1981 PLP 494 (PLC)

of HER work S.H. S. H. WLI (HER) Welfare Inspector Gr. Rs. 185‑‑300 WLI (HER) and so on. (Rs. 185‑300) S.H. Sr. WLI (HER) Note :‑ Railway servant who is M.A. (Rs. 230‑440) (Social Work) irrespective of the post held by him will be eligible for selection of WLI Gr. 1 (185‑300) Note :‑ Welfare Assistant Gr.(125‑225) shall be called for selection upto the extent of 25% of total number of candidates to be called for the particular selection. Necessary correction slip to Appendix X of Advance Chapter No. 1 of personnel will be issued separately."

3. The above letter, however, only makes Welfare Assistants and it is not disputed that the appellant during the relevant period was a Welfare Assistant, eligible for promotion to the post of Welfare Inspector, Grade

1. However, as has been pointed out by the Karachi High Court in the case of Mataqqi Hussain Rizvi v. Province of Sind (P L D 1978 Kar. 703), there is clearly a distinction between eligibility for promotion and entitlement to be pro moted. It has been observed in the above decision that the word "eligible" in the sense in which it is used in section 9 of the Sind Civil Servants Act, 1973, means only legally qualified to be promoted but does not mean entitled to or having vested right to promotion. The policy letter, dated 28th May, 1962, relied upon by the appellant, only make the appellant eligible for promotion to the post of Inspector but does not confer upon him a vested right to such promotion. Under section 25‑A, I. R. O., a worker is entitled to file a grievance petition only in respect of any right guaranteed or secured to him by or tinder any law or any award or settlement for the time being in force. No doubt, the right to be Considered for promotion, where a person is eligible for promotion, is a vested right, as has been pointed in the case of Mutaqqi Hussain, but it would appear that not only the appellant has been considered for pro motion but it is common ground that he has been promoted as Welfare Inspector, Grade 1, since May, 1976.

4. The grievance of the appellant is that in January, 1966 one Muhammad Tufail was appointed as Welfare Inspector ignoring his claim to the said post. He has also claimed that he was not called for the selections for the post of Inspector in 1967‑68 and 1971. He has also alleged that in January, 1,973, one Laiq Ahmed Usmani was appointed as Welfare Inspector against the Rules. None of these appointments or selec tions, even if made or held, can be challenged in these proceedings since they have become time‑barred as the grievance petition by the appellant was filed on 2nd July, 1973. There remains the case of Mohammad Akrarn who is said to have been appointed as Welfare Inspector in May, 1973. However, this gentleman is said to have died some time back and furthermore, as already stated, the appellant has been promoted as Welfare Inspector since 1976. The contention of the appellant, however, is that Mohammad Akram was not eligible for promotion or appoint ment as Welfare Inspector as he belonged to the Watch & Ward Branch of the Railway and not the Personnel Branch. This contention of the appellant is strongly disputed by Mr. Alvi, on behalf of the Railway Administration, and he submitted that Mohammad Akram, although he was working in the Watch & Ward Branch in fact belonged to the Personnel Branch. Since this is a disputed point and no concrete evidence was led thereon by either party it cannot be said that the appointment of Mohammad Akram as Welfare Inspector was incorrect or against the rules. Even if his appointment was incorrect that does not give a right to the appellant to be automatically appointed in his place. At best, the appellant can claim that a fresh selection in accordance with the rules be held. Since the appellant has already been promoted as Welfare Inspector with effect from 1976 the question of making a fresh selection so far he is concerned does not appear to arise.

5. For the foregoing reasons, I see no merit in this appeal and would, accordingly, dismiss the same. Appeal dismissed.