Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Tuesday barred Jammu and Kashmir Bank from declaring the result of an interview process in terms of January 11 notification with regard to the promotion of Banking Associates.
A bench of Justice Rahul Bharti also directed the bank to call the petitioners, the Banking Associates who came to attain the status on account of their promotion from the subordinate cadre, for an interview along-with the candidates who have been shortlisted for the interview in terms of notification on January 11 this year.
The court in its order observed that Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd. has given to itself a “Policy for Promotion of Workmen (Banking Associates, Assistants, Banking Associates and Banking Attendants)”, which came to be approved on 13 July 2022.
It is in terms of this Policy, the court observed, that the Bank deals with the cadre of Banking Associates, Banking Assistants and Banking Attendants for the purpose of recruitment and promotion.
According to the petitioners, Banking Associates serving in the bank fall in two categories—one who are directly appointed after qualifying IBPS examination, and others are promoted from the subordinate cadre.
For the purpose of their next promotion and alleviation to become Assistant Manager (JMGS-I) officers, 80% is to be done through promotion from the Banking Associates cadre, whereas 20% is by direct recruitment, they said.
With respect to 80% of promotion of Banking Associates to the post of Assistant Manager (JMGS-I), they said, the Policy envisages and recognizes two channels: one channel on the basis of seniority cum selectivity channel and the other one is fast track and merit channel as is envisaged under Clause 4.1 of the Policy.
Under this seniority cum selectivity channel, they said, there is further classification obtaining with respect to the Banking Associates.
The Banking Associates who are appointed after qualifying IBPS examination possessing seven years of regular service as such on 31st March of the preceding financial year are eligible for promotion to JMGS-I.
The Banking Associates who have come to be so appointed on the basis of promotion from subordinate cadre and have completed seven years of service as such are mandatorily required to go through an eligibility screening written test (objective type) for participation for the promotion under seniority cum selectivity channel, the court was told.
“It is where the petitioners figure. The problem that has brought the petitioners before this Court through the medium of this writ petition is that instead of according them an eligibility screening written test (objective type), the petitioners have been clubbed with category two of under fast track/merit channel candidates and subjected to bear written examination, which in terms of the policy intent, is meant to be only for the Banking Associates who have completed three years of regular service and are willing to take chance for proving their merit for the purpose of promotion by undertaking the written examination in a promotion process envisaged for the said category,” the court sad.
Since the petitioners reckon that they have been prejudiced by being subjected to a written examination meant for fast track and merit channel, as such, they do not find themselves qualifying the “rigorous” written examination and, as such, are left out of list of candidates who have been called for interview in terms of notification dated January 11, 2024, which has come to be issued post filing of the present writ petition by the petitioners, the court said.
“The petitioners are staring at loss of a promotion opportunity in their favour having completed seven years of service as Banking Associates and still not getting a call for consideration by reference to an alleged disqualification having not made it through the written examination which was meant for fast track/ merit channel,” the court said and issued notice to the bank.
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