Rajeev Kumar vs Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on 12 March, 2024
3.1 It is stated by the applicant that SDE RRs 2002 require a JTO to
have rendered not less than 3 years of regular service in the grade on
1st July of the year of LDCE. Note 2 in column 12 of these RRs provides
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CAT,Lucknow Bench OA No. 332/00412 of 2022 Rajeev Kumar Vs. U.O.I. &Ors.
that promotion of JTOs shall be made on the basis of an All India
eligibility list. Note 3 stipulates that 'the crucial date for determining
eligibility list shall be 1st of July of year to which vacancies pertain'.
Further, note 5 stipulates that 'where juniors who have completed their
qualifying eligibility service are being considered for promotion, their
seniors would also be considered provided they are not short of requisite
qualifying eligibility service by more than one year'. As per the applicant,
LDCE 2007, in which he appeared, pertained to the vacancy years
2001-02 to 2005-06. The applicant was short of 3 years' regular service
by 28 days as on 01.07.2005 while one junior (Shri Kamlesh), who was
recruited in the same year as the applicant, was eligible as he had
joined as JTO before 01.07.2002. It is the contention of the applicant
that his joining got delayed till 11.07.2002 as the respondents could not
send him for training for no fault of his. A clarification was sought by
the competent authority from respondent no. 2 whether the applicant
was eligible for LDCE 2007 in view of Note 5 in column 12 of SDE RRs
2002. The clarification dated 16.04.2007 stated that the case of
applicant be decided as per column 12 and Note thereunder. Following
this clarification, the applicant was allowed to appear in LDCE 2007 on
15.07.2007 and was promoted vide order dated 03.11.2008.
3.2 It is further stated by the applicant that following a court case
filed by Shri M Devi Dayal before Hyderabad Bench of this Tribunal, the
respondents have issued a clarification dated 30.07.2010 to the effect
that Note 5 of column 12 of SDE RRs 2002 shall be applicable for
seniority-cum-fitness quota only. It is the applicant's contention that
this clarification is impermissible under law and it cannot be issued
without amending SDE RRs 2002 and further, in any case, such
clarification cannot have retrospective effect.