- (1.) Heard Sri Amit Saxena, learned counsel for petitioners. None appeared on behalf of respondents, though matter has been called in revised. Hence, we proceed in the matter to decide the same ex parte after hearing learned counsel for petitioners.
(2.) Dispute relates to promotion to the post of Assistant Registrar (Cooperatives).
(3.) Recruitment, appointment and condition of service to the post of Assistant Registrar (Cooperatives) is governed by U.P. Cooperatives Service Rules, 1979 (hereinafter referred to as 'Rules, 1979'). As per Rule 4, post of Assistant Registrar is a Group-B post. Rule 5 provides for sources of recruitment and Clause 5 deals with Assistant Registrar and reads as under : "5. Sources of recruitment.- Recruitment to the various categories of posts in the service shall be made from the following sources :- (5) Assistant Registrar.- (I) By promotion, on the basis of merit, from amongst the members of the Subordinate Co-operative Service, Group I, who have put in minimum of 5 years' service as such on the first day of the year of recruitment. (ii) By direct recruitment through the Commission : Provided that the recruitment to the posts of Assistant Registrar shall be so arranged that, as far as possible, 50 per cent of the posts are held by promotee and 50 per cent by direct recruits.";