RAMKARAN KUMHAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is directed against order dated 11.5.07 of the Central Administrative Tribunal ('Tribunal'), Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur, rejecting the claim of the petitioner for grant of 1st Assured Career Progression (ACP) on completion of 12 years of service on the post of Inspector of Posts.

(2.) The relevant facts are that the petitioner entered the services of the respondents as Postal Assistant on 23.2.78. In the year 1983, he appeared in the limited Departmental Competitive Examination for recruitment to the post of Inspector of Post Offices/RMS. On being declared successful, he was appointed as Inspector of Posts on 26.7.84.

(3.) The Government of India with a view to deal with the problem of genuine stagnation and hardship faced by the employee due to lack of adequate promotion avenues introduced ACP Scheme on 9.8.99, which provides two financial upgradations on completion of 12 and 24 years of service, counted against regular promotion availed from the grade in which an employee was appointed as direct recruit. Two financial upgradations under the Scheme are available to the employee only if no regular promotions during the prescribed period (12 and 24 years) have been availed. If an employee has already got one regular promotion, he shall qualify for the second financial up gradation only on completion of 24 years of regular service under the ACP Scheme. In case, two prior promotions on regular basis have already been received by an employee, no benefit under ACP Scheme shall accrue to him.