The Kerala High Court has dismissed a challenge filed by Baybin J. Korah, a Manager (Publicity, PR & Policy) at Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), who contested the company’s decision to overlook her for promotion to the post of Deputy General Manager (DGM). The hearing, held on October 15, 2025, saw the court take a nuanced stance on qualifications earned through distance education.
Background
Korah, who has been serving in KMRL and holds an MSc in Physics along with two MBA degrees (Marketing and HR) obtained through distance education, argued that she was academically more qualified than several colleagues who were promoted. She claimed that the promotion board unfairly awarded her fewer marks for educational qualification, which ultimately reduced her rank.
KMRL, however, maintained that its internal promotion policy distinguishes between full-time MBA programmes and those pursued via distance education. The company said this differentiation was necessary because managerial roles, especially at DGM level, required rigorous full-time training exposure.
Court’s Observations
Justice N. Nagaresh examined an internal 2023 memorandum issued by KMRL’s Managing Director, which relaxed certain promotion rules, allowing employees with distance-mode degrees to be considered for promotions. However, the Court noted that consideration did not mean equivalence.
“The bench observed, ‘Relaxation of eligibility does not automatically grant equal merit weightage. The employer is entitled to evaluate qualifications differently based on industry requirements.’”
The Court pointed out that the company had a documented assessment process: full-time MBA holders could receive up to 20 points, while distance-mode degree holders could receive a maximum of 15. This policy was applied uniformly and was not targeted at the petitioner.
The judge also noted that equal treatment cannot be claimed merely because the qualification was recognised by UGC or AICTE. The nature of instruction-full-time vs. distance-could reasonably influence skill preparedness for high-level managerial functions.
Decision
Finding no illegality or bias in the evaluation, the Court refused to interfere with the promotion list.
The writ petition was dismissed.
Case: Baybin J. Korah vs. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. & Others
Court: Kerala High Court, Ernakulam
Judge: Justice N. Nagaresh
Petitioner: Baybin J. Korah, Manager (Publicity, PR & Policy), KMRL
Respondents: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd., its Managing Director, and promoted Deputy General Managers
Date of Judgment: 15 October 2025