SABYASACHI MUKHARJI - (1.) IN the Reserve Bank of INdia separate departmentwise and groupwise seniority and promotion for cadres of Officers and non-Officers (Award Staff) was prevalent. This would be apparent from the decision of this Court in Reserve Bank of INdia v. N. C. Paliwal, (1977) 1 SCR 377 : (AIR 1976 SC 2345) as well as V. T. Khanzode v. Reserve Bank of INdia, (1982) 2 SCC 7.
(2.) IN September, 1962, need was felt for maintenance of combined seniority list at each centre for the purposes of promotions recommended by National INdustrial Tribunal presided over by Mr. Justice K. T. Desai. The recommendations of the said Desai Award for centre-wise combined seniority were approved by this Court in 1966. In 1970, the supervisory Staff in Class I was upgraded to Staff Officers in Class I pursuant to the Memorandum of Settlement dated 9/01/1970 between the Bank and the All India Supervisory Staff Association, subject to certain conditions. Administrative Circular No. 20 dated 6/06/1970 was issued on introduction of written examination for departmental promotions of clerk Grade I/Assistants etc. to the post of Staff Officer Grade II (Sub-Accountants and Research Superintendents) in all the groups. This circular was not made operative.
(3.) ON 7/05/1972, the Bank took several steps towards equalising promotional Opportunities of employees by introducing the Optee Scheme of 1965, the Optee Scheme of 1966 and finally by entering into Memorandum of Settlement dated 7/05/1972 with the Association accepting the principle of maintenance of a combined seniority list at a centre. On or about 7/05/1972, the Bank formulated a 'Scheme for Promotion : Staff Officer Grade II' after giving full opportunity to the Association to make its suggestions. On 7/05/1972, the Bank and the Association further agreed by exchange of correspondence that the ratio of direct recruits to the total strength of Staff Officers Grade II at 17.5% : 82.5%. Reference in this connection may be made to Annexures II and III to the further Affidavit for the bank filed on 27/08/1982 and which are in the appeal Paper Book onwards.;