Since the formation of BSNL it was the demand of some groups to reckon the seniority of JTOs recruited by BSNL against RY 2001 w.e.f. 1996 on the plea that there was no direct recruitment in JTO cadre since 1996. Their demand was to interpolate JTOs of 2001 RY along with promotee JTOs of 1996 onwards in order to prepare the eligibility List in 1: 1 ratio.
This demand appeared to be very attractive to some of the new JTOs and it was utilized by these groups against SNEA which stood along with BSNL decision based on DoPT Guidelines on seniority.
Many Original Applications were filed before various Central Administrative Tribunal like Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and Chennai Ernakulam by these groups with the above demand and obtained the stay on promotions from JTO to SDE since 2010.
In the OA 185 of 2013 filed before CAT Ernakulam by the group, some JTOs of Ernakulam got impleaded on behalf of SNEA CHQ by engaging very Senior Advocate O.V Radhakrishnan before CAT Ernakulam.
On dismissal of these OAs by CATs, an OPCAT was filed before High Court of Ernakulam by this group and obtained the stay on SDE promotion. The OPCAT was defended by SNEA and the High Court did not allow their demand for retrospective seniority from 1996, but quashed the eligibility List to the extent it include promotee JTOs in excess of their quota and directed BSNL to prepare the Eligibility List strictly as per recruitment rules.
Accordingly, BSNL issued the Eligibility List of JTOs recruited by DoT up to the year 2000 in accordance with Rules and initiated action for DPC. Then one more OA 508 of 2018 was filed by these groups before CAT Ernakulam challenging the eligibility list and praying for stay on DPC.
At that stage on behalf of SNEA CHQ, Ten JTOs from Ernakulam got impleaded in the above OA through Senior Advocate OV Radhakrishnan and their attempt for stay on DPC was thwarted and BSNL issued promotion order of more than 3000 JTOs to SDEs in 2018.
Then applicants moved petition against then CMD BSNL and then GM Personal alleging contempt of court. Many times GM Personal Corporate Office came down personally to Ernakulam to attend hearings at CAT Ernakulam and at one stage there was even a serious thinking in the Management to cancel the promotion orders issued to JTOs to escape from contempt proceedings.
With the strong intervention by the JTOs on behalf of SNEA through Senior Advocate O. V. Radhakrishnan as well as with proper briefing and liasoning with BSNL counsels Advocate George Kruvila and BSNL Senior Advocate Jaju Babu, the petitioners could not succeed in establishing their demand and have finally withdrawn the court case. During the last 13 years from 2013 to 2026 there were many sittings in CATs and High Court for this case.
Though most of the above promoted JTOs took VRS from BSNL, Shri George Verghese, Ex CS SNEA Kerala was personally present in all occasions in CAT and High Court and after his enrolment as advocate in 2021, on behalf of SNEA, he was appearing before CAT.
Finally, recently on 11/02/2026 the Original Application 508 of 2018 before CAT Ernakulam has been withdrawn by all the three applicants on their own. Copy<<<>>
Accordingly, the OAs filed since 2013 are closed in Year 2026 without any benefit to any JTO but delaying JTO to SDE Promotions for a minimum ten years. With this the attempt BSNL Executives and mainly young JTOs were misled for more than 20 years without any legal ground by filing cases one after another.
Finally, nothing has been achieved as was projected but precious time of eight years has been wasted in overcoming hurdles in JTO to SDE Promotions from 2010 to 2018 and now after eight of SDE promotions in 2018, this court case is withdrawn by applicants.
Thus litigation continued for sixteen years i.e. from 2010 to 2026 and finally case is closed with withdrawal of application but precious years of career of more than 10000 JTOs of BSNL wasted due to this continued litigations with expenditure of lakhs of rupees from BSNL, applicants and SNEA.
Thus prolonged process of repetitive litigation in courts delayed SDE promotions of many JTOs for more than a decade. With this withdrawal of Court case by applicants after a period of 15 years of litigation it is once again proved that the stand taken by Management and SNEA was as per DoPT guidelines and nothing wrong in it.
This is why SNEA has been appealing to all executives in BSNL to avoid the court cases and if any case is filed under any extreme conditions, then please do not demand for staying ongoing promotions and let the promotions go ahead subject to outcome of the court case so that justice, if any, prevails.
This is a proud moment for SNEA in its struggle to extend justice to all, without appeasement to none, establishing the proverb Truth alone Triumph/ Satyamev Jayte.
SNEA conveys sincere thanks and gratitude with highest appreciation to Shri George Varghese, Former Circle Secretary SNEA Kerala for his tireless persuasion in this court case by taking personal interest and representing SNEA in its pursuit for justice that to be without charging even single rupee from SNEA and to Shri. Vimal Reghunath, Ex. AGS SNEA for assisting him in persuasion of these cases.
