Case: AIR COMMODORE NAVEEN JAIN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

2. The appellant was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Indian Air Force on December 11, 1981. He was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore in the year 2011. He along with nine other officers were considered for promotion against five vacancies in the rank of Air Vice Marshal. The appellant could not be promoted though he was first in the merit list in view of the fact that he was placed at Sl. No. 3 in seniority in the select list of four officers. The first officer on the select list was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal on May 11, 2015 against the first available vacancy whereas, next two vacancies arose on August 1, 2015 and September 1, 2015 i.e. after the appellant attained the age of superannuation on June 30, 2015. Since, there was no post available for his promotion prior to his superannuation, he was not promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.The appellant invoked the jurisdiction of the Tribunal claiming promotion to the rank of Air Vice Marshal selected by Promotion Board in order of merit and not in the order of seniority challenging the clause in the Promotion Policy dated February 20, 2008 that the merit list prepared by the Board has to be rearranged in the order of seniority.

Court's reasoning:
10. The Policy dated February 20, 2008 does not use the expression that the promotion is based either on the principle of ?merit-cum- seniority? or ?seniority-cum-merit?.In view of the principles governing the right of promotion as delineated above, we find that the grievance of the appellant is in respect of lost chances of promotion inasmuch as he attained the age of superannuation before the vacancy arose. Clauses 17 and 22 are categorical that the select list of officers will be prepared from merit list and rearranged in order of seniority. Thus, the final list of the candidates falling within the zone of consideration in terms of clause 11 and who are eligible in terms of clause 13 is determined first by preparing the merit list on the basis of AR marks and Board marks. Thereafter, the names of the officers found meritorious are to be rearranged in order of seniority as per clauses 17 and 22 of the Promotion Policy. Thus, it ensures that the candidates falling within the zone of consideration are short listed for promotion but ultimate promotion from amongst the selected candidates is on the basis of seniority. Such policy per se cannot be said to be illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory so as to attract the violation of either Article 14 or Article 16 of the Constitution.In Major General Manoj Luthra, the Promotion Policy has not been struck down by this Court but in the facts of that case, in view of superannuation of the officer, the benefit was ordered to be conferred to the respondent. Such is not a binding precedent as the merit of the policy has not been examined.The promotion to the post of Air Vice Marshal is regulated by Circular dated February 20, 2008, therefore, the promotion can be claimed only in terms of eligibility and the norms fixed therein. Mere fact that the appellant could not be promoted on account of non-availability of vacancies before his superannuation is not a ground on which the Promotion Policy can be struck down. The Promotion Policy can be struck down only if the policy has no reasonable nexus with the objective to be achieved and is discriminatory. The lack of vacancy is not a ground on the basis of which promotion policy can be struck down. Since the Promotion Policy is in two stages as in Rajendra Kumar Srivastava i.e. to shortlist the candidates on the basis of eligibility criteria and on the basis of the marks obtained in the Annual Confidential Report and the marks given by the Board, therefore, the applicability of principle of seniority cannot be said to be arbitrary or irrational which may make the policy illegal and unsustainable.The promotion has to be affected in terms of statutory rules and in absence thereof, as per the executive instructions. The policy provides equal opportunities to the officers falling within the zone of consideration and subsequent promotion. Such policy is not discriminatory in terms of Article 14 or denies lack of equal opportunity in terms of Article 16. The promotion to the post of Air Vice Marshal is governed by the policy of Air Force which is applicable to all officers falling in the zone of consideration. Therefore, the Promotion Policy cannot be said to be illegal, arbitrary and irrational warranting interference in exercise of power of judicial review.Apart from the policy, we also find that the appellant is estopped to challenge the policy after participating in the selection process on the basis of such policy.In view thereof, we do not find that the policy circulated on February 20, 2008 suffers from any illegality which was rightly not interfered with by the learnedthe entire policy is required to be examined as to what is the criteria for promotion rather than using the expression either ?merit-cum-seniority? or ?seniority-cum-merit?.