SHAILESH KUMAR JHA vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~188 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Decided on: 08.01.2025 + W.P.(C) 87/2025 SHAILESH KUMAR JHA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Ajit Kakkar, Advocate. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gautam, Mr. Anant Gautam, Mr. Dinesh Sharma, Ms. Deepanjal Choudhary, Mr. Kushagra Nilesh Sahay & Mr. Likivi K. Jakhalu, Advocates for R-2 & 3. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN PRATEEK JALAN, J. (ORAL) 1. The petitioner, by way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, assails an order dated 02.12.2024, by which the respondent Nos. 2 and 3- Punjab National Bank [“Bank”] has rejected his representation dated 05.04.2024, with regard to his promotion from Senior Management Grade Scale-V to Top Executive Grade Scale-VI. 2. I have heard Mr. Ajit Kakkar, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gautam, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 2 and 3-Bank, who appears on advance notice. 3. The petitioner joined the service of United Bank of India [“UBI”] on 04.05.2010. UBI was later merged with Punjab National Bank. The petitioner was promoted to Scale V as Assistant General Manager on Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 87/2025 Page 1 of 9 By:SHITU NAGPAL Signing Date:10.01.2025 20:26:30 01.10.2020. He applied for promotion to Scale VI pursuant to a circular issued on 06.10.2023. He participated in a written examination on 10.12.2023 and was called for interview on 09.03.2024. However, the petitioner found that he was unsuccessful, when the result of the promotion process was declared on 01.04.2024. He submitted representations to the respondent on 03.04.2024 and 05.04.2024, which were rejected by an order dated 13.08.2024. 4. The petitioner challenged the rejection of his representation before t