grade scale IV in the year 1983. The grievance is although having regard to the excellent service career, he was allowed to officiate in Senior Management Grade V with effect from 1985 -88 but at the time of regular promotion against the concerned grade, his case was ignored and several persons junior to him were promoted. Similarly on the subsequent occasions also, although promotions were granted to the officers junior to the petitioner but his claim was ignored. The petitioner on all the occasions filed different appeals against the orders whereby promotions were granted to other junior persons but no reason whatsoever was assigned under what circumstances his claim was not considered for promotion.

(3.) TO appreciate the rival contention of the parties, in my view it would be apt to notice the promotional policy of the respondent Bank in Senior Management Grade Scales IV and V, approved by the Executive Committee of the Central Board, a copy of which is Annexure 18 to the writ petition. A reference to the above it would appear that the eligibility for promotion to Senior Management - Scale IV is minimum four years service as Officer in MMG (Minimum Management Grade) III and for promotion to SMG -V, a minimum four years ' service is essential for officers of SMG scale IV. As per para 3.1 of the above policy, all officers, who had fulfilled the four years minimum service in SMG Scale IV, as above, will constitute the zone of consideration. Thereupon, promotion appraisal forms and assignment appraisal reports will accordingly be applied on all such officers, in order to include them in the zone of selection. Para 3.2 is a procedure for selection of an officer who comes within the zone of selection after due observance of the formalities as aforesaid. It would further appear that total marks is 200 for assessment of suitability for promotion i.e. (i) Performance -100 marks, (ii) Ratings earned under Reporting System -40 (iii) Assessment on Traits -20 and (iv) lnterview -40. Para 3.6 shows that there will be 50% minimum qualifying marks at the interview. All the officers constituting zone of selection will be interviewed by an interview committee constituted by the promoting authority for this purpose. Para 3.7 is the stage of final selection a 4/fte 1/20r1 3ta k Pia n gg e 1i 6n 7to consideration the total marks earned under various parameters.