1. Promotion dispute — Eligibility for Category II post — Conflict between executive instructions and statutory regulations requiring minimum experience. (Para 2 , 3 )
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1997 Supreme(SC) 528
1997(3) Supreme 604
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
K. Ramaswamy & S. Saghir Ahmad, JJ.
P. Sadagopan & Ors. -Appellants
versus
Food Corporation of India, Zonal Officer (South Zone) represented by its Zonal Manager & Anr. -Respondents
Civil Appeal No. 10651 of 1983
Decided on 20-3-1997
Counsel for the Parties :
For the Appellant : Ambrish Kumar, Advocate.
For the Respondents : S.G. Sambandan and Y.P. Rao, Advocates (NP).
Important Points
IMPORTANT POINT
In the matter of service law executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of the statutory Regulations.
In the matter of service law executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of the statutory Regulations.
Subject
Employment Law - Promotion and Advancement
Act Referred
SERVICE LAW: .
Headnote
SERVICE LAW-Executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of statutory Regulations-Statutory Regulations required experience of three years as a pre-condition to consideration for promotion-Any relaxation would be in defeasance of above Regulations- Division Bench was not right in upholding the power of the Board in directing relaxation of statutory Regulations. (Para 3)
Legal Category Hierarchy
Table of Contents
2. Whether executive instructions issued under statutory regulations can relax mandatory experience requirements stipulated within those same regulations. (Para 2 )
3. Executive instructions cannot derogate from statutory regulations; relaxing a mandatory experience pre-condition is in defeasance of the statutory rules. (Para 3 )
4. Executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of statutory regulations. (Para 3 )
5. Appeal allowed — Division Bench order set aside — Directions to determine promotions of eligible persons in accordance with statutory regulations. (Para 3 , 4 )
6. Can executive instructions be used to relax or override statutory regulations?
No, executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of statutory regulations. Any relaxation provided by such instructions that contradicts a statutory pre-condition is considered to be in defeasance of the regulations. (Para 3 )
7. What is the legal effect of a statutory pre-condition for promotion?
A statutory pre-condition, such as a requirement for a specific period of experience, must be strictly adhered to and cannot be bypassed or relaxed through the issuance of executive instructions. (Para 3 )
ORDER
This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the Division Bench of the Madras High Court made in Writ Appeal No. 32/77 on April 26, 1982.
2. Respondent M. Sambandan and others had filed writ petition in the High Court seeking direction for consideration their cases for promotion in terms of the executive instructions issued by the Board. The learned single Judge dismissed the petition. On appeal, the Division Bench relied upon instructions issued by the Board and held that the promotion should be in terms of the instructions issued by the Board which bind the zonal promotions. Those instructions came to be issued in exercise of Regulation 91 of the Staff Regulations. The question, therefore, is whether the view taken by the Division Bench is correct in law? Regulation 10 of the Staff Regulations, 1971 reads under :
"All promotion shall be considered by a Promotion Board duly constituted for purpose and shall be regulated by the general instructions to be issued by the Corporation from time to time in regard to the field of choice of candidates, the size of the panel and validity of the panel."
3. The Regulation provides that such of the candidates who have put in three years experience as Assistant Category I are eligible to be considered for promotion as Assistant Managers in Category II post. It is now settled legal position that executive instructions cannot be issued in derogation of the statutory Regulations. In view of the fact that the statutory regulations require that experience of three years is a pre-condition to consideration for promotion to Category II post from Category I post, it would be obvious that any relaxation was in defeasance of the above Regulations. The Division Bench, therefore, was not right in upholding the power of the Board in directing relaxation of the statutory Regulations and consideration of the cases without considering the claims of all the eligible persons. Moreover, later the Board itself cancelled 1970 panel. Regulation issued for promotion of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should also be considered. Admittedly, they were not considered. Since the claims of all the persons are not before us, we do not propose to close the matter at this end. Accordingly, we set aside the order of the Division Bench and direct the concerned authorities to determine the promotions of all the eligible persons in accordance with the statutory Regulations and pass appropriate orders within a period of six months from the date of the receipt of the order.
4. The appeal is, accordingly, allowed. The writ petition stands dismissed subject to the above directions. No costs.
Appeal allowed.
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