PROMOTION OF BANKING ASSOCIATES | High Court issues notice on plea, bars J&K Bank from declaring interview outcome

Srinagar, Jan 16: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Tuesday issued notice to Jammu and Kashmir Bank on a plea related to the promotion of Banking Associates (BAs) even as it ordered the J&K Bank that the outcome of the interview process undertaken in terms of the notification issued on January 11 this year shall not be declared.

Hearing a petition, a bench of Justice Rahul Bharti, also directed the bank to call the Banking Associates, who came to attain their status on account of their promotion from the subordinate cadre, for interview along with the candidates who have been shortlisted for the interview in terms of the notification issued on January 11.

The court underscored that J&K Bank has given itself a ‘Policy for Promotion of Workmen (Banking Associates, Assistants, and Banking Attendants)’, which was approved on July 13, 2022.

“It is in terms of this policy the bank deals with the cadre of Banking Associates, Banking Assistants, and Banking Attendants for recruitment and promotion,” the court said.

The petitioners contend that the Banking Associates serving in the bank fall into two categories, those who are directly appointed after qualifying IBPS examination and the promotees from the subordinate cadre.

The petitioners submit that for their next promotion and alleviation as Assistant Manager (JMGS-I) officers, 80 percent is to be done through promotion from the Banking Associates cadre whereas 20 percent by direct recruitment.

The petitioners contend that for 80 percent of the promotion of Banking Associates to the post of Assistant Manager (JMGS-I), the policy envisages and recognises two channels - based on seniority cum selectivity channel and the other fast track and merit channel.

“Under this seniority cum selectivity channel there is further classification obtaining for the Banking Associates,” they said. “The Banking Associates who are appointed after qualifying IBPS examination possessing seven years of regular service as such on March 31 of the preceding financial year are eligible for promotion to JMGS-I.”

It was submitted that the Banking Associates who were appointed based on promotion from subordinate cadre and have completed seven years of service as such are mandatorily required to go through an eligibility screening written test (objective type) for participation in the promotion under seniority cum selectivity channel.

The court noted that the problem that has brought the petitioners before it through the medium of writ petition “is that instead of according to them an eligibility screening written test (objective type), they have been clubbed with category two of under fast track and merit channel candidates”.

By this, it said, they have been subjected to bear written examination, which in terms of the policy intent, is meant to be only for the Banking Associates who have completed three years of regular service and are willing to take a chance for proving their merit for promotion by undertaking the written examination in a promotion process envisaged for the said category.

“Since the petitioners reckon that they have been prejudiced by being subjected to a written examination meant for fast track and merit channel, as such, they do not find themselves qualifying the rigorous written examination and, as such, are left out of the list of candidates who have been called for interview in terms of the notification dated January 11, 2024, which has come to be issued post-filing of the present writ petition by the petitioners,” the court said.

It said: “The petitioners are staring at the loss of a promotion opportunity in their favour having completed seven years of service as Banking Associates and still not getting a call for consideration by reference to an alleged disqualification having not made it through the written examination which was meant for fast track and merit channel.”

While the court issued notice to the bank, it, in the meantime, directed the bank to call the petitioners for an interview along with the candidates who have been shortlisted for the interview in terms of notification dated January 11.

The court ordered that the outcome of the interview process undertaken in terms of notification dated January 11, 2024, shall not be declared till February 28, the next date of the hearing.