JUDGMENT :

This is the second round of litigation resorted to by the petitioner claiming promotion to the next higher post to which the petitioner claims to be entitled to be duly considered for.

2. The petitioner joined in the erstwhile United Bank of India as Probationary Officer in December, 1985. On 27.03.1995, he was promoted from JMG Scale-I to MMG Scale-II. Thereafter, on 05.10.2001, he was again promoted from MMG Scale-II to MMG Scale-III. On 24.12.2009, the petitioner was further promoted to MMG Scale-III to SMG Scale-IV. The grievance of the petitioner pertains to his non-consideration to the next higher grade from SMG Scale-IV to SMG Scale-V. At the relevant point in time, the United Bank of India (presently Punjab National Bank) issued a circular dated 10.05.2012 specifying the eligibility criteria for promotion from Scale-IV to Scale-V. In terms of the said circular, the following criteria was specified:

1. Officers should have completed minimum three years of satisfactory service in Scale-IV which may be relaxed to two years by the competent authority on valid grounds;

2. The candidates must have completed 12 years of service;

3. The candidates will have to pass computer l