Harish Kumar and Others v. State of Haryana and Another

CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1 -

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o thReservedoono:oo18 oMarch,o2025o thoooooDateoofoPronouncement:oo14 ooooMay,o2025o

1.o CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024o(O&M)o o HarishoKumaroandoothersoo o o o …oPetitionersoo Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoanothero o o o …oRespondentsooo o

2.o CWPoNo.o3067oofo2024o(O&M)o o JagdishoRamoandootherso oo o o o …oPetitionerso Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o …Respondentsooo o o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMAoo o ooooooooHON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTAo o Present:o Mr.oD.oS.oPatwalia,oSenioroAdvocateoassistedobyo Mr.oA.oS.oChadha,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitionerso inoCWPoNo.o2975oofo2024.oo o Mr.oK.oD.oS.oHooda,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitionerso inoCWPoNo.o3067oofo2024.oo oo Mr.oParvindraoSinghoChauhan,oAdvocateoGeneral,oHaryana,o assistedobyoMr.oSanjeevoKaushik,oAdditionaloAdvocateoGeneral,o Haryana.o o Mr.oChetanoMittal,oSenioroAdvocateoassistedobyoo Mr.oShreenathoA.oKhemka,oAdvocate,oforotheoapplicant-respondentonos.o3otoo32oinoCWPoNo.o2975oofo2024.oo o Dr.oNehaoAwasthi,oSenioroStandingoCounsel,oo forotheorespondent-oHPSC.oo o SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA,oJ.oo oo o Thisoorderowillodisposeoofotwoocases,oi.e.oCWPoNos.o2974oando 3067oofo2024,oasocommonoquestionsoofolawoandofactsoareoinvolvedotherein.o TheoaffidavitoofoSecretary,oShrioDusmantaoKumaroBehera,oIAS,oGovernmento CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2 -

ofoHaryana,oDevelopmento&oPanchayatsoDepartment,odatedo24.08.2024,oiso takenoonorecord.o

2.o o Anothero applicationo foro vacationo ofo stayo waso movedo byo theo State.o Inoviewothereof,o weo haveoheardo theo caseo finallyo ato thisostageo witho consentoofobothotheosides.oo

3.o o Briefofactsowhichoneedotoobeoadvertedoforoadjudicationoofothiso case,oareothatotheopetitionersoareopresentlyoworkingoonotheopostsoofoSocialo EducationoandoPanchayatoOfficerso(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'SEPOs')o sinceo 2021o ino termso ofo theo offero ofo appointmento issuedo too themo ono

26.02.2021.oTheonextopromotionaloavenueoforotheopetitionersofromotheopostoofo SocialoEducationoandoPanchayatoOfficeroisotootheopostoofoBlockoDevelopmento &oPanchayatoOfficero(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'theoBDPO').oTheocriteriao foropromotionoisoprovidedounderotheoHaryanaoDevelopmentoandoPanchayato Rules,o2016o(foroshort,o'2016oRules').oPriorotootheoamendmentoofotheoRules,o 50%opostsoofoBDPOsowereorequiredotoobeofilledobyodirectorecruitmentoandotheo remainingo50%opostsowereotoobeofilledobyowayoofopromotionofromoamongsto theoSocialoEducationoandoPanchayatoOfficers.oTheoprocedureofororecruitmento forotheopostoofoBDPOoisosettledodownounderoRuleo9(1)(c)oofotheo2016oRules,o whichoisoasounder:-o o o BeforeoAmendmento o "9.o(1)oRecruitmentotootheoServiceoshallobeomade,o-o

(c)o InocaseoofoBlockoDevelopmentoandoPanchayatoOfficer:o

(i)o 50%obyodirectorecruitment;oandoo

(ii)o 50%o byo promotiono fromo amongsto Socialo EducationoandoPanchayatoOfficers.o CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3 -

Theoaforesaidoruleowasoamendedovideogazetteonotificationodatedo08.03.2019.o Theosameoisoreproducedoasounder:-o AfteroAmendmento

2.oo Ino theo Haryanao Developmento ando Panchayatso Departmento (Group-B)o Serviceo Rules,o 2016,o (hereinafterocalledotheosaidorules),oinoruleo9,oino suboruleo1,oinoclauseoc,-o

(i)o aftero sub-clauseo (ii),o theo signo "o "o shallo beo insertedoandoo

(ii)o theofollowingoprovisooshallobeoinserted,onamely:-o "Providedo thato ino caseo eligibleo Socialo Educationo ando Panchayato Officerso areo noto available,o ao maximumo ofo 50%o ofo promotionalo quotao postso mayo beo filledo upo byo directo recruitmento subjecto too theo conditiono thato theo futureovacanciesoofodirectoquotaoshallobeofilledo upo byo promotiono tillo theo prescribedo quotao ofo promotionoisoachieved."o

3.o Inotheosaidorules,oinoAppendixoB,oagainstoserialo numbero3,ounderocolumno4,ounderoheadingoByo Promotion,o ino itemo (ii),o foro theo wordso "Teno Years",o theo wordso "Seveno Years"o shallo beo substituted."o

4.o o Theo petitioners,o byo wayo ofo theseo writo petitions,o seeko too challengeotheoaforesaidoprovisooaddedovideonotificationodatedo08.03.2019oando theoconsequentoadvertisementoissuedoforofillingoupotheopostsoofotheoBDPOsoono theogroundothatotheoavenuesoofotheiropromotionohaveobeenoseverelyocurtailedo whichoviolatesoArticleo14oofotheoConstitution.oo

5.o o LearnedoSenioroCounseloappearingoforotheopetitionersosubmitso thatotheoprovisootakesoawayotheoimportoofotheomainoruleowhichoprovidesoforo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4 -

fillingo upo 50%o postso byo promotiono ando 50%o byo directo recruitment.o Ono accountoofotheoaforesaidoproviso,oifoeligibleoSocialoEducationoandoPanchayato Officersoareonotoavailable,o50%oofotheopostsomeantoforotheopromoteeoquota,o wouldobeodivertedotoodirectorecruitmentoresultingoinotheofailureoofotheoquotao ruleoforoallotimes.oo

6.o o Itoisosubmittedothatotheoprovisoocannot,ounderoanyocircumstance,o goocontraryotootheomainoprovisionsoandotheosubstantiveoruleocannotobeodoneo awayowith.oTheorealoobjectoofotheomainoruleoisotooaffordotheoemployeesoofotheo departmentoanoequaloopportunityoofoconsiderationoforopromotionovis-à-visotheo directorecruits,owhichoisoattemptedotoobeonullifiedobyoinsertionoofotheoabove-saidoproviso.oo

7.o o LearnedoSeniorocounselosubmitsothatotheorespondentoStateohaso advertisedo37opostsoofoBDPOsoono17.11.2023.oOutoofotheosaido37oposts,o90%o belongotootheopromotionoquota.oTheosaidoadvertisementohasobeenoissuedoino pursuanceo ofo theo afore-referredo amendment.o Heo submitso thato 69o directlyo recruitedoBDPOsoareoworkingoinotheodepartmentoandotheototalosanctionedo strengtho iso 143.o Thus,o heo submittedo thato 50%o sanctionedo strengtho ofo theo directorecruitsoareoalreadyoworking.oTherefore,o37opostsoofoBDPOsowhicho haveobeenoadvertisedovideotheoimpugnedoadvertisementoactuallyobelongedotoo theopromoteeoquota.oHeosubmitsothatooutoofo143oposts,o71oposts,oasopero50%o quota,owouldofalloinotheopromoteeoquotaoandoonlyo35opostsohaveobeenofilledo upoasoofonow.oByoallowingofurtherodirectorecruitmentoagainstotheopromotiono quota,otheopromoteesoareobeingogivenoanounjustoandounfairotreatment.oTheo candidates,owhoowereorecruitedodirectlyoasoBDPOs,oareoyoungoinoageoando CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5 -

thus,owillohaveolongeroserviceotenure.oEvenomostoofotheodirectlyorecruitedo BDPOsohaveoaoserviceotenureospanningooveroaoperiodoofomoreothano30oyears,o andotherefore,othereowouldoneverobeoaochanceoforopromotionoofoSEPOsotillo theyoretire.ooo

8.o o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato theo petitioners,o whoo haveo beeno appointedoinotheoyearo2021oasoSEPOsowouldoacquireoexperienceoofo7oyearso serviceoino2028oandoatothatostageothereowouldovirtuallyobeonoovacantopostsolefto forotheopetitionersoforopromotionotooBDPO.o

9.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasoalsootakenousotootheotableo too reflecto theo dateso ofo retiremento ofo theo existingo incumbents.o Heo furthero submitsothatotheopleaoofotheorespondent-Stateoregardingotheonon-availabilityo ofotheoeligibleoSocialoEducationoandoPanchayatoOfficer,owhoopossessesotheo requisiteoexperience,oisomisconceived.oHeosubmitsothatothereoisoaopoweroofo relaxationoofotheoexperienceoandothatopowerohasobeenoexercisedoearlierobyotheo authoritiesoandotheopersonsohaveobeenograntedopromotion.oTherefore,othereo wasonoooccasionoforotheorespondent-Stateotoohaveoinsertedotheoprovisootootheo rule.oo

10.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso furthero submitso thato theo provisoocontravenesotheomainoRuleoandocreatesoinequalityoamongstoequals,o andothereforeoviolatesoArticleo14oofotheoConstitutionoandoisotoobeodeclaredo ultraovires.oHe,otherefore,opraysotooquashonotificationodatedo08.03.2019otootheo extentowherebyoaoprovisoohasobeenoaddedotooRuleo9o(i)(c)otooallowopromotiono quotaopostsoofoBDPOsotoobeofilledobyodirectorecruitmentobyousurpingotheo promotiono quota.o Heo furthero prayso too seto asideo theo advertisemento datedo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6 -

17.11.2023o too theo extento ofo fillingo upo 37o postso ofo BDPOso byo directo recruitment.oo

11.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasocitedojudgmentsoofotheo SupremeoCourtoinoDirector,oLiftoIrrigationoCorporationoLimitedoandootherso vso Pravato Kirano Mohantyo ando otherso 1991o (2)o SCCo 295,o Ajayo Kumaro ShuklaoandoothersovsoArvindoRaioandootherso2022o(12)oSCCo579,otoosubmito thatorightotoobeoconsideredoforopromotionoisoaoFundamentaloRight.o

12.o o LearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasoalsooreliedoonoSupremeo CourtojudgmentsoNagaroPalikaoNigamovsoKrishioUpajoMandioSamitioando otherso2008o(12)oSCCo364oandoDelhioMetrooRailoCorporationoLimitedovso TarunoPaloSinghoandootherso2018o(14)oSCCo161,otoosubmitothatotheoprovisoo cannotooverrideomainoclause.oo

13.o o Pero contrao learnedo Advocateo Generalo aso wello aso Mr.o Chetano Mittal,olearnedoSenioroCounseloappearingoforotheoprivateorespondents,ohaveo supportedotheoamendmentomadeoinotheoRule.oo

14.o o Aso pero Appendix-Bo too theo 2016o Ruleso beforeo amendment,o ao SocialoEducationoandoPanchayatoOfficerocouldobeopromotedotootheopostoofo BDPOoonlyoafteroheohadoservedoforo10oyears.oAsothereowasonooofficerowhoo hado10oyears'oexperienceoonotheoloweropost,otheopromotionoquotaowasolefto unfilledoforolongotime.oHeosubmitsothatotheopromotionsowereograntedoaftero makingorelaxationoinoexperience.oo

15.o o TheoprescribedoquotaounderotheooldoServiceoRulesoofo1988owaso 50%obyodirectorecruitment,o33%obyopromotionofromoamongstotheograduateo Socialo Educationo ando Panchayato Officers,o ando 17%o fromo amongsto theo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7 -

graduateo Deputyo Superintendents/o Accountants/o Assistants.o Outo ofo 17%,o 10%oquotaowasoreservedoforoAccountants.oo

16.o o InoCWPoNo.o16978oofo1996oSethoSinghoandoothersovsoStateoofo Haryana,o thiso Courto strucko downo theo saido 10%o quotao meanto foro theo Accountantso ando furthero directedo too considero theo caseo ofo theo petitionerso thereinoforopromotionotootheopostsoofoBDPOsoonotheobasisoofoseniority-cum-merit.oInoviewoofotheosaidodirections,oaoCommitteeowasoconstituted,oheadedo byotheoDirector,owhichobifurcatedotheochanneloofopromotionoofoGramoSachivs,o SEPOso ono oneo sideo ando Clerks,o Assistants,o Accountantso wereo kepto ono ao separateo hierarchy.o Thereafter,o 50%o promotiono quotao ofo BDPOso waso lefto exclusivelyo too beo filledofromo SEPOso alone.o Sinceoseveralo changesoino theo administrativeosetoupotookoplace,otheoRulesoofo1988owereore-framedoandotheo 2016oRulesowereonotified.oThus,otheoavenuesoofopromotionowereoincreasedo forotheoSEPOsounderotheo2016oRules.oo

17.o o LearnedoAdvocateoGeneralosubmitsothatothereoisoaonexusotootheo purposeosoughtotoobeoachievedowhileomakingotheoamendment.oHeosubmitso thatotheopetitionersohaveobeenobornoinotheoserviceoonlyoinotheoyearo2021owhileo theo amendmento hado alreadyo beeno madeo ino theo yearo 2019.o Takingo intoo considerationotheofactothatothereowasoaohugeopaucityoofoBDPOsoinotheoState,o theo decisiono waso taken.o Thereo waso noo Socialo Educationo ando Panchayato OfficeroavailableoforopromotionoasotheoBDPOoasononeoofothemopossessedotheo minimumorequiredoexperience.oo

18.o o LearnedoAdvocateoGeneralofurtherosubmitsothatotheoprovisoowaso addedo tooRuleo9(1)(c)o too meetotheo requiremento ofo fillingo upo theopostsoofo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8 -

BDPOs,owhichowereolyingovacantoonoaccountoofoineligibleoSEPOsoinotheo department.o Theo condition,o therefore,o clearlyo mentionedo thato theo futureo vacanciesoofodirectoquotaowouldobeofilledobyopromotionotillotheoprescribedo quotaoofopromotionoisoachieved.oFurther,oonlyo50%oofotheopromotionoquotao postsowereoallowedotoobeofilledobyodirectorecruitment.oHeosubmitsothatotheo reasonoisoapparentoasoitoisotooavoidotheodelayoinodepartment'soworkodueotootheo paucityoofostaff.oo

19.o o LearnedocounseloforotheoStateofurtherosubmitsothatoanoemployeeo hasoonlyoaorightoofoconsiderationobutonoorightoofopromotion.oHeoalsoosubmitso thatotheoGovernmentohasoaorightotoochange/re-change,oadjust/re-adjustotheo provisionsoofotheoRulesoinoaccordanceowithotheoneedsoandorequirementsoando onotheosaidoaspectoalone,otheoamendmentocannotobeoheldotoobeoultraovires.oHeo hasoalsootakenothisoCourtotooaochartotoosubmitothatotheopetitioners,owhooareo onlyo appointedo ino theo yearo 2021,o wouldo beo consideredo aso soono aso theyo becomeo eligibleo foro promotiono ando sufficiento numbero ofo postso wouldo beo availableo ato thato timeo too fillo upo theo postso byo promotion.o He,o therefore,o submitsothatoitoisoaocaseoofocollapseoofotheoquotaorule.oo

20.o o Learnedo Advocateo Generalo haso alsoo pointedo outo thato ono

15.09.2020,oaorequestowasosentoforofillingoupoofo46oposts,ohowever,oonlyo39o BDPOso joined.o Anothero requisitiono waso sento foro 8o postso ono 28.07.2021.o Thereafteroagainorequisitionohasobeenosentoforo37oposts.oHeosubmitsothatoasoono date,o thereo wereo 21o postso ofo directo quotao availableo aftero returningo 28o borrowedopostsoofopromotionoquota.oInotheomeanwhile,o29opersonsohaveobeeno furtheropromoted,ooneohasoretiredoando19opersonsohaveoresigned.oTherefore,o CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9 -

49opostsobecameoavailable.oInothisoway,oheohasoattemptedotoosubmitothatowheno theopetitionersowouldobecomeoeligibleoforopromotionoonocompletingo7oyearso ofoexperienceo(reducedotoo7oyearsofromo10oyears),osufficientonumberoofopostso ofoBDPOsowouldobeoavailable.oo

21.o o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato theo demando ofo SEPOso ofo furthero relaxationoofoexperienceocannotobeoacceptedoasotheopetitionersohaveoservedo foro ao veryo shorto periodo aso theyo haveo onlyo joinedo ino theo yearo 2021.o He,o therefore,osubmitsothatoasotheoprincipleoofo50:50oquotaocouldonotobeooperated,o necessaryoprovisoowasoaddedoinoorderotoomeetowithoadmissibleorequirements.o Theoprovisooitselfosavesotheopromotionoquotaoinofuture.oo

22.o o Weo haveo consideredo theo submissionso ando alsoo noticedo theo pleadings.oo

23.o o ThisoCourtoordinarilyowouldonotointerfereowithotheopowersoofotheo StateoGovernmentoinoframingotheoRulesounderoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutiono ofoIndia.oSuchoaoRuleocanobeodeclaredoasoultra-viresoonlyowhenotheosameodoeso noto serveo theo purposeo soughto too beo achieved,o aso haso beeno affirmedo byo Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoUnionoofoIndiaovs.oManjuranioRoutrayoando others,o(2023)o9oSCCo144,oandoheldoasounder:-oo "12.oBeforeopartingowithothisoAppeal,oweonoteothat,ovideoordero datedo15.09.2016,oanoapplicationobeingoI.A.oNo.o3oofo2015oforo interventionowasoallowed.oByovirtueoofotheosame,orespondentso nos.o3otoo141owereoimpleaded.oTheyoseekotoosupportotheoorderoofo theoHighoCourtoandohaveourgedovariousogroundsotoodemonstrateo thatoRuleo4(b)owasorightlyostruckodown.oAsoweohaveosetoasideotheo orderoofotheoHighoCourtodeclaringoRuleo4(b)oasounconstitutionalo onotheogroundoofolackoofoanyochallenge,oeitheroinotheoO.A.ooroino CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10 -

theowritopetition,oweodoonotopermitotheoimpleadedopartiesohereotoo urgeothoseogrounds.oInocase,oanyoofothemoareoadverselyoaffected,o theyowillohaveotheolibertyotootakeorecourseoinolawobyoinstitutingo appropriateoproceedings.oWe,otherefore,orecallotheoorderodatedo

15.09.2016oallowingotheiroimpleadmentoandodeleteothemofromo theo arrayo ofo parties.o Weo makeo ito clearo thato weo haveo noto expressedo anyo viewo regardingo theo validityo ofo theo Ruleso ono merits,ooneowayoorotheootheroand,otherefore,othisojudgmentowillo notocomeoinotheowayoofoanyocourtodealingowithotheoissueoofotheo vireso ofo theo Ruleso ino anyo pendingo proceedingo oro ino anyo proceedingothatomayobeoinitiatedoafresh."o

24.o o InoMaulavioHusseinoHajioAbrehamoUmarjiovsoStateoofoGujarato 2004o(6)oSCCo672,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtowhileodealingowithotheoissueo regardingotheofunctionoofoprovisooheldoasoundero:-o "10.oTheonormalofunctionoofoaoprovisooisotooexceptosomethingo outoofotheoenactmentoorotooqualifyosomethingoenactedothereino whichobutoforotheoprovisoowouldobeowithinotheopurviewoofotheo enactment.o Aso waso statedo ino Mullinso v.o Treasurero ofo Surreyo (referredo too ino Shaho Bhojrajo Kuverjio Oilo Millso ando Ginningo Factoryo v.o Subhasho Chandrao Yograjo Sinhao ando Calcuttao TramwaysoCo.oLid.ov.oCorpn.,oofoCalcutta)owhenooneofindsoao provisootooaosectionotheonaturalopresumptionoisothat,obutoforotheo proviso,otheoenactingopartoofotheosectionowouldohaveoincludedo theo subject-mattero ofo theo proviso.o Theo propero functiono ofo ao provisoo iso too excepto ando too dealo witho ao caseo whicho wouldo otherwiseo fallo withino theo generalo languageo ofo theo maino enactmento ando itso effecto iso confinedo too thato case.o Ito iso ao qualificationoofotheoprecedingoenactmentocowhichoisoexpressedoino termsotooogeneralotoobeoquiteoaccurate.oAsoaogeneralorule,oao provisoo iso addedo too ano enactmento too qualifyo oro createo ano exceptionotoowhatoisoinotheoenactmentoandoordinarily,oaoprovisoo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11 -

isonotointerpretedoasostatingoaogeneralorule.o"Ifotheolanguageoofo theoenactingopartoofotheostatuteodoesonotocontainotheoprovisionso whichoareosaidotoooccuroinoitoyouocannotoderiveotheseoprovisionso byoimplicationofromoaoproviso"osaidoLordoWatsonoinoWestoDerbyo do Uniono v.o Metropolitano Lifeo Assuranceo Co.o Normally,o ao provisoodoesonototravelobeyondotheoprovisionotoowhichoitoisoao proviso.o Ito carveso outo ano exceptiono too theo maino provisionotoo whichoitohasobeenoenactedoasoaoprovisooandotoonooother.o[Seeo A.N.o Sehgalo v.o Rajeo Ramo Sheoran,o Tribhovandaso Haribhalo Tambolio v.o Gujarato Revenueo Tribunalo ando Keralao Stateo HousingoBoardov.oRamapriyaoHotelso(P)oLtd.)."oo

25.o o InoDwarkaoPrasadovsoDwarkaoDasoSarafoo1976o(1)oSCCo128,o theoConstitutionoBenchoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoheldoasoundero:-o "18.o Weo mayo mentiono ino fairnesso too counselo thato theo followingoamongootherodecisions,owereocitedoatotheoBarobearingo onotheousesoofoprovisosoinostatuteso:oC.oI.oTov.oIndo-Mercantileo Banko Ltd.;o M/so Ramo Naraino Sonso Ltd.o v.o Asstt.o C.o S.o T.;o Thompsonov.oDibdin':oRexov.oDibdin'oandoTahsildaroSinghov.o StateoofoU.P.oTheolawoisotrite.oAoprovisoomustobeolimitedotootheo subject-mattero ofo theo enactingo clause.o Ito iso ao settledo ruleo ofo constructiono thato ao provisoo musto primao facieo beo reado ando consideredoinorelationotootheoprincipalomatterotoowhichoitoisoao proviso.oItoisonotoaoseparateooroindependentoenactment.o'Wordso areodependentoonotheoprincipaloenactingowords,otoowhichotheyo areotackedoasoaoproviso.oTheyocannotobeoreadoasodivorcedofromo theirocontext'o(1912oACo544).oIfotheoruleoofoconstructionoisothato primaofacieoaoprovisooshouldobeolimitedoinoitsooperationotootheo subject-matteroofotheoenactingoclause,otheostandoweohaveotakeno isosound.oTooexpandotheoenactingoclause,oinflatedobyotheoproviso,o sinsoagainstotheofundamentaloruleoofoconstructionothatoaoprovisoo mustobeoconsideredoinorelationotootheoprincipalomatterotoowhicho itostandsoasoaoproviso.oAoprovisooordinarilyoisobutoaoproviso,o CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12 -

althoughotheogoldenoruleoisotooreadotheowholeosection,oinclusiveo ofotheoproviso,oinosuchomannerothatotheyomutuallyothrowolightoono eachootheroandoresultoinoaoharmoniousoconstruction.o Theoproperocourseoisotooapplyotheobroadogeneraloruleoofo constructiono whicho iso thato ao sectiono oro enactmento musto beo construedoasoaowhole,oeachoportionothrowingolightoifoneedobeoono theorest.o Theo trueo principleo undoubtedlyo is,o thato theo soundo interpretationo ando meaningo ofo theo statute,o ono ao viewo ofo theo enactingo clause,o savingo clause,o ando proviso,o takeno ando construedotogetheroisotooprevail.o(MaxwelloonoInterpretationoofo Statutes,o10thoEdn.opo162)o

19.o Weo nowo moveo ono too 'dominanto intent'o aso theo governingorule.oInoouroview,otheodominantointentoisofoundoino leadingodecisionoofothisoCourt.oIndeed,osomeoStateoLegislatures,o acceptingotheopositionothatowhereotheodominantointentionoofotheo leaseoisotheoenjoymentoofoaocitizen,oasodistinguishedofromotheo building,ohaveodeliberatelyoamendedotheodefinitionobyosuitableo changeso (e.g.o Keralao ando Andhrao Pradesh)o whileo othero Legislatures,o ono theo oppositeo policyo decision,o haveo expresslyo excludedotheorentocontroloenactmento(e.g.otheolateroAct)."o

26.o o Complyingotheoprincipleoofo'dominantointent'oifoweoexamineotheo provisoowhichohasobeenoimpugnedovideoamendmentodatedo08.03.2019,oweo findothato theo purposeo ofo introducingotheo provisoo iso wello explainedoino theo affidavitobyotheoSecretary,oShrioDusmantaoKumaroBehera,oIAS,oGovernmento ofo Haryana,o Developmento &o Panchayatso Department,o datedo 09.09.2024,o whereinoheostatesoasounder:-o "4.o ThatotheopostoofoBDPOoisoveryoimportantoforotheoStateoofo Haryana,osooasotooprovideomonitoring,oguidanceoandoawarenesso programso abouto variouso developmento projectso ofo theo CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13 -

Governmento(i.e.oCentreoandoState)otootheopeopleoinotheoruralo areas.oInotheopast,otheodepartmentohadoobservedothatomostoofotheo time,o manyo postso ofo BDPOso remaino vacant.o Too solveo theo problemorelatedotooshortageoofoBDPOs,otheoStateoGovernmento madeo amendmentso ino theo Ruleo 9(i)(c)&o (ii)o ofo theo Haryanao Developmento ando Panchayatso Departmento (Group-B)o Serviceo Rules,o2016ovideonotificationodatedo08oMarch,o2019."o Introducingotheoprovisoobyowayoofoamendmentohas,otherefore,oaonexusotootheo purposeosoughtotoobeoachievedoi.e.otoofilloupotheovacantopostsolyingowithotheo department.oo

27.o o Theoprincipleounderlyingotheoscopeoforoquashingoaoruleoframedo underoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaorequiresothisoCourtotooexamineo theoimpugnedoamendmentoonotheoanviloofoArticleo14oofotheoConstitution,oando alsoowithoreferenceotootheonexusoandotheopurposeosoughtotoobeoachieved.ooTheo poweroofotheoStateoGovernmentotooframeorulesoandoalsooamendotheosameoiso absoluteoinotermsoofoArticleo309oofotheoConstitution.oTheojudicialoreviewoiso onlyolimitedotootheoextentoasonoticedoabove.oo

28.o o Ino CWPo No.o 12764o ofo 2025o –o Vinodo Kumaro vs.o Stateo ofo Haryanaoandoothers,odecidedoono06.05.2025,owhereinotheolawoasolaidodowno inoManjuranioRoutray'socaseo(supra)owasofollowedobyothisoCourt.oo

29.o o Weo noticedo thato eveno aftero reducingo theo requisiteo experienceo requiredoforopromotionofromo10oyearsotoo7oyears,oasoperotheoamendment,otheo petitioners,owhooareoholdingotheofeederopostsoforopromotionotootheopostoofo BDPOo onlyo fromo theo yearo 2021,o cano ato theo besto becomeo eligibleo foro considerationoonlyoinotheoyearo2028.oEvenoatotheolowerocadre,oonowhichotheo petitionersoareoworking,othereoisopaucityoofostaffoasoweofindofromotheoaffidavito CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14 -

thatooutoofo143opostsoofoSEPOs,o52opostsoareolyingovacant.oTheopetitionersoareo thoseowhooareopresentlyoworkingoonotheoremainingoposts.oThus,oweoalsoodoo notofindoitoaocaseowhereorelaxationoofoexperienceoforopromotionocanobeofurthero grantedosooasotoomakeothemoeligibleoinonearofuture.oItoisowellosettledonowothato noopersonocanoclaimorelaxationoinoqualifyingoserviceoforopromotionoasoaorighto (See;oStateoofoU.P.oandoothersovsoVikasoKumaroSinghoandootherso2022o(1)o SCCo347).o

30.o o TheoamendmentsoinotheoRulesoareoalsoorequiredotoobeomadeobyo theoStateoinoorderotoomeetowithotheorequirementsoofoadministration.oo

31.o o Theocontentionoofolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersothatotheo provisoocannotooverrideotheomainoclauseorelyingoonotheojudgmentsoofoHon'bleo theoSupremeoCourtoinoNagaroPalikaoNigamovsoKrishioUpajoMandioSamitio andootherso2008o(12)oSCCo364oandoDelhioMetrooRailoCorporationoLimitedo vsoTarunoPaloSinghoandootherso2018o(14)oSCCo161,oisofoundotoobeowithouto basis.o Ito iso fromo theo factso ofo eacho caseo thato weo haveo too understando theo introductiono ofo theo provisoo whicho iso addedo too carveo outo ano exceptiono ino certainocircumstances.oWeoareoalsoosatisfiedothatotheomainoruleohasonotobeeno inoanyomannerodisturbedoasotheoveryolanguageoofotheoamendmentoreflectsothato theo promotiono quotao shallo beo fulfilledo aso soono aso eligibleo personso areo availableoforopromotion.oo

32.o o Weohaveofurtheronoticedothatoasoperotheoafore-referredoaffidavit,o againstotheototalosanctionedo143opostsoofotheoBDPOs,oonlyo84oareoworking.o Eveno aftero appointmento ofo 34o BDPOso selectedo undero theo impugnedo advertisement,owhichohasobeenostayedobyothisoCourt,o25opostsostilloremaino CWPoNo.o2975oofo2024oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-15 -

vacant.o 11o moreo postso wouldo fallo vacanto uptoo 31.09.2027.o Thus,o weo areo satisfiedoandofindothatotheocontentionoraisedobyotheopetitionersoregardingonon-availabilityoofotheopostsoforopromotionoinofuture,oisowhollyomisconceived.oIno futureotheopromotionsofromotheoBDPOsotootheopostsoofoDDPOsoshalloalsoobeo madeofromotheoexistingoBDPOs.oAsoandowhenotheopetitionersowouldobecomeo eligibleoforopromotion,osufficientopostsowouldobeoavailable.oInoviewothereto,o weo areo satisfiedo thato sufficiento reasonso areo availableo witho theo Stateo GovernmentoforomakingoamendmentoinotheoRuleoandoinsertingotheoaboveosaido proviso.oHence,otheochallengeotootheosaidoinsertionoofotheoprovisootooRuleo 9(1)(c)oofotheo2016oRulesofails.oo

33.o o Inoviewoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,oweodoonotofindoanyogroundo tooquashotheoamendmentointroducedovideonotificationodatedo08.03.2019oando advertisementoissuedoforofillingoupopostsoofoBDPOsoono27.11.2023.oTheowrito petitionsoare,oaccordingly,odismissed.o

34.o o TheointerimoordersopassedobyothisoCourtoshallostandovacated.oTheo respondent-Stateoshallonowoproceedowithotheorecruitment.oo

35.o o Allopendingoapplicationsoshallostandodisposedoof.oo

36.o o Noocosts.o o o o o o o o (SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA)o o o o o o o o o oJUDGEoo o tho14 ooMay,o2025o o o o ooooo(MEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTA)o vso o o o o o o oooooooooJUDGEoo Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Noo