AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Advocates
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Advocates
Judges
Smart Summary

Judgment Summary — V.G. Palshikar, J.

Factual and Procedural Background

The petitioners sought a direction that the respondents grant them promotion with retrospective effect, alleging that they were wrongly placed in the seniority list. The petitioners had earlier obtained a partly successful writ in Writ Petition No. 4400/85. The operative part of that earlier order directed that each petitioner be given a deem date of 21-11-1984 as the date of promotion to the cadre of Assistant Administrative Officer for the western region, to be placed in the seniority list over respondent Nos. 5 to 7, and to be considered for future promotions. The present petition alleges that the earlier direction was not implemented: the petitioners contend they were not considered for promotion from the deem date and that promotions to other respondents were therefore wrong.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the respondents failed to implement this Court's earlier order (Writ Petition No. 4400/85) directing a deem date of 21-11-1984 and resultant consideration for future promotions.
  2. Whether, as a consequence of that alleged failure, the petitioners are entitled to retrospective promotion (as opposed to the right to be considered), in light of the legal principle concerning Article 16 of the Constitution of India.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioners' Arguments

  • The earlier direction of this Court (deem date and seniority placement) has not been implemented.
  • They were not considered for promotion from the deem date and were thus wrongly shown in the seniority list; they sought retrospective promotion.
  • They contended they were never communicated adverse remarks or marks that would place them below the bench marks used for promotion.

Respondent's Arguments (New India Assurance Company Limited)

  • By affidavit, the respondent stated that, in view of the judgment dated 17-11-1992 in Writ Petition No. 4400/85, each petitioner was given the deem date of 21-11-1984 and placed above respondent Nos. 5–7 in the seniority list.
  • The respondents asserted that the petitioners were considered for future promotions; specifically, they were considered in the promotional exercise held in February 1988.
  • The Lower Management Services Committee applied minimum qualifying grading ("bench remarks") and assessed candidates; the petitioners passed the bench remarks but were not selected because other candidates secured higher marks and the available posts were filled by those with higher marks (one Shri Londhe was promoted as he secured higher grades).
  • The affidavit sets out in detail how each petitioner was evaluated and why each, despite passing the bench remarks, was not selected for promotion.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Writ Petition No. 4400/85 (judgment of this Court dated 17-11-1992) The earlier order directing that each petitioner be given a deem date of 21-11-1984 as date of promotion to the cadre of Assistant Administrative Officer and placed in the seniority list above respondent Nos. 5 to 7, and to be considered for future promotions. The court treated the earlier order as the basis for the petitioners' claim; the respondents' affidavit relied on that order to show they had given the deem date and had placed the petitioners in the seniority list and had considered them in subsequent promotional exercises.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court began by restating the earlier order (Writ Petition No. 4400/85) directing the deem date of 21-11-1984 and seniority placement. It noted the settled law that Article 16 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to be considered for promotion (a right to consideration), but does not confer a right to appointment itself.

The Court examined the affidavit filed by the employer, which: (a) confirmed that the deem date of 21-11-1984 had been given to each petitioner and that they had been placed in the seniority list above respondent Nos. 5–7; (b) described the promotional exercise carried out in February 1988 by the Lower Management Services Committee; (c) explained that the committee applied minimum qualifying grading (bench remarks) and then selected among those who qualified based on highest marks; and (d) showed that, although the petitioners had passed the bench remarks, other candidates had higher marks and were selected for the available posts (one Shri Londhe was specifically promoted for having higher grades).

Given the affidavit's detailed account demonstrating that each petitioner had been considered and evaluated according to the promotional criteria, the Court found no substance in the petitioners' contention that they were not considered. The petitioners' separate contention — that they were never communicated adverse remarks — was addressed by noting that the petitioners had cleared the bench remarks and nevertheless were not selected because others scored higher; therefore that contention did not assist them.

On this basis the Court concluded that detailed and legally required consideration had been given by the respondents, and that the petition did not succeed.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The petition is dismissed. The petitioners' claim for retrospective promotion was rejected. The Court ordered costs payable by the petitioners in the amount of Rs. 750/-. The order concludes with the formal notation: "Petition dismissed."

Implications: The direct effect is that the respondents' actions (giving the deem date, placing petitioners in seniority, and conducting promotional exercises in which the petitioners were considered but not selected due to lower marks) are upheld. The opinion emphasizes the distinction between the right to be considered for promotion (guaranteed by Article 16) and a right to appointment; the Court recorded that no further entitlement to appointment arises from being considered. The opinion does not state or establish any broader precedent beyond the resolution of this dispute.

Petition dismissed.

    Madhukar Gaikwad And Another v. General Insurance Corporation Of India And Others

    V.G Palshikar, J.:— By this petition the petitioners have claimed direction that the respondents be directed to grant promotion to the petitioners with retrospective effect as they were wrongly shown in the seniority list.

    2. The petitioners had earlier approached this Court for similar relief by way of writ petition No. 4400/85. This petition was allowed by this Court partly. The operative part of this order is as follows:

    “7. Accordingly petition partly succeeds and respondent No. 3 are directed to give each of the petitioners a deem date of November 21, 1984 as the date of promotion to the cadre of Assistant Administrative Officer for western region and in the seniority list of that cadre place each of the petitioners in accordance with their inter-se-seniority over and above respondent Nos. 5 to 7. The petitioners will be entitled on the basis of deem date to be considered for future promotion. In the circumstances of the case, respondent No. 3 shall pay costs. Deem date shall be given within a period of two weeks.”

    3. It was therefore directed by this Court that the petitioners be given deem date on 21-11-1984 as date of promotion to the cadre of Assistant Administrative Officer and to consider them for further promotions on the basis of the deem date.

    4. The complaint of the petitioners in this petition is that in spite of this direction it is not done. Petitioners have not been considered for promotion from deem date and promotion to the respondents is wrong.

    5. It is undisputed position in law that what is conferred by Article 16 of the Constitution of India is right to be considered for promotion. It therefore gives right to the petitioners to be considered for promotion in post. It is their fundamental right. It is also undisputable position in law that once such legally valid consideration is given no further right to appointment springs out of it and even a selected person is not entitled to claim appointment as a matter of face.

    6. Affidavit in reply has been filed by the employer New India Assurance Company Limited and the affidavit in details explains the circumstances in which the petitioners were considered. In para 3 of the reply the Corporation has categorically points out that in view of the judgment of this Court dated 17-11-1992 in Writ Petition No. 4400/85 each of the petitioner has been given deem date of promotion as 21-11-1984 in the cadre of Assistant Administrative Officer. Then the affidavit proceeds to state that they were also placed higher in the seniority list over the respondents 5 to 7 in that petition. The petitioners thereafter were considered on the basis of their deem date of promotion for future promotions. Then in para 5 there is categoric statement by the respondent-Corporation that petitioners were also considered for further promotions with effect from February, 1988 and in order to carry this exercise the Lower Management Services Committee took into account the minimum qualifying grading of remarks for promotion in the promotional exercise held in February, 1988. After evaluating the remarks of the petitioners as per administrative guidelines promotion was given to one Shri Londhe because he had secured grades higher than the minimum qualifying grading. The affidavit explains in great details how each of the petitioner was considered and was not selected though he had passed the bench remarks. According to respondents the number of seats available were given to the persons who qualified the bench remarks and secured highest marks. The petitioners not having secured highest marks than the persons who having better marks and finally each of them having qualified bench remarks promotion was not given to the petitioners. This affidavit therefore demonstrates with clarity that detailed consideration as required by law was given by the respondents to the petitioners. There is therefore no substance in their contention that they were not considered for promotional post or their deem date as directed by this Court in the earlier petition.

    7. It was then contended that petitioners have never been communicated any adverse remarks, they were liable to be communicated adverse remarks or liable to be communicated marks which put them below the bench remarks. This point also does not arise in this case because admittedly petitioners cleared the bench remarks but were not promoted because persons clearing the higher bench remarks than the petitioners were selected. There is therefore no substance in the second submission also. In the result therefore this petition fails and is dismissed with costs quantified at Rs. 750/-.

    Petition dismissed.
    Use AI to get other relevant cases.

    Comments

    Madhukar Gaikwad And Another v. General Insurance Corporation Of India And Others
    (Apr 19, 2004)