Date:21/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/21/stories/2005042101481000.htm

Back `Class III RBI employees entitled to promotion'

Rahul Wadke

Mumbai , April 20

CLOSE to 10,000 clerical category employees of the Reserve Bank of India could be in for a bonanza if a recent order of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT), Kolkata, is anything to go by.

The Tribunal verdict of March 10 enjoins upon the RBI to grant time-bound promotion to its Class III employees who have completed 15 years of service.

The order of the Tribunal that was put out in the public domain on April 8 states: "RBI not granting time-bound promotion to its Class III employees is illegal and unjustified. Class III employees of the bank are entitled to get time-bound promotions. Accordingly, the management of the RBI is directed to grant financial benefits of the post of `Staff Officer Grade-A' to its Class III employees, who have completed 15 years of service without any promotion".

When contacted, the RBI spokesperson, Ms Alpana Killawala, said that the RBI management was still considering the order. The RBI could go in for an appeal against the order, she said.

If this order were to be enforced, those employees who largely perform clerical functions will be given financial benefits of `Staff Officer Grade-A'.

While the resultant salary increase could be to the tune of Rs 1,000 a month for each, the aggregate hike, including perks such as petrol and telephone allowances, could be sizeable, it is being pointed out.

Talking to Business Line, Mr Pradip Bhat, Vice-President of the Reserve Bank Worker's Organisation, said, "In Mumbai alone, about 3,000 employees would be benefited from the award. Our system of promotions is flawedThere has been a stagnation in our career".

Mr Bhat also said that the present avenues for promotions are very limited. The departmental promotion examination conducted by the RBI was tough, accounting for only a five per cent success rate, he said, adding that there was no fixed policy for the promotion of Class III employees.