Indian Kanoon - Search engine for Indian Law

HON'BLE Mrs.V.RAMA MATHEW, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER The applicants, who are Group B Gazetted Officers in the India Meteorological Department (IMD), have approached this Tribunal challenging the non-implementation of promotions in the Group B Scientific Support Staff and Group A Scientific Officer cadres. They seek implementation of cadre restructuring notified on 07.03.2018, which was to take effect retrospectively from 01.01.2009. Originally, the promotion hierarchy for Scientific staff allowed steady progression from Senior Observer → Scientific Assistant → Assistant Meteorologist (Grade-II & I) → Meteorologist → Director → Dy. Director General → Addl. DG → DG of Meteorology. Until 2009, 80% of Group A (Scientist-C) vacancies were filled by promotions from Group B (Assistant Meteorologist Grade-I) and 20% through direct UPSC recruitment. However, after 2009, the promotional avenue from Group B to Group A was blocked following restructuring under the Modified Flexible Complementing (MFC) Scheme, which re-designated Meteorologist Grade-I as Scientist-C and shifted the entry point of Group A to direct recruitment through UPSC. This eliminated promotion opportunities for Group B officers, who were A S Peethambaran 2025.10.17 10:48:23+05'30' reclassified as Scientific Support Staff with no alternative promotion channel, despite recommendations from several committees including the Dr. S.K. Das Committee.

A S Peethambaran 2025.10.17 10:48:23+05'30'

5. As regards transfer it states that all posts (Scientific Assistant, Meteorologist A, Meteorologist B, Scientific Officer-I, II, and III) have an All-India liability and transfers are carried out according to existing norms and the needs of the establishment. The residency period for Scientific Officer-I is 6 years in the post of Meteorologist-B, which is in line with DoPT guidelines. The Recruitment Rules for promotion from Meteorologist-A to Meteorologist-B are being amended to a 2 year residency period, also as per DoPT instructions. Hence, the allegations regarding the residency period for Group B Scientific Cadre not being in line with DoPT guidelines are incorrect. It is admitted that promotions for the applicants have been affected due to sub-judice issues related to reservation in promotion, but states that sincere efforts are being made to effect the promotions. It clarifies that the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) process by the UPSC is ongoing and continuous efforts are being made to fill the posts. The respondents denied the applicant's interpretation of Annexure A13 which suggested that newly created posts would be abolished if left vacant for two years.

8. M.A.No.180/440/2024 was filed by the applicant to provisionally promote 5th applicant to the post of Scientific Officer I before his retirement. It is submitted in the M.A that interim orders were issued by this Tribunal to revive posts, leading to issuance Annexure R-15 order which promoted only 105 Meteorologist 'B' to Scientific Officer-I, despite 151 vacant positions. It is pointed out that there are 67 vacancies in the cadre of Scientific Officer-I as 21 officers declined the promotion. 3 rd and 5th applicants, who are Meteorologist 'B', were not promoted as per the said Annexure R-15 order because they had not completed the required residency period which is on account of the inordinate delay occurred on the part of the IMD in effecting promotions. At last, it pointed out the A S Peethambaran 2025.10.17 10:48:23+05'30' case of Mr.R.C.Jayakumar (5th applicant), who is due to retire on 31.05.2024 and argued that he has completed the required combined service of 9 years in the cadres of Meteorologist 'A' and Meteorologist 'B', and that a delay in his promotion would cause irreparable hardships and prays for his provisional promotion to the post of Scientific Officer-I.

9. The respondents filed objection to M.A.No.180/440/2024 wherein they have stated that the DPC was convened by the UPSC on 22.12.2023 for the promotion of 151 posts of Scientific Officer-I in the IMD from Meteorologist 'B'. It is pointed out that a promotion process from Meteorologist 'B' to Scientific Officer-I was conducted. 105 Meteorologist 'B' officers were promoted and 5 cases were kept in a sealed cover due to vigilance/administrative reasons. Further, 7 posts were reserved for PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category candidates as per DOP&T order dated 17.05.2022. Besides, 34 posts could not be filled because there were no eligible employees in the Meteorologist 'B' category and 3 promoted officers refused the new position and 3 others retired after joining. As on the date, it is submitted that there are 40 vacancies available for promotion from Meteorologist 'B' to Scientific Officer-I. A S Peethambaran 2025.10.17 10:48:23+05'30'