Petitioner joined the service of District Co-operative Bank, Wayanad, as a driver on 6/3/2003. He passed JDC and was later promoted as an Accountant and is the senior accountant, since 6/5/2014. The next promotion post of the petitioner is that of the Branch Manager. There are vacancies in that cadre. The minimum qualification prescribed for the post of Branch Manager is graduation. Rule 185(1) of the Co-operative Societies Rules provides that promotion shall strictly be in accordance with the seniority. Rule 185(8) authorises granting of exemption from academic qualification in case of employees who were non graduate and to promote strictly according to the seniority. Since the petitioner is a non graduate, invoking the above provision, the then Administrator in the office , by Ext.P1 resolution, resolved to request the Registrar of Co-operative Societies to grant exemption to the petitioner from acquiring qualification of graduation, for the purpose of promotion to the post of Branch manager. The said resolution was forwarded to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies for passing necessary orders. By Ext.P2 dated 21/5/2021, the request was declined on the premise that District Co-operative Banks are not in existence. This is under challenge in this proceedings.
