Vinod Verma Vs Union of India and Ors.

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.14967 OF 2017

VINOD VERMA … APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. … RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T

ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.

This appeal has been filed against the judgment

dated 03.12.2014 of the High Court of Punjab and

Haryana at Chandigarh dismissing the writ petition

filed by the appellant as well as the order dated

24.02.2016 rejecting the Review Application No.21 of

2016 filed by the appellant to review the judgment

dated 03.12.2014.

2. Brief facts giving rise to the appeal need to

be noted are:

Rules have been framed under proviso to Article

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309 of the Constitution, namely, the

Telecommunications Engineering Service (Group “B”

Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1996 (hereinafter referred

to as “Rules, 1996”). The post of Sub-Divisional

Engineer is the post governed by the Rules, 1996.

The post of Sub-Divisional Engineer is hundred

percent promotional post. Junior Telecom Officers

are eligible for promotion under two methods: (i)

75% on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness, (ii) 25%

on the basis of departmental competitive

examination. In the year 2000, the Telecommunication

Department initiated the process for filling up of

the vacancies “Post 1996-97”. In the year 2001, the

appellant was promoted as Sub-Divisional Engineer

under the seniority-cum-fitness quota. The

department announced the Limited Departmental

Competitive Examination(LDCE)for promotion for the

25% quota for vacancies after 22.07.1996 which

examination could be held on 01.12.2002. The

department issued the promotion orders dated

26.04.2000 and 07.12.2001 for the officers promoted

under the seniority-cum-fitness category for the

vacancies occurring after 23.07.1996. The result of

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Limited Departmental Competitive Examination was

declared on 15.12.2003. The appellant also appeared

in the Departmental Competitive Examination held on

01.12.2001. The promotion order dated 26.05.2004 was

issued for the promotion of LDCE successful

candidates. The order contemplated that the

seniority of these officers will be fixed as per

Rules shortly. DPC was again conducted and

promotions were made against the 75% category for

the subsequent years 2001-02 and 2002-03 on

16.09.2004. The seniority list of Sub-Divisional

Engineers was issued on 12.01.2005 which seniority

list became the subject matter of the challenge in

various Benches of Central Administrative Tribunal.

In Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh

Bench, TA No.84-HR-2009, Dewan Chand & Ors. vs.

Union of India was filed. Before Central

Administrative Tribunal, Bombay Bench, TA No.6 of

2009, S. Sadasivan vs. BSNL was filed. Before

Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench, OA

No.16 of 2009, Thomas Zachariah vs. BSNL and OA

No.86 of 2009, V. Govindan vs. Union of India were

filed. Chandigarh Bench of Central Administrative

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Tribunal decided TA No.84-HR-20090 (Dewan Chand vs.

Union of India) vide its judgment dated 25.08.2009.

The Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh

allowed the Transfer Application. The applicants

before the Tribunal were working as Sub-Divisional

Engineers. The question raised was as to what would

be the mode of fixation of seniority in TES Group

'B' between members of service who are appointed on

the basis of seniority vis-a-vis those who enter the

service after qualifying the Limited Departmental

Competitive Examination. The Tribunal held that the

seniority of the incumbents has to be determined on

the basis of date of joining and not of the notional

date of promotion. The applicants before the

Tribunal belonged to the stream who were promoted

under seniority-cum-fitness where few of the

respondents who were impleaded before the Tribunal

were those who were promoted Sub-Divisional

Engineers vide order dated 26.05.2004 on the basis

of Limited Competitive Departmental Examination. The

Tribunal quashed the seniority list prepared by the

department and directed for redrawing the seniority

list on the basis of date of joining of the

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incumbents. In paragraph 17 following was directed:

"17.In view of the above discussion, both these Original Applications are allowed. Orders/seniority lists impugned in these petitions are quashed and set aside. The respondents are directed to re- draw the seniority of officers of TES Group-B on the basis of dates of joining of incumbents, as discussed above, within a period of six months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Before undertaking such exercise, respondents may invite objections from the persons likely to be adversely effected before re-drawing seniority as observed herein above. No costs.”

3. The appellant was not the party to the said

case in Dewan Chand vs. Union of India, TA No.84-HR-

2009, hence, he filed the review petition before the

Central Administrative Tribunal. The review petition

was dismissed by the CAT on 18.01.2010. The Writ

Petition No.5148-CAT of 2010 was filed by the

appellant challenging the order dated 25.08.2009 and

18.01.2010 passed by the Central Administrative

Tribunal, Chandigarh. The writ petition filed by the

appellant was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana

High Court vide its judgment and order dated

03.12.2014. The High Court in its judgment dated

03.12.2014 held that controversy in the case stands

settled by the decision dated 12.08.2014 rendered by

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this Court in SLP(C)No.35756 of 2012 (BSNL and

others vs. S. Sadasivan and others). Against the

judgment dated 03.12.2014 SLP(C)No.18621 of 2015 was

filed by the appellant which was disposed of on

16.10.2015 by this Court permitting the appellant to

withdraw the SLP with liberty to file review

application before the High Court. In pursuance of

the order dated 16.10.2015 appellant filed a review

application before the High Court which has been

rejected on 24.02.2016. Aggrieved by the judgment

dated 24.02.2016 and initial judgment dated

03.12.2014 this appeal has been filed by the

appellant.

4. We have heard Shri C.A. Sundaram, learned

senior counsel for the appellant. Shri Vikramjit

Banerjee, learned Additional Solicitor General has

appeared for the Union of India. Shri B.H.

Marlapalle, learned senior counsel has appeared for

BSNL. We have also heard Shri J.S. Attri, learned

senior counsel for the respondents. Shri S.

Sadasivan, who has filed application for

intervention and appeared in-person has also been

heard. There are several other applications seeking

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impleadment in these proceedings. We do not find any

necessity to implead applicants in these

proceedings. IAs seeking impleadment in this appeal

are refused.

5. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that

the recruitment Rules, 1996 are silent about the

seniority rules. It is submitted that the seniority

has to be determined as per OM dated 22.12.1959 and

various other subsequent OMs laying down rules for

determination of seniority. It is submitted that as

per Rules, 1996 there being 75% quota fixed for

seniority-cum-fitness and 25% for LDCE, the ROTA

rules have to be determined to decide the seniority

between those who have been promoted under

seniority-cum-fitness and those who have been

promoted under LDCE. It is submitted that the LDCE

candidates eligible for the year 1996-97 have to be

placed senior to the candidates eligible for 1997-

98, 1998-99 and so on. Learned counsel submits that

OM dated 07.02.1986 and 07.02.1990 clarified that

even if the promotions for two grades under General

Principle 5(ii) takes place through separate DPC’s,

“…the principle of rotation of vacancies between

different streams will have to be followed…”.

6. It is submitted that Union of India vs. N.R.

Parmar, (2012) 13 SCC 340, is clearly applicable. It

is submitted that neither the Central Administrative

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Tribunal nor the High Court has considered the

relevant OM dated 22.12.1959 and subsequent OMs

laying down principles of seniority due to which

error has been committed in setting the seniority

list finalized by the department. It is submitted

that judgment of this Court in SLP(C)No.35756 of

2012(BSNL & Ors. vs. S. Sadasivan & Ors.) dated

12.08.2014 does not decide the issues raised before

the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It is further

submitted that the judgment of this Court in

C.A.No.7830 of 2014(Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited &

Ors. Vs. S.K. Dubey & Ors.) decided on 12.08.2014

does not consider the relevant OMs determining the

seniority. This Court in the said judgment fell in

error in holding that ROTA rule is not applicable.

7. Learned counsel submits that the judgment of

this Court in Union of India vs. N.R. Parmar, (2012)

13 SCC 340, has again been reiterated by this Court

in its judgment dated 03.10.2018 in C.A.Nos.5518-

5523 of 2017 (Punjab and Haryana High Court vs.

State of Punjab) that when the quota has been

prescribed under the statutory rules, the ROTA is

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applicable automatically in the seniority. The

appellant who was eligible earlier years for

promotion has to be placed in the slot according to

his eligibility and has to be given seniority of

that position.

8. Learned Additional Solicitor General, Shri

Vikramjit Banerjee submitted that the seniority list

was drawn by the department in the ratio of 3:1 as

per OM dated 03.07.1986. Seniority list Nos.6 and 7

were prepared affecting the Rules of ROTA and quota.

Although there are statutory Rules, 1996 but the

same were not for determining the seniority. The

seniority was determined on the instructions issued

by the Government of India, Department of Personnel

and Training dated 03.07.1986. It is, however,

submitted that although department has been

supporting the seniority list based on ROTA and

quota but after it was reversed by three-Judge Bench

judgment of this Court dated 12.08.2014, the

department and the BSNL has implemented the

judgment.

9. Shri Marlapalle, learned senior counsel,

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submits that the BSNL has been following the

instructions of the department on the judgment of

S.K.Dubey (supra) and if now the quota and ROTA

rules are implemented it will cause new problems.

10. Learned counsel for promotees under 75% quota

submits that promotions were initially governed by

1981 Rules where quota for seniority-cum-fitness was

2/3 and for LDCE was 1/3. The 1981 Rules provided

for ROTA rules and further provided that examination

has to be held every year. Rules, 1981 were replaced

by the Rules, 1996 which do not indicate that

examination has to be held every year. Further,

Rules, 1996 do not provide for ROTA.

11. Learned senior counsel further submits that the

issue raised in this appeal is covered by judgments

of this Court dated 12.08.2014 (BSNL & Ors. vs. S.K.

Dubey & Ors.) and judgment dated 12.08.2014 in

Transferred Case No…… of 2014 (arising out of

T.P(C)No.184 of 2013), Rajesh Banta & Ors. vs. Dewan

Chand & Ors. Learned counsel submits that quota of

75% and 25% is applicable but ROTA is not

applicable.

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12. Shri S. Sadasivan, who appeared as intervener

submits that benefit of judgment of larger Bench

cannot be taken away by any order in this appeal. He

submits that the present is not a case of any direct

recruitment. Further, different grades are not

available in the present promotion exercise. He

submits that OM dated 03.07.1986 is for direct

recruitment.

13. We have considered the submissions of learned

counsel for the parties and perused the records.

14. The statutory rules, namely, the

Telecommunications Engineering Service (Group “B”

Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1996 have been framed

under proviso to Article 309 according to which the

post of Sub-Divisional Engineer(SDE) is a post which

is to be filled up by 100% promotion. Schedule to

the Rules in Column 11 provides as follows:

“Promotion:

(i) 75% on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness.

(ii)25% on the basis of a departmental competitive examination.”

15. In the seniority list Nos.7 and 8, the inter se

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seniority of SDE promoted through seniority-cum-

fitness and LDCE was fixed by the department in the

ratio of 3:1 as per OM dated 03.07.1986 which was

sought to be challenged in the present case, where

the appeal has arisen out of the order passed by the

Chandigarh Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal.

In TA No.84-HR-2009 (Dewan Chand vs. Union of

India), the applicants who had approached the

Tribunal were promoted under seniority-cum-fitness

and they were allocated to the seniority position

below the promotees under LDCE quota under which

they were given seniority slots earlier to date of

promotion. The Tribunal had allowed the TA No.84-HR-

2009 and set aside the seniority list and directed

for drawing the seniority list on the basis of date

of joining of the incumbents. The appellant who

claims seniority position as per occurring of

vacancy for LDCE quota is aggrieved by the direction

of the Tribunal.

16. A perusal of Rules, 1996 indicates that Rules,

1996 provides for the method of recruitment, age and

other qualifications. The Rules which have been

brought on record as Annexure P-8 to the appeal do

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not contain any provision relating to determination

of seniority. The statutory Rules, 1996 being silent

on the question of determination of seniority, Shri

Sundaram is right in his submission that for

determination of seniority OMs dated 22.12.1959,

24.06.1978, 07.02.1986, 03.07.1986 and 07.02.1990

have to be looked into. It is settled law that the

determination of seniority can be provided by the

Executive instructions if the subject matter is not

covered by the statutory rules.

17. It is to be noted that the High Court has

dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant

challenging the order of the CAT dated 25.08.2009

holding that the issue is covered by the judgment of

this Court in BSNL vs. S. Sadasivan. It is necessary

to look into the judgment of this Court in BSNL vs.

S. Sadasivan and proceeding giving rise to this

Court’s order dated 12.08.2014. Shri S. Sadasivan

before CAT, Bombay Bench, Mumbai has challenged the

validity of the seniority list dated 28.07.2004. In

seniority list Nos.6 and 7 of Telecommunication

Engineers Group “B” S. Sadasivan was promoted under

75% quota on 07.12.2001. On 01.12.2002 Limited

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Departmental Competitive Examination was held for

25% quota, result of which was declared on

15.12.2003. Thereafter, seniority list Nos.6 and 7

were issued. The case of S. Sadasivan was that

seniority of the applicant was below to who was

subsequently promoted on 26.05.2004. It is relevant

to notice that the Central Administrative Tribunal,

Bombay Bench allowed the application vide its

judgment dated 25.11.2010 and set aside the

seniority list. The respondents were directed to

recast the seniority list on the basis of the order

given by the Chandigarh Bench of CAT in Dewan

Chand’s case, (which is the order of the Tribunal

which has given rise to the present appeal) against

which order BSNL filed Writ Petition No.3725 of 2011

which was dismissed by the Bombay High Court on

21.06.2011.

18. Against the order of the Bombay High Court

dismissing the writ petition matter was taken to

Ors. vs. S. Sadasivan & Ors.). This Court on

12.08.2014 dismissed the said SLP by passing the

following order:

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“SLP (C) No.35756 OF 2012

In paragraph 3 of the impugned order, the High Court has observed thus:

“The question is : whether the Tribunal was right in answering the controversy on the principal that the correct date for reckoning seniority of the respondent ought to be taken as 7th December, 2001 which is his date of joining. In our opinion, there is no infirmity in the said view taken by the Tribunal.”

We find no infirmity with the above view taken by the High Court. Special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed.”

19. The order of the CAT, Bombay which was passed

issuing direction for casting of the seniority on

the basis of the judgment of Dewan Chand passed by

CAT, Chandigarh, thus, has been received final

approval by this Court.

20. At this stage, we may consider one more

submission which has been raised by the learned

counsel for the respondents. The submission which

has been raised by the learned counsel for the

respondents is that a three-Judge Bench of this

Court in BSNL vs. S.K. Dubey (supra) has finally

determined the controversy and held that ROTA rule

will not be applicable for determining the seniority

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of Sub-Divisional Engineers. We may notice the

judgment of this Court dated 12.08.2014 in BSNL vs.

S.K. Dubey in some detail. BSNL has filed the

appeal. In the said appeal the challenge was made to

the order of CAT, Jabalpur which directed the

appellant, BSNL to assign the notional date of

promotion to Sub-Divisional Engineers which order

was set aside by this Court by the said judgment.

Paragraphs 2 to 4 of the judgment are as follows:

“2. This appeal by special leave is directed against the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur, whereby the original application filed by the respondents herein was allowed and the direction has been given to the present appellants (respondent therein) to assign the notional date of promotion as Sub Divisional Engineers (SDEs) with consequential benefits such as counting of experience for further promotions, annual increments etc. to the original applicants with effect from 23.01.2002.

3. The order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal cannot be sustained for more than one reason. In the first place, there is no rule with regard to the subject service which gives benefit of assigning the notional date of promotion with retrospective effect. The present respondents were employees of the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India and were working as Junior Telecom Officers prior to 1996. In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Telecommunications

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Engineering Services (Group 'B') Recruitment Rules, 1996 were made with effect from 22.07.1996. Inter alia, these rules provide for method of recruitment, age limit and other qualifications for the recruitment by way of promotion to the post of TES Group 'B'.

4. As per these Rules, 75% promotion is to be made on the basis of seniority-cum- fitness from amongst Junior Telecom Officers with three years regular service in the Grade and 25% is to be promoted on the basis of Departmental Competitive Examination from Junior Telecom Officers with three years r10egular service in the Grade. The crucial date for determining the eligibility is 1st July of the year to which the vacancy pertains. 1996 Recruitment Rules do not provide for ROTA nor does it provide for holding Departmental Competitive Examination for the vacancies every year in contra- distinction to the earlier Rules of 1981 entitled Telegraph Engineering Service (Group 'B' Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1981. 1981 Rules, inter alia, had a provision that inter se seniority of the officials who have qualified in the Departmental Qualifying Examination shall be in the ratio of 2:1 starting with the officers selected by the method of selection by Departmental Promotion Committee on the basis of Departmental Qualifying Examination. It also provided that there shall be normally one examination consisting of two parts called Qualifying- cum-Competitive Examination for promotion to the service which shall be held at least once in a calendar year. The ROTA rule as well as holding the examination at least once in a calendar year which were provided in the 1981 Rules are conspicuously absent in the 1996 Rules. The validity of the 1996 Rules has not been put in issue by any one.”

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21. This Court further held that in the absence of

any express provision in the rules, no promotion or

seniority can be granted from a retrospective date

when the employee has not been born in the cadre.

22. There is one more reason to hold that the

present appeal is covered by three-Judge Bench

judgment of this Court dated 12.08.2014. Against the

judgment of Tribunal in TA No.84-HR-2009 (Dewan

Chand vs. Union of India) a writ petition was filed

in Punjab and Haryana High Court being CWP

No.5133/CAT of 2010 (Rajesh Banta and others vs.

Central Administrative Tribunal and others). Thus,

in the said writ petition the same order of the

Tribunal dated 25.08.2009 was under challenge which

has been challenged by the appellant herein. This

Court transferred CWP No.5133/CAT of 2010 (Rajesh

Banta and others vs. Central Administrative Tribunal

and others) by Transferred Case (Civil) No……of

2014(arising out of T.P.(C)No.184 of 2013) and by

the judgment dated 12.08.2014, the three-Judge Bench

dismissed the writ petition which was filed

challenging the order of the CAT in Dewan Chand. The

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order of this Court is brought on record at pages

181-182 of the paper book which is to the following

effect:

“TRANSFERRED CASE (CIVIL) NO. OF 2014 (Arising out of T.P.(Civil) No.184 of 2013)

RAJESH BANTA & ORS. PETITIONER(S) VERSUS

DEWAN CHAND & ORS. RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

Transfer petition is allowed. Writ Petition being C.W.P. No.5133/CAT-2010 titled “Rajesh Banta and Others v. Central Administrative Tribunal and Others” is transferred from Punjab and Haryana High Court to this Court and is treated as Transferred Case.

2. We have heard Mr. Sunil Kumar, learned senior counsel for the petitioners.

3. For the reasons stated by us in our order passed today in Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) ...2/- -2- No.39932 of 2012 titled 'Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. & Ors. vs. S.K. Dubey & Ors.', the transferred case is liable to be dismissed and is dismissed accordingly. No costs.

.......................CJI. ( R.M. LODHA )

.........................J. ( KURIAN JOSEPH )

NEW DELHI; ........................J. AUGUST 12,2014 ( ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN )”

23. When three-Judge Bench of this Court following

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the pronouncement in BSNL & Ors. vs. S.K. Dubey &

Ors., judgment of the same day, has dismissed the

writ petition against the same very judgment of the

CAT of Chandigarh Bench in Dewan Chand vs. Union of

India, the fate of this appeal is sealed by the said

judgment by dismissing the writ petition against the

order of the Central Administrative Tribunal,

Chandigarh Bench in TA No.84-HR-2009. The writ

petition filed by the appellant has to meet the same

fate. In view of the facts as noticed above that the

controversy raised in this appeal is covered by

three-Judge Bench judgment dated 12.08.2014 we see

no necessity to delve into various other arguments

raise in this appeal. We are not persuaded to take

any different view to one which has been taken by

three-Judge Bench as noted above.

24. We, thus, hold that the present appeal deserves

to be dismissed in view of the judgment of this

Court dated 12.08.2014 Transferred Case (Civil) No……

of 2014(arising out of T.P.(C)No.184 of 2013)(Rajesh

Banta & Ors. vs. Dewan Chand & Ors.) and judgment of

the three-Judge Bench of this Court in BSNL & ors.

vs. S.K. Dubey & Ors. decided on 12.08.2014. The

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appeal is, accordingly, dismissed.

......................J. ( ASHOK BHUSHAN )

......................J. ( K.M. JOSEPH )

New Delhi, April 02, 2019.

VINOD VERMA Vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

VINOD VERMA Vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.