JUDGMENT

Since a common issue involved in these cases, they were heard and disposed of by a common judgment.

W.P,(C) No.14743 of 2020

2. The petitioner joined the services of the respondent Coir Board as a Co-operative Inspector on 28.10.1983 and retired on superannuation from the services of the Coir Board as Senior Accounts Officer on 31.05.2019. There occurred two vacancies of Accounts Manager in the respondent Coir Board. The petitioner along with one Sri.Ajithkumar were considered for promotion by the duly constituted Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) as per Ext.P1. The petitioner would contend that the post of Co- operative Inspector was not in the zone of consideration for the post of Accounts Manager as per the then existing recruitment rules, but the petitioner, who was working as Co-operative Inspector was considered for promotion on the basis of the decision of the Board in its meeting held on 12.07.1991. The DPC considered staff with requisite qualification and experience for promotion to the post of Accounts Manager with higher scale of pay, even though those posts are not included in the feeder category. On the basis of recommendations in Ext.P1, the petitioner was