High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDismissed

Libin C.V. and others v. Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation Ltd.

Case / Petition Number:W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • V.G. Arun
Judgment Date
2022-06-15
Court Decision / Holding
Writ petition dismissed. The court held that, for promotions not involving a change in duties, seniority can be fixed from the date of the promotion order or from the date of vacancy, as applicable, and that retrospective promotions, where provided by statute, align the seniority accordingly. The impugned Exts. P2, P5, and P7 were not found to be in breach of the recruitment rules, and the petitioners’ challenge to the final seniority list was rejected.
Final Disposition
Dismissed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Libin.C.V
  • Shahanaz.H.R.
  • Ajayan.A.
  • JayaDev J.P.
  • Prasanth.S.
  • Sudheendra.M.
  • Rakesh.R.
  • Ahammed Babu.P.M.
  • Lijil M.
  • Kiran.T.R.
  • Mohammed Ilyas A.K.

Respondents

  • Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation Ltd
  • Managing Director, KSBC
  • The General Manager Administration, KSBC
  • Addl.R4
  • Addl.R5
  • Addl.R6

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • C.UNNIKRISHNAN
  • • M.R.SUDHEENDRAN
  • • ANANDA PADMANABHAN
  • • UTHARA A.S
  • • MAHESH CHANDRAN
  • • VIJAYKRISHNAN S.
  • • MENON

Counsels for Respondents

  • • K.JAJU BABU (SR.)
  • • M.U.VIJAYALAKSHMI
  • • BRIJESH MOHAN
  • • T.S.ATHIRA

Case Synopsis & Summary

Libin C.V. and eleven other petitioners, employed as Senior Assistants under KSBC, challenge the fixation of seniority and the resultant internal memos/final lists that determined inter se seniority for promotion to the cadre of Senior Assistant. The petitioners initially appeared in the final seniority list Ext. P1 (dated 03.01.2014) as part of the entry cadre, then faced a provisional list Ext. P2 (18.08.2021) and a further provisional list Ext. P4 (04.10.2021) that followed objections. After considering objections, Ext. P5 held that the date of declaration of probation is the relevant date for promotion from the entry cadre to the promoted post, and Ext. P7 published a final seniority list based on the same premise. Petitioners challenged Exts. P2, P5, and P7, arguing that seniority and promotions must be reckoned from the date of joining the entry cadre, not from probation declaration, and that Rule 28(a) KS&SSR and Rule 35 of the Special Rules support promotions based on the date of order of promotion, not probation. Respondents contended that promotions are governed by recruitment rules and retrospective effects accord with Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR and Rule 35, supported by Vipin S and others. The Court ultimately held that promotions not involving change of duties take effect from the date of promotion order (or vacancy), and that retroactive promotions are permissible where rules provide for them, dismissing the petition.

Provisions of Law Cited

Rule 8 of Special RulesRule 35 of Special RulesRule 27(a) KS&SSRRule 28(a) KS&SSRRule 23(d) Part I KSR

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Seniority determined by date of order of promotion (Rule 35)
  • Seniority determined by date of joining the entry cadre (Rule 27(a))
  • Promotions not involving change of duties have effect from vacancy or date of eligibility (Rule 23(d))
  • Harmonious and contextual interpretation of recruitment rules to avoid anomalous results (doctrine cited in Vipin S and others)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Petitioners argued that seniority and promotions should be reckoned on the date of joining the entry cadre, with Rule 28(a) KS&SSR and Rule 35 of the Special Rules supporting seniority based on the date of joining, not the date of declaration of probation. They contended that Exts. P2, P5, and P7 fix inter se seniority based on probation, which contravenes the rules. They urged that Rule 27(a) of KS&SSR fixes seniority by the date of the order of first appointment and that the date of order of promotion should determine seniority, with retroactive effect only as permitted by Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR.

Contentions of Respondents

Respondents argued that the service rules applicable to government servants apply to KSBC employees, and that promotions from Assistant Grade II to I are governed by Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR and Rule 35 of the Special Rules, which provide that seniority be determined by the date of order of promotion; promotions not involving a change of duties can take effect from the date of vacancy or the date of eligibility for promotion, with monetary benefits limited to one year prior to the order. They cited Vipin S and others to justify retrospective promotions and seniority fixed by those promotions, and argued Exts. R1(a)–R1(l) support their stance.

Cited Precedents (5)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Ravindranath v. Calicut University[1977 Lab.IC 1127]PositiveQuoted and relied upon by the court to analyze the effect of probation completion on eligibility for promotion in Ravindranath and subsequently Varghese.
Varghese and others v. State of Kerala and others[1981 KLT 458]PositiveFull Bench adopted Ravindranath’s view; used to support the principle that probation completion interacts with seniority and promotion.
Vipin S and others v State of Kerala and others[2019 (3) KHC 909]PositiveCited to support interpretation of Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR in the context of retrospective promotions and seniority.
Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala[1986 KLT 817]Mentioned OnlyCited by respondents but not central to the court’s reasoning in this decision.
T.R.Kapoor and others v State of Haryana and others[1989 (4) SCC 71]Mentioned OnlyCited among authorities but not treated as controlling in the core reasoning.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN WEDNESDAY, THE 15[TH] DAY OF JUNE 2022 / 25TH JYAISHTA, 1944 WP(C) NO. 4707 OF 2022** ## **PETITIONER/S:** 1 LIBIN.C.V AGED 38 YEARS S/O. C.V.VARKEY, ASST GRADE I ( SENIOR ASST), FL 15030, ERATTUPETTA, CHENGAZHASSERRIL, THEEKOY P.O.,-686 580 2 SHAHANAZ.H.R., AGED 36 YEARS ASST GRADE I ( SENIOR ASST), FI 9 WAREHOUSE, KOTTARAKKARA KSBC, RESIDING AT LEKHA MANZIL, NJARACKAL, PERINAD P.O., KOLLAM-691 601 3 AJAYAN.A. S/O. ANTONY L., SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST. GRADE 1), DISTRICT AUDIT TEAM, KOLLAM, RESIDING AT THE NEST, KOIVILA P.O., KOLLAM ,PIN-6981 590 4 JAYADEV J.P., AGED 37 YEARS S/O. JAYAKUMAR.S., SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST. GRADE 1), HEAD OFFICE, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES CORPORATION, RESIDING AT FEMITHAM, PLRA-41, PULIMOODU LANE, VATTIYOOR KAVU ,PIN-695 013 5 PRASANTH.S., AGED 37 YEARS S/O. SASI.S., SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST.GRADE I), HEAD OFFICE, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES CORPORATION, RESIDING AT PRASANTH BHAVAN, SANTHUMOOLA MALAYINKIL P.O., -695 571 6 SUDHEENDRA.M., SENIOR ASSISTANT 9ASST.GRADE 1) FL 1 4012 CHUNGAM, RESIDING AT VELIMPARAMP-PUTHENVEEDU, THONDANKULANGARA, AVALUKUNNU P.O, ALAPPUZHA-688 006 7 RAKESH.R., AGED 38 YEARS S/O. RADHAKRISHNA PILLAI, SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST. GRADE 1) KSBC FL 9 WAREHOUSE,KOTTARAKKARA, RESIDING AT PALAZHI, KUREEPUZHA CHERRY, KAVANADU P.O., KOLLAM,PIN691 003 8 AHAMMED BABU.P.M., AGED 42 YEARS W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -2- S/O. MUHAMEMD ABDUL RAHMAN, SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST.GRADE 1) FL 9 WAREHOUSE, KURIACHIRA, THRISSUR, PANANGAD HOUSE, MANAPPADAM P.O., (NEAR PETROL PUMP) PUTHUCODE, PIN-678 687 9 LIJIL M., AGED 42 YEARS S/O. MANOHARAN .K., SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST. GRADE 1) FL 1 7017, PALARIVATTOM P.O., RESIDING AT KIZHAKKE KALLUMALA, KAVUNKAL, MANNANCHERY P.O.,PIN-688 538 10 KIRAN .T.R. AGED 38 YEARS S/O. D.K.RAVEENDRANPILLAI, SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST. GRADE 1) FL 1 3017 ERAVIPEROOR, RESIDING AT THEKKATHIL VEDU, NEDUMPANA P.O., KOLLAM,PIN691 576 11 MOHAMMED ILYAS A.K. AGED 38 YEARS S/O.MUHAMMED A, SENIOR ASSISTANT (ASST.GRADE 1) FL 9 WAREHOUSE PERINTHALMANNA, RESIDING AT ATHIKKADAN HOUSE, IRAINGATTIRI P.O., KARUVARAKUNDU-676 523 BY ADVS. C.UNNIKRISHNAN (KOLLAM) M.R.SUDHEENDRAN ANANDA PADMANABHAN UTHARA A.S MAHESH CHANDRAN VIJAYKRISHNAN S. MENON ## **RESPONDENT/S:** - 1 KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING) CORPORATION LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, BEVCO TOWER, VIKAS BAHVAN, P.O THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695 033 - 2 MANAGING DIRCTOR, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING) CORPORATION LTD.,BEVCO TOWER, VIKAS BAHVAN, P.O THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695 033 - 3 THE GENERAL MANAGER ADMINISTRATION, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (MANUFACTURING AND W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -3- MARKETING) CORPORATION LTD.,BEVCO TOWER, VIKAS BAHVAN, P.O THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695 033 4 ADDL.R4.BIJU.B AGED 41 YEARS, SENIOR ASSISTANT, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES CORPORATION FL 01.4001 AROOR WARE HOUSE, ALAPPUZHA, RESIDING AT THEKKEPULIKKAL HOUSE, MANAPPURAM.P.O., CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA688526. 5 ADDL.R5.RINCHU.C ANTONY SENIOR ASSISTANT, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES(MANUFACTURING & MARKETING) CORPORATION LIMITED, RM OFFICE, CHAVITTUVARI, KOTTAYAM-686006 RESIDING AT CHUNDEVELI HOUSE, PANAVALLY.P.O., CHERTHALA-688526. 6 ADDL.R6.HARIMON.K.S SENIOR ASSISTANT, KERALA STATE BEVERAGES(MANUFACTURING & MARKETING) CORPORATION LIMITED, RM OFFICE, CHAVITTUVARI, KOTTAYAM-686006, RESIDING AT AMBADY HOUSE, K.R.PURAM.P.O., FCHERTHALA-688556. ( ADDL. R4 TO R6 IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 16-2-2022 IN IA 1/2022) BY ADVS. K.JAJU BABU (SR.) M.U.VIJAYALAKSHMI BRIJESH MOHAN T.S.ATHIRA ## **OTHER PRESENT:** SC FOR BEVCO T. NAVEEN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HARD ON 02.06.2022, THE COURT ON 15.06.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -4- ## **JUDGMENT** Dated this the 15[th] day of June, 2022 The petitioners entered the service of the first respondent Corporation as Assistants GradeII on 1.12.2013. In the final seniority list of Assistant Grade II dated 03.01.2014 (Ext.P1), the petitioners are placed at serial Nos.163, 179, 149, 207, 203, 185, 211, 156, 146, 170 and 166 respectively. By the time Ext.P1 was issued, the petitioners were promoted as Assistant Grade I (re-designated as Senior Assistant). While matters stood thus, the first respondent published Ext.P2 provisional seniority list of Senior Assistants. The seniority in Ext.P2 was fixed, reckoning the date of declaration of probation in the category of Assistant Grade II as the promotion date. This resulted in the petitioners being placed below persons like the ## W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -5- party respondents with lesser service. Hence, petitioners and other aggrieved persons filed objections against the provisional seniority list. After considering the objections, first respondent issued Ext.P4 provisional seniority list. This time the seniority was fixed based on the date of joining duty in the entry cadre. Aggrieved by Ext.P4, some of the employees filed W.P.(C) No.22659 of 2021 and obtained a direction to the first respondent to consider their objections against Ext.P4 provisional seniority list. Thereupon, the first respondent heard the both parties and issued Ext.P5 holding that, as per the Service Rules of the Corporation (Special Rules), the date of declaration of probation is the relevant date for promotion from the entry cadre post to the post of Assistant Grade I. Accordingly, Ext.P2 provisional rank list was held to be proper, being in tune with Rule 28(a) of KS&SSR and Rule ## W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -6- 35 of the Special Rules. Thereafter, Ext.P7 internal memo was issued, publishing Ext.P2 provisional list as the final seniority list. Aggrieved, this writ petition is filed seeking to quash Exts.P2, P5 and P7 and to declare Ext.P4 as the correct seniority list to be finalised. The alternative prayer is to direct the respondents to prepare yet another seniority list in accordance with law, before effecting promotions to the cadre of Assistant Manager. 2. Adv.C.Unnikrishnan learned counsel for the petitioners, contended that the impugned orders are patently illegal, inasmuch as they are issued in violation of the fundamental principle that promotions are to be effected based on seniority reckoned on the basis of the date of joining the entry post. It is submitted that Rule 28(a) of KS&SSR and Rule 35 of the Special Rules referred in Ext.P5 does not provide for promotions based on the date of declaration of W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -7- probation. Rule 28(a) of KS&SSR merely prescribes successful completion of probation as eligibility for promotion and is not the decisive factor for fixing seniority. Likewise, Rule 35 of the Special Rules prescribes only the manner of fixing the seniority of an employee appointed by promotion. Moreover, it is categorically stated in Rule 35 that, date of order of promotion will be the criteria for fixing seniority in the promoted post. A combined reading of the above Rules indicates that seniority in the cadre of Senior Assistant should be fixed based on the date of order of promotion and not the date of declaration of probation in the entry cadre. In support of the contention, reference is made to Rule 27(a) of the KS&SSR, as per which seniority of a person in a service, class, category or grade shall be determined by the date of the order of his first appointment to such service, class, category or grade. W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -8- 3. Senior Advocate K.Jaju Babu appearing for the party respondents made the following submissions; The respondents were appointed as Assistant Grade II _vide_ Ext.R4(a) order dated 27.02.2012. On completion of induction training, they were given postings as per Ext.R4(b) dated 03.03.2012. Later, probation of the party respondents in the category of Assistant Grade II was declared with effect from 27.02.2013, as per Ext.R4(c) order dated 05.11.2013. Thereafter, by Ext.R4(d) dated 16.01.2014, they were promoted to the category of Assistant Grade I (Senior Assistant) with effect from 05.03.2013. Even though probation of the petitioners were also declared as per Ext.R4(d), their probation was given effect from subsequent dates. Rule 28(a) of the KS&SSR specifically stipulates satisfactory completion of probation as the eligibility for promotion. Moreover, Rule 35 of the Special Rules ## W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -9- clearly states that seniority will be determined based on the date of order of promotion. The petitioners never challenged the promotions granted under Ext.R4(d) treating the petitioners to be junior to the party respondents. As such, challenge against the subsequent orders, issued on the basis of Ext.R4(d) is unsustainable. Learned Senior Counsel referred to the decisions in _**Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala [1986 KLT 817], T.R.Kapoor and others v State of Haryana and others [1989 (4) SCC 71] and Varghese and others v. State of Kerala and others [1981 KLT 458]**_ . 4. Adv.T.Naveen, learned Standing Counsel for the first respondent Corporation, submitted that the Service Rules applicable to the Government servants are made applicable to the employees of the Corporation, as per Rule 8(1) of the Special Rules. As per Rule 35, seniority ## W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -10- of a person appointed by promotion is to be determined by the date of order of promotion. The contention that the date of declaration of probation is taken as the eligibility for promotion from the entry cadre to the post of Assistant Grade I is not correct. A perusal of Ext.P5 would clearly show that the date of promotion in the category of Assistant Grade I is taken as the criteria for preparing the seniority list. As per Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR, promotions which do not involve change of duties shall have effect from the date of occurrence of vacancy. There is no change of duty involved in the promotion of an Assistant Grade II as Assistant Grade I. Hence, the promotion of the party respondents was rightly given retrospective effect from the date of declaration of probation in the vacancies to which they were promoted. Reliance is placed on the decision in _**Vipin S and**_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -11- ## _**others v State of Kerala and others [2019 (3) KHC**_ _**909]**_ to contend that, after considering Rules 8 and 35 of the Special Rules, Rule 27(a) of KS&SSR and Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR, this Court has held that, when there is a statutory Rule which provides for retrospective effect to promotion, seniority shall be determined in tune with that Rule. Reference is made to Exts.R1(a) to R1(l) orders by which the eligible employees in the category of Assistant Grade II were promoted as Assistant Grade I with retrospective effect. It is contended that the challenge against Exts.P2, P5 and P7, without challenging Exts.R1(a) to R1(l), based on which the subsequent orders were issued, can only be rejected. 5. In reply, Adv.C.Unnikrishnan submitted that the petitioners had no complaint against Ext.R1(a) to R1(l) and their grievance arose only on the issuance of Ext.P2, followed by Exts.P5 W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -12- and P7, fixing _inter se_ seniority in the category of Assistant Grade I based on the retrospective declaration of probation and consequential promotion. It is contended that Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR has no application to the issue at hand, since the Rule is with respect to drawing of pay and allowances to the tenure of a post and has nothing to do with seniority and regular promotion. 6. In the nature of the contentions raised, Rules 8 and 35 of the Special Rules, Rule 27 (a) and Rule 28 (a) of KS&SSR and Rule 23(d) Part I KSR assumes relevance. The above Rules are extracted hereunder for easy reference; _“_ _**Rule 8 of Special Rules** : Matters relating to services not covered by the Rules: 1. In respect of matters not covered in these Rules, similar rules in Government services shall be followed._ _**Rule 35 of Special Rules** :_ **==> picture [261 x 11] intentionally omitted <==** _promotion:_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -13- _Seniority of a person appointed by promotion will be determined by the date of order of promotion, provided the promote joins the higher post within admissible joining time. Otherwise, his/her seniority will be reckoned with effect from the date of joining duty only provided that the Board may, in cases when due to reasons beyond control an employee could not join the duty in time, relax and assign seniority to the employee as though he/she joined duty in the post in time._ ## _**Rule 27 (a) of KS&SSR**_ _27. Seniority.-(a) Seniority of a person in a service, class, category or grade shall, unless he has been reduced to a lower rank as punishment, be determined by the date of the order of his first appointment to such service, class, category or grade._ ## _**Rule 28 (a) of KS&SSR**_ _Rule 28. (a) Promotion.-(i) Except in the case of appointment to the posts of Heads of Department no member of a service or class of a service shall be eligible for promotion from the category in which he was appointed to the service unless he has satisfactorily completed his probation in that category:_ _Provided that a probationer in a class, category or grade shall not be superseded for promotion to a higher class, category or grade_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -14- _by his junior, if the vacancy in the higher class, category or grade arises within the period specified in the Special Rules for completion of probation in the class, category or grade in which he is probationer and if he has passed the test or tests prescribed for successful completion of probation and is otherwise eligible and suitable for such promotion; but his promotion shall be subject to the condition that he satisfactorily completes the probation in the class, category or grade from which he was promoted within the period prescribed thereof, and for this purpose the period of service put in by him in the higher class, category or grade shall be reckoned towards probation in the class, category or grade from which he was promoted and also in the class, category or grade to which he was promoted:_ _Provided further that if a probationer promoted in pursuance of the above proviso fails to complete his probation in the class, category or grade from which he was promoted within the period prescribed thereof, his probation in the higher class, category or grade shall be terminated and he shall be reverted to the class, category or grade from which he was promoted, and any subsequent promotion of such person to the higher class, category or grade shall not also entitle such_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -15- _person to claim seniority in the higher class, category or grade by reason only of his previous promotion in pursuance of the preceding proviso and he shall commence probation afresh in that class, category or grade from the date of such subsequent promotion._ _(ii) Where the Special Rules for a service provide for appointment by promotion to any class or category from a specified class or category of such service, no member shall be eligible for such appointment unless he is a full member or an approved probationer in the class or category so specified: Provided that if he is the holder of a post in any service for which no probation has been prescribed, he shall not be eligible for promotion unless he has put in satisfactory service in that post for a period of one year on duty within a continuous period of two years._ _(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules or in the Special Rules/Executive Orders, the period of probation for persons appointed by direct recruitment or recruitment by transfer through Public Service Commission shall be two years on duty within a continuous period of three years and for persons appointed in a post or category from another post or category in the_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -16- _same service or appointed by transfer from one service to another within the same Department or in another Department (where direct recruitment is not resorted to) shall be one year on duty within a continuous period of two years._ _Provided that the period of probation for persons who were appointed on or after the 1st April, 2010 to selection posts in the State Services, by promotion or by transfer within the Department where direct recruitment is not one of the methods of appointments as per the Special rules, shall be six months on duty within a continuous period of one year._ **==> picture [180 x 11] intentionally omitted <==** _“(d) Promotions which do not involve change of duties shall have effect from the date of occurrence of vacancy, or the date of acquiring eligibility for promotions, whichever is later, but monetary benefit shall be admissible only for a maximum period of one year prior to the date of order of promotion.”_ **==> picture [381 x 12] intentionally omitted <==** seniority and 28(a), with promotions. Under Rule 27(a), seniority is to be determined based on the date of joining the entry post. As far as promotions are concerned, Rule 28(a) stipulates W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -17- that no member of the service or class of service shall be eligible for promotion unless he has satisfactorily completed the period of probation. A conjoint reading of the above rules would show that even though seniority is determined based on the date of joining service, the right for promotion is depended on satisfactory completion of probation. In the instant case, probation of the party respondents was declared prior to that of the petitioners, although the petitioners had joined the entry cadre earlier. The impact of Rule 28(a) of KS&SSR was considered by a Division Bench of this Court in _**Ravindranath v. Calicut**_ _**University [1977 Lab.IC 1127]**_ . The contextually relevant portion of the judgment reads as under; _“4. …..In view of Rule 28(a)(i) and (ii) and the proviso which we have already read on the dates on which the juniors completed their period of probation they could have been promoted and the seniors who had not completed their probation then would not have been entitled to be promoted. If on that day an_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -18- _order had been passed promoting the juniors who had completed their probation we do not think the seniors, who had not completed their probation, would have been entitled to object by stating that they being seniors the appointing authority ought to have waited till the seniors satisfactorily completed their probation before passing orders promoting persons from the category. This principle, we think, must apply also to cases where a block of vacancies had existed before any in the eligible category had completed their period of probation. As and when the members of the eligible category satisfactorily completed their probation they could have been promoted giving them the dates on which they satisfactorily completed their probation, as the dates on which they would commence service in the promotion category. If the seniors in the eligible category completed their probation later on they could also have been promoted in a similar manner but they cannot be given a date anterior to the dates on which they completed their period of probation satisfactorily because they could not have been appointed to the promotion post on any earlier date. If this is the true principle the fact that by a combined order promotions were made and that order was passed after all the pro-motees had completed their period of_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -19- _probation will not by themselves invalidate the order fixing seniority in the promotion grade from the dates on which each promotee completed his probation in the eligible category.”_ Later, the Full Bench in _**Varghese** (supra)_ , agreed with the decision in Ravindranath and held as follows; _“6. ….We agree with the view expressed therein that it would make no difference whether the vacancies already exist or the vacancies occur after the juniors become qualified. If there is vacancy as and when a person becomes qualified for being promoted to such vacancy he would be entitled to be considered for promotion in that vacancy. If there is no vacancy when a person becomes qualified for promotion and a vacancy arises while he remains qualified, as and when such vacancy arises his case for promotion calls for consideration.”_ In the light of the above settled legal position, the contention that, declaration of probation only determines eligibility for promotion and, under all circumstances, seniority has to be ## W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -20- reckoned based on the date of joining the entry cadre, cannot be countenanced. 8. Rule 23(a) of Part I KSR makes provision for an officer to draw the pay and allowances attached to his tenure of a post with effect from the date he assumes the duties of that post. Rule 23(d) further provides that, promotions which do not involve change of duty shall have effect from the date of occurrence of vacancy or date of acquiring the eligibility for promotion, whichever is later. As per Rule 35 of the Special Rules, seniority is to be determined by the date of order of promotion. The impact of Rules 8 and 35 of the Special Rules _qua_ Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR was considered by this Court in _**Vipin S** (supra)_ and answered as under; _“33. Therefore as rightly contended by Sri.Varun C.Vijay, the rules relating to seniority in the present case have to be construed in such a manner so as to yield more reasonable and fair results. A literal_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -21- _or strict construction of Rule 27(a) read with rule 8 or even Rule 35 discarding the provisions contained in Rule 23(d) would bring about anomalous and unintended results defeating the very object of that rule. At the same time on a harmonious and contextual interpretation of the provisions contained in Rules relating to seniority, the recruitment rules to the post of Assistant Grade II along with Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR, can avoid such unintended results._ _34. Going by Rule 23(d) it can be seen that the promotion of party respondents are in accordance with Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR. Therefore in such cases denial of seniority from the date of effect of promotion is not envisaged. Their seniority is liable to be fixed with reference to Rule 23(d) also, with effect from the date from which they were granted promotion. On Promotion from the post of Assistant Grade II to Assistant Grade I there is no change in duties; there is no separate process of joining, unless there is a transfer. Direct recruitment of Computer Programmer cum Operators were made at a time when the party respondents had completed their probation period and lethargy of the Corporation delayed their declaration of_ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -22- _probation and promotions. If the promotions are made in normal circumstances, seniority is to be determined with reference to the date of order of promotion. Retrospective promotions were granted in this case in rectification of the mistakes and in recognition of the eligibility of the employees for promotion, in accordance with the recruitment rules._ _35. Therefore even though the normal rule for determining seniority is Rule 35 of the service rules which is more or less similar to rule 27(a) of KS&SSR, by Rule 8, provisions in Rule 23(d) of KSR is also liable to be considered, in cases where there is no change of duty and promotion itself is on the basis of seniority as per the recruitment rules and when there is a ratio of 1:1. Rule 23(d) will apply in the case of the party respondents according to which the promotion itself takes effect from the date on which they became eligible. When there is a statutory rule which provides for retrospective effect for promotion, their seniority shall be determined in tune with that Rule 23(d), which has to be read with Rule 8 or 35, as the case may be, of the service rules.”_ I am in respectful agreement with the above W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -23- findings. The challenge against the promotions granted in accordance with Rule 23(d) of Part I KSR r/w Rule 35 of the Special Rules is therefore rejected. I also find merit in the contention that, seniority having been fixed based on the promotions granted under Exts.R1(a) to R1(l) and those orders not being under challenge, the relief sought in this writ petition, of setting aside Exts.P2, P5 and P7, cannot be granted. For the aforementioned reasons, the writ petition is dismissed. Sd/- ## **V.G.ARUN JUDGE** Scl/ W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -24- W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -25- ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 4707/2022** ## PETITIONER EXHIBITS |Exhibit P1|A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER| |---|---| ||NO.AE11/9655/KSBC /2013 CONTAINING THE| ||FINALIZED SENIORITY LIST OF EMPLOYEES| ||IN THE CADRE OF ASST GRADE II (ENTRY| ||CADRE IN KSBC DATED 03.01.2014| |Exhibit P2|A TRUE COPY OF THE INTERNAL MEMO| ||NO.11048/AE11/2021 /KSBC CONTAINING| ||THE PROVISIONAL SENIORITY LIST OF| ||SENIOR ASSISTANTS DATED 18.08.2021| |Exhibit P3|TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTIONS FILED BY| ||PETITIONER NO.2 TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT| ||DATED 26.08.2021| |Exhibit P3A|TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTIONS FILED BY| ||PETITIONER NO.7 TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT| ||DATED 25.08.2021| |Exhibit P4|A TRUE COPY OF THE INTERNAL MEMO| ||NO.11048/AN4/2021/KSBC CONTAINING THE| ||2ND PROVISIONAL SENIORITY LIST OF| ||SENIOR ASSISTANTS DATED 4.10.2021| |Exhibit P5|A TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.11048/AE-| ||11/KSBC DATED 27.01.2022 ISSUED BY THE| ||1ST RESPONDENT DECIDING TO FINALISE| ||EXT P2 SENIORITY LIST| |Exhibit P6|A TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF| ||SPECIAL RULES| |Exhibit P7|A TRUE COPY OF THE INTERNAL MEMO| ||N.11048/AN4/2021/KSBC DATED 28.01.2022| ||CONTAINING THE FINALIZED SENIORITY| ||LIST| |RESPONDENT EXHIBITS|| |Exhibit R4(A)|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. AE1-| ||25704/2011 KSBC DATED 27.2.2012 ISSUED| ||BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.| |Exhibit R4(B)|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. AE1-| ||1043/2012 KSBC DATED 3.3.2012 ISSUED| ||BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.| |Exhibit R4(C)|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||AE11/30160/2013 KSBC DATED 5.11.2013| ||ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.| W.P.(C) No.4707 of 2022 -26- Exhibit R4(D) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. AE11/16986/2013/ KSBC DATED 16.1.2014 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT. Exhibit R4(E) COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 22.10.2021 IN W.P.(C) 22659/2021 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.