Sh. S.R. Murthy v. the State of Karnataka and Ors.
This appeal deals with the promotion given by the first respondent to
the respondent No. 3 to the post of Head of Section, Ceramic in a Govermnent
Polytechnic. There is no dispute that this is a single post. The first respondent,
however, applied the roster relating to reservations to this post. Hence although G
the appellant was the senior-most person eligible for promotion to that post,
he was not appointed. Instead, respondent No.3, who was junior to him, but
belonged to the Scheduled Caste category was appointed since on the roster
point, the vacancy was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate.
The Karnataka Administrative Tribunal in the impugned judgment H
639
A proceeded on the basis that since this was a promotional post, all promotional.
vacancies would have to be rotated in accordance with the roster. Hence the
promotion of respondent No.3 to the post of Head of Section, Ceramics, was
a valid appointment.
The Constitution Bench of this Court in the case. of Post Graduate
B Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh v. Faculty
Association and Ors., JT (1998) 3 SC 223 has held, after discussing all
decisions on this question, that:
"In a single post cadre, reservation at any point of time on
account of rotation or roster is bound to bring about a situation where
such single post in the cadre will be kept reserved exclusively for the
members of the backward classes and in total exclusion of the general
members of the public. Such total exclusion of general members of the
public and cent percent reservation for the background classes is not
permitted within the constitutional frame work".
In the light of this ratio since the post in question was a single post,
the application of the roster for the purpose of promotion was not permissible.
The appeal is allowed and the impugned order of the Tribunal is set
aside. The promotion of respondent No.3 on the basis of the roster is set
E aside. However, the salary already received by the third respondent in the
promotional post shall not be recovered.
RP. Appeal allowed.
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