- (1.) This writ application is filed by the petitioners praying for issuing a writ in the nature of mandamus to quash and set aside the order of promotion issued by the respondent bank under circular No. HGB/PAD/CR/06/2006 dated April 5, 2006 as also for a direction upon respondent bank for giving promotion to the petitioners to the post of officers Scale- I (Group 'A').
(2.) The facts of the case in a nutshell are discussed below : The petitioners were initially appointed in the Clerical cadre (Group B') under respondent bank on different dates during the period from 1985 to 1989. The respondent Nos. 5 to 24 were appointed in the same cadre under the respondent bank after the petitioners. The appointment and promotion of RRB Staff Rules, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the RRB Staff Rules, 1998) came into force with effect from July 29, 1998. The RRB Staff Rules, 1998 approved by the Board of Directors of the respondent bank in its 97th meeting dated November 11, 1998 for the purpose of appointment and promotions of its staff. The above decision was circulated by the respondent bank by a circular dated January 5, 2000.
(3.) In accordance with the provisions of Rule 3 read with first schedule of the RRB Staff Rules, 1998, the promotional post of the petitioners was described as officers Scale- I (Group A) 50% of the vacancies of the above post were to be filled up by promotion on seniority- cum- merit basis. In cases of promotion, the selection of candidates should be made by the committee on the basis of written test, interview and performance appraisal reports as per the division of marks as follows : (a) Written Test: 70 (b) Interview: 20 (c) Performance Appraisal Reports : 10 Total - 100;