S.J.MUKHOPADHAYA, J. - (1.) THE peti -tioners initially challenged the Office Order No. IOM:GEN:SPC:PK:2000 -2001/018 dated 10th June, 2000, whereby and whereunder, the respondents circulated the promotion policy for promotion of Officers of Singhbhum Kshetriya Gramin Bank, Chaibasa, West Singhbhum (for short -Gramin Bank) from Junior Management Grade -I (JMG -I) to Middle Management Grade -II (MMG -I1). Prayer was also made to set aside the order dated 7th August, 2000, as contained in Memo No. IOM:GEN:2000 -01/029, whereby and whereunder, the respondent Nos. 3 to 12 have been promoted to the higher post of MMG -II.
(2.) THE main plea was taken that above mentioned promotion policy has been formulated contrary to the Promotion Rules and Guidelines framed by NABARD and is also contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India and this Court. The respondent Gramin Bank in their affidavit took plea that the norms for promotion of Officers from JMG -I to MMG -II dated 10th June, 2000 (Annexure -1) was issued in ignorance of the Full Bench judgment of this Court in the case of Ranchi Kshetriya Gramin Bank and Ors. V/s. D.P. Singh @ Dina Nath Prasad Singh and Ors., reported in 2000 (1) PLJR 251, which is based on various decisions of the Supreme Court. However, since the judgment of the Courts came to the notice of the respondent Gramin Bank, another Circular dated 14th July, 2000 (Annexure -A to the counter affidavit) was issued informing all the candidates that the Board shall be at liberty to change the norms of promotion. Accordingly, the respondents changed the norms of promotion in accordance with the law laid down by the Full Bench, as referred to above, vide Board 'smeeting dated 7th August, 2000. According to the revised norms, 51 marks were allotted for seniority, 19 marks for Annual Performance Report; and 30 marks for Interview. As per the law laid down by the Full Bench of this Court, the Board in its revised norms fixed 25 marks as qualifying marks for Annual Performance Report and Interview and Officers who secured minimum qualifying marks were selected for promotion keeping their order of seniority.
(3.) THE counsel for the respondent Bank submitted that the selection having made as per the revised norms, the writ petition against the earlier promotion policy dated 10th June, 2000 become infructuous.;