(1) For the period commencing on I st November 1956 and ending on 9th January 1974, for the purpose of eligibility to promotion, no service examination shall be and shall ever be deemed to have been prescribed for Government servants.
(2) A Government servant who, during the aforesaid period, was not promoted solely on the ground of not passing any service examination shall, if he has not already been promoted and if he is otherwise eligible, be promoted.
(3) Every promotion under sub-section (2) shall, notwithstanding anything in any judgement, decree or order of any court, be prospective only on and from a date after 10th January 1974:
Provided that,-
(1) the person promoted shall be entitled to initial pay on the date of actual promotion as if he was holding the promoted post from the date he would have been promoted but for not passing the service examination (hereinafter referred to as the eligibility date) but such person shall not be entitled to payment of any arrears for the period prior to the date of actual promotion;
(2) if the person to be promoted has retired from service prior to 10th January 1974, he shall, if otherwise eligible, be deemed to have been promoted from the eligibility date and his pension and Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity shall be revised on the basis of the pay he would have drawn had he been so promoted from that date.