Shashi Pal v. Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and Another

NAMIT KUMAR, J.  (Oral)

¶1The petitioner has approached this Court by way of filing the instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of writ in the nature of  mandamus  directing the respondents to allow the petitioner to submit his documents and to consider his case for the post of Assistant Line Man

(ALM) in general category, as per his merit.

¶2It has been averred in the petition that the petitioner has applied for the post of Assistant Line Man (ALM) in pursuance to the Advertisement No.CRA/299/22 and also appeared in the examination, which was conducted on

02.11.2022 through online mode and the petitioner secured 44 marks and was declared eligible and qualified for further selection.  It has further been averred that the result was declared by the respondents and the petitioner received email for answer key on 04.11.2022 and when the petitioner tried to verify in the first week of February, 2023 about the selection process, then only it came to his notice that candidates have been called after declaration of result / final merit list, "ho 3ua#ified in on#ine e/a*ination and the #ast date for chec2in$ process "as

50.01.%0%5 and the respondents never sent an! e*ai# re$ardin$ the chec2in$ process on e*ai# )6 provided  ! petitioner.

¶57n issuance of notice of *otion, "ritten state*ent on  eha#f of the respondents has  een fi#ed, "herein it has  een su *itted as under :- xxx xxx xxx xxx " 5. That initially, online applications were received from eligible candidates from 27.08.2022 to 20.09.2022. However, online applications were again received from the eligible candidates from

16.10.2022 to 20.10.2022 after the posts were increased from 1690 to 2100 for those who could not apply in 1st phase of online applications. The petitioner also applied for the said posts advertised and filled up the application form in the name of Shashi Pal and mentioned his e-mail ID as shashi.pal0174@gmail.com. Thereafter, Computer based online written examination was conducted on

02.11.2022 and result of the written examination was uploaded on PSPCL website on 05.12.2022. The copy of application form of the petitioner is annexed herewith as Annexure R-1.

¶6That the process of document checking of 3759 candidates who qualified the online written examination for the post of Assistant Lineman against CRA 299/22, was held from 04.01.2023 to

19.01.2023 through 12 committees (10 at zonal level and 2 at head office level). The lists of candidates who were called for document checking in 1st chance were uploaded on the PSPCL website under link h  ttps://pspcl.in/pdfs/twenty t wentytwo/06/listofdocumentsonweb2712 2022.pdf and the candidates were informed about the above said link to check their document checking date through their respective email id as mentioned in their online application form. Thereafter, the second chance for document checking was given to candidates on 30.01.2023 who failed to appear in the 1st Phase of document checking and informed about the date of document checking (2nd / Last chance) through their respective email Ids as well as PSPCL website.

¶7That the Petitioner Shashi Pal was called for document checking before the Head office committee twice, i.e on 13.01.2023 (1st chance) and 30.01.2023 (2nd/Last chance) along with other candidates. But Petitioner Sh. Shashi Pal remained absent during both chances of document checking for the post of Assistant Lineman against CRA 299/22.

¶8That it is pertinent to state here that it is clearly mentioned in clause 10 of the said advertisement no. CRA 299/22 (Annexure P-1, Page no. 19): "Document checking process: On the basis of result/final merit list, candidates who qualify in online examination shall be called for document checking. Checking of original documents/certificates would be conducted by document checking committee, for which the date shall be notified later through registered e-mail IDs (as mentioned by the candidate in his/her online application form) and on PSPCL's website (www.pspcl.in) only. Thus, candidates are advised to mention their email IDs very carefully. Note:-

i) It is further clarified that mere calling of any candidate for document checking doesn't entitle him/her for selection/appointment to the said post.

ii) Candidate shall be notified about the date of document checking through Registered E-mail ID (as mentioned by the candidate in his/her online application form) and on PSPCL's website  (www.pspcl.in)  only. In case candidate does not appear on the 1st scheduled date, then 2nd chance (final chances would be given to such candidate and in case he/she again fails to appear for document checking even on 2nd chance (final chance), then no further chance would be given & his/her candidature shall be cancelled/forfeited without any further notice.

iii) Candidate has to himself/herself appear for the process of document checking. Nobody on candidate's behalf can appear in the document checking."

¶9That in view of the above procedure mentioned in the said advertisement, the petitioner-Shashi Pal was duly informed about the link in which document checking lists were uploaded in 1st chance and date of document checking in 2nd / Last chance, through his email ID so mentioned in his application form, i.e shashi.pal0174@gmail.com before the Head office committee twice, i.e. on 30.12.2022 to appear on 13.01.2023 (1st chance) & on

23.01.2023 to appear on 30.01.2023 (2nd chance/Last Chnce) along with other candidates. But Petitioner-Shashi Pal remained absent on both the dates for document checking. The copy of email dated

30.12.2022 along with relevant portions of notification calling petitioner to appear on relevant date, i.e 13.01.2023 is annexed herewith as Annexure R-2. The copy of 2nd email dated 23.01.2023 along with relevant portions of notification calling petitioner to appear on relevant date, i.e 30.01.2023 is annexed herewith as Annexure R-3.

10.  That it is clearly mentioned in Clause 10 of the advertisement mentioned in para 8 that after 2nd chance of document checking no further chance will be given to the candidate(s) who failed to appear before document checking in both chances i.e. 1st Chance and 2nd/Last Chance. Thus in view of the facts and circumstances mention   hereinabove,   it   is   clearly   established   that   the   above-captioned writ petition is devoid of any merit and is liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs.  " xxx xxx xxx xxx

¶4Learned   counsel   for   the   respondents   submits   that   despite   two opportunities granted to the petitioner i.e. first on 13.01.2023 and second on

30.01.2023, the petitioner did not come present for documents verification.

¶5Since, the petitioner himself has failed to appear in the process of documents verification despite being afforded two sufficient opportunities, no relief can be granted to the petitioner and therefore, the present petition deserves to be dismissed.

¶6Dismissed with no orders as to costs. February 02, 2024                                           (NAMIT KUMAR) mkkoundal                               JUDGE

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 0000 243 CWP-4976-2023 Decided on : February 02, 2024 SHASHI PAL ...... Petitioner Versus PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPORATION LTD AND ANOTHER ...... Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR Present: None for the petitioner. Ms. Kashish Sahni, Advocate for the respondents-PSPCL. ****