Neeraj v. State of Haryana and Another

THEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToo CHANDIGARHo o o CWP-16904-2021o(O&M)oo thReservedoono5 oofoMarch,o2025o ndDateoofoDecision:o22 ooofoMay,o2025o o NEERAJo o o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoANOTHERo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

2.l CWP-6731-2021o(O&M)oooo o DEEPAKo o o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/Soo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ….......Respondent(s) o o o

3.l oo o CWP-17818-2024(O&M)ooo o SANDEEPoKUMARoANDoOTHERSo o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o ooooo4.o o o CWP-19247-2024o(O&M)ooo o NAVEENoKUMARoo o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

5.o o o CWP-23138-2024o(O&M)oo o RAJBIRo o o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

6.o o o CWP-27686-2024(O&M)oo o DEEPTIoHOODAo o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

7.o o o CWP-10323-2021(O&M)oo o MONIKAoRAMANoo o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

8.o o o CWP-1319-2022o(O&M)oo o DEEPAKoDAHIYAoANDoANOTHERo o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o

o o o Pageo2oofo25o o

9.o oo o CWP-140-2022o(O&M)oo NAMARTAo o o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo o o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

10.o o o CWP-1846-2022o(O&M)oo o PARDEEPoKUMARo o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoANOTHERo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

11.o o o CWP-475-2022o(O&M)oo o ASHISHoKUMARo o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

12.o o o CWP-13291-2022o(O&M)oo o NEHAo o o o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o

13.o o o CWP-3681-2023o(O&M)oo o ABHIMANYUoMALIKo o o o o o ……..oPetitioner(s)o V/So o STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ….......Respondent(s)o o ****o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMAo o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTAo o Present:o Mr.oRahuloMakkar,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-16904-2021.o o Mr.oSarthakoGupta,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-6731-2024.o o o o Mr.oR.S.oMalik,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)o inoCWP-17818-2024,oCWP-10323-2021oandoCWP-1319-2022.o o Mr.oS.S.oNain,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-19247-2024.o o

o o o Pageo3oofo25o o

o o Mr.oChiragoKundu,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)o inoCWP-23138-2024oandoCWP-475-2022.o o Mr.oWaziroSingh,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-27686-2024.o o Mr.oSureshoKumaroKaushik,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-140-2022.o o Mr.oMazlishoKhan,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-1846-2022.o o Mr.oR.S.oSaroha,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-13291-2022.o o Mr.oMandeepoSinghoKundu,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s)oinoCWP-3681-2023.o o o o Mr.oPankajoMiddha,oAddl.oA.G.,oHaryanaowitho o o Ms.oShrutioJainoGoyal,oSr.oDAG,oHaryana.o o Ms.oNiktiaoGoel,oAdvocateoforotheorespondents-UHBVNLo inoCWP-6731-2024.o o Mr.oVivekoChauhan,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.3-UHBVNLoinoCWP-19247-2024oandoo fororespondentoNo.3-DHBVNLoinoCWP-23138-2024.o o o ******o o SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA,oJ.o o o o

1.l Allo theseo connectedo Writo Petitionso areo beingo decidedo byo thiso commonoorderoasotheochallengeoinoallotheoWritoPetitionsoisotootheonotificationo datedo11.06.2019owherebyotheoStateoofoHaryanaohasoissuedoaosociooeconomico criteriaograntingobonusomarksotoocertainoclassoofopersons.oFurtherochallenge,oino someo ofo theo Writo Petitions,o iso too theo resulto datedo 30.04.2021o compliedo byo grantingomarksoinotermsoofosociooeconomicocriteria.o

2.l Theo factso areo beingo noticedo fromo theo Writo Petitiono bearingoooooooooooooooo CWPoNo.16904oofo2021otitledoasoNeerajoVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoAnother.o

o o o Pageo4oofo25o o

3.l Ano advertisemento waso beingo releasedo ono 11.06.2019o byo theo respondent-HaryanaoStaffoSelectionoCommissiono(hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo "Commission')o foro fillingo upo severalo postso foro theo Dakshino Haryanao Bijlio VitranoNigamo(DHBVN)oincludingo146opostsoofoJunioroSystemoEngineer.oTheo qualificationso requiredo foro theo saido postso wereo B.E./B.Techo (IT/Computero Science/Electronicso ando Communications)o oro MCAo oro M.Sc.o (ITo Computero Science/Application/Electronicso ando Communications)o fromo ao recognizedo UniversityooroInstitutionowithominimumo60%omarksoandoHindi/Sanskritoasooneo ofo theo subjecto ino Matriculationo oro Highero classo witho relaxationo too theo incumbentso whoo haveo beeno engagedo ono consultingo basis.o Theo criteriao ofo selection,oexaminationoandosyllabusowasomentionedoinotheoadvertisementowitho writtenoexamoofo90omarksoandograntingoofoupto10omarksoforosociooeconomico criteriaoandoexperience.o

4.l Asoperotheoreplyofiledobyotheorespondent-Commission,otheoresultoofo theowrittenoexaminationoforotheopostoinoquestionowasodeclaredoono06.11.2020o andotheopetitionerowasocalledoforoscrutinyoofodocumentsoono11.11.2020oando

12.11.2020.oHeohadoappliedoforotheoconcernedopostounderotheoGeneralo(DESM)o category.oHeowasofoundoeligibleoinotheoscrutinyoofodocuments.oAlthoughoheohaso scoredo89omarksooutoofo90omarks,oasoperotheoCommissionowhileotheopetitionero claimothatoheohasoscoredo90ooutoofo90omarks.oHeowasokeptoinotheowaitingolistoofo Ex-servicemano(General)oasonoopostoofoEx-servicemanowasofoundovacantoando cutooffoforoEx-servicemano@o53ofilledoupoallotheoposts.oInotheoGeneralocategory,o theopetitionerowasoconsidered,obutotheolastoselectedocandidate,ounderotheoGeneralo categoryo ino theo maino list,osecuredo93o markso andoino waitingolistosecuredo92o

o o o Pageo5oofo25o o

marksorespectivelyoandotheopetitioner,otherefore,ocouldofoundoplaceoinomerit.o Thereafter,oheohasochallengedotheonotificationodatedo11.06.2019owherebyo10o bonusomarksowereoassignedoforotheosociooeconomicocriteriaoandoexperience.o

5.l Sinceo theo petitionero dido noto comeo withino theo ambito ofo socioo economicocriteriaoandoexperience,oheofailedotooreceiveoanyobonusomarks,owhileo candidatesogettingobenefitoofosociooeconomicocriteriaoandoexperienceomarchedo overohimoalthoughotheyosecuredolesseromarksoinotheowrittenoexaminationothano him.oTheocontentionowasoraisedobyotheopetitionerothatotheobasisoofoprovidingo sociooeconomicocriteriaoandoexperienceoareoarbitraryoandounjustifiedoandowouldo notocomeowithinotheoambitoofonormsoofoequalityoclauseounderoArticleso14oando16o ofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.o

6.l Thiso Courto whileo issuingo noticeo ofo motiono inoo CWP-16904-2021o ono 01.09.2021o directedo thato "selection,o ifo any,o beo madeo meanwhileoshallobeosubjectotoodecisionoofothisowritopetition".o

7.l AoreplyowasofiledotootheoWritoPetitionobyotheoCommissionostatingo thatosociooeconomicocriteriaobenefitoworkoonotheoprincipleoofosalusopopulioesto supremaolexomeaningowelfareoofotheopeopleoinotheosupremeolaw.oItoisofurthero submittedoinotheoreplyothatotheosociooeconomicocriteriaoisofollowedoforogreatero goodo ofo societyo aso ao whole.o Individualo interesto cannoto beo consideredo moreo importanto thano interesto ofo theo society.o Further,o ouro societyo iso ao diversifiedo societyo ando socioo economico criteriao iso adoptedo soo thato thereo iso equitableo distributionoofobenefitoandoopportunitiesoamongoallotheosectionsoofotheosociety.o

8.l Theo respondentso alsoo reliedo ono earliero judgmento passedo byo theo Divisiono Bencho ofo thiso Courto ino Deepako Kumaro ando Otherso Vs.o Stateo ofo

o o o Pageo6oofo25o o

Haryanao ando Another;o CWP-10792-2018o decidedo ono 07.12.2018o whicho appreciatedotheowisdomoofotheoStateoofoHaryanaoinograntingobonusomarksoforo theo posto ofo constableo holdingo thato sucho ao benefito iso noto beingo providedo anywhereoelseobyoanyoStateoinoIndia.o

9.l Learnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersohasoreliedo uponotheojudgmentoofothisoCourtopassedoinoCWPoNo.1563oofo2024otitledoaso SukritioMalikoVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoandoconnectedomattersodecidedo ono31.05.2024owhereosociooeconomicocriteriaonotifiedobyotheoStateoGovernmento videonotificationodatedo05.05.2022owasoquashedoandosetoasideoandograntingoofo bonusomarksograntedoonotheobasisoofosociooeconomicocriteriaowasoheldoviolativeo ofoArticleso14,o15oando16oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.o

10.l Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersosubmitothatotheorespondent-StateoitselfohasoacceptedotheojudgmentopassedoinotheoSukritioMalikoo(Supra)oando ino caseso relatingo too theo presento advertisemento datedo 11.06.2019,o candidateso wereo deprivedo ofo benefito ofo socioo economico criteriao ando whereo theo learnedo SingleoBenchoallowedotoogiveothemotheobenefitoofosociooeconomicocriteria,otheo sameowereocontestedoinoAppealsoandointerimoorderohasobeenopassedoinofavouroofo theoStateoinotheosaidoAppeals.oTheoargument,othus,oisobeingoadvancedothatotheo criteriao issuedo byo theo respondentso ofo grantingo 10o bonuso markso foro socio-economicocriteriaoandoexperienceodeservesotoobeodeclaredoultraoviresotootheo ConstitutionoofoIndiaoandotheonotificationodatedo11.06.2019otootheosaidoextento deservesotoobeoquashed.o

11.l Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso submito thato theo illegalityo cannotoallowedotoobeoperpetuatedoandopersonsowhoohaveograntedotheobenefitoofo

o o o Pageo7oofo25o o

socio-economicocriteriaocannotobeoallowedotoobeoplacedooveroandoaboveotheo petitioners,o whoo haveo securedo highero merito ino theo writteno examinationo ando independentoofosocio-economicocriteria,otheyoaloneowouldohaveobeenoappointed.oo

12.l TheoprinciplesolaidodownoinoSukritioMaliko(Supra)owouldoapplyotoo theoearlieroselectionoprocessotoooasotheoWritoPetitionsowereopendingoandotheo ratiooofoaojudgmentohasoaoretrospectiveoeffect.oInothisoregard,orelianceohasobeeno placedoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoKanishko SinhaoandoAnotheroVs.oTheoStateoofoWestoBengaloandoAnother;o2025oINSCo 278o

13.l Ono behalfo ofo theo respondents,o ito iso submittedo thato theo criteriao whichowasoexaminedobyothisoCourtoinoSukritioMaliko(Supra)owasodifferentofromo theocriteriaoinotheopresentocases.oItoisosubmittedothatotheopresentoWritoPetitionso deserveotoobeodismissedoasotheopetitionersohaveochallengedotheocriteriaoprocesso afterotheyohadoparticipatedoinotheoselectionoprocess.oReferenceotootheojudgmentso inosupportothereofowouldobeoconsideredoinotheolateropartoofoouroorder.o

14.l Ito iso alsoo urgedo thato aso theo socio-economico criteriao haso beeno appliedotootheoentireoselectionoprocessoandoseveralocandidatesohaveoalreadyobeeno appointedoonotheobasisoofotheomeritopreparedowhileoincludingotheobonusomarks,o theosameooughtonotobeodisturbed.o

15.l Weohaveoconsideredotheosubmissions.o

16.l InoManishoKumaroShahioVs.oStateoofoBiharoandoOtherso;o(2010)o 12oSCCo576.,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtohasoheldothatoonceotheocandidateohado participatedoinotheoselectionoprocessoandoremainedounsuccessful,ohe/sheocouldo

o o o Pageo8oofo25o o

noto turn-aroundo ando challengeo theo selectiono criteriao subsequently,o whileo observingoasounder:-o o "16.o WeoalsooagreeowithotheoHighoCourtothatoafterohavingo takenopartoinotheoprocessoofoselectionoknowingofullyowellothatomoreo thano 19%o markso haveo beeno earmarkedo foro vivao voceo test,o theo petitioneroisonotoentitledotoochallengeotheocriteriaooroprocessoofo selection.o Surely,o ifo theo petitioner'so nameo hado appearedo ino theo meritolist,o heowouldonotohaveoevenodreamedoofochallengingotheo selection.oTheopetitioneroinvokedojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourto underoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoonlyoafteroheofoundo thatohisonameodoesonotofigureoinotheomeritolistopreparedobyotheo Commission.oThisoconductoofotheopetitioneroclearlyodisentitlesohimo fromoquestioningotheoselectionoandotheoHighoCourtodidonotocommito anyoerrorobyorefusingotooentertainotheowritopetition."o o

17.l InoRameshoChandraoShaho&OrsoVs.oAniloJoshio&Orso;2013o(11)o SCCo309,oapplyingotheoprinciplesoofowaiveroandoestoppelowithoregardotootheo challengeotootheoprocessoofoselectionoandoadvertisement,obyocandidatesowhoohado participatedoinotheoselectionoprocess,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoaso under:-o o o "24.o Inoviewoofotheopropositionsolaidodownoinotheoaboveo notedojudgments,oitomustobeoheldothatobyohavingotakenopartoinotheo processoofoselectionowithofulloknowledgeothatotheorecruitmentowaso beingomadeounderotheoGeneraloRules,otheorespondentsohadowaivedo theiro righto too questiono theo advertisemento oro theo methodologyo adoptedobyotheoBoardoforomakingoselectionoandotheolearnedoSingleo JudgeoandotheoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHighoCourtocommittedograveo errorobyoentertainingotheogrievanceomadeobyotheorespondents."o o

18.l InoAshokoKumaroSharmao&Ors.oVs.oTheoStateoOfoBiharo&Ors.o;o

(2017)o4oSCCo357,otheoApexoCourtowasoofotheoviewothatoonceotheocandidateoiso putotoonoticeoregardingotheomethodoandomanneroofotheoselectionoprocess,oando

o o o Pageo9oofo25o o

willinglyoparticipates,oheocannototurnoaroundoandochallengeotheosaidoselectiono processoandotheoWritoPetitionowouldonotobeomaintainable.oTheorelevantoextracto ofotheosaidojudgmentoisoreproducedoasounder:-o o o 13.o Theo lawo ono theo subjecto haso beeno crystallisedo ino severalodecisionsoofothisoCourt.oInoChandraoPrakashoTiwariov.o ShakuntalaoShukla;o(2002)o6oSCCo127,othisoCourtolaidodownotheo principleo thato wheno ao candidateo appearso ato ano examinationo withoutoobjectionoandoisosubsequentlyofoundotoobeonotosuccessful,o ao challengeo too theo processo iso precluded.o Theo questiono ofo entertainingo ao petitiono challengingo ano examinationo wouldo noto ariseowhereoaocandidateohasoappearedoandoparticipated.oHeooro sheo cannoto subsequentlyo turno aroundo ando contendo thato theo processowasounfairoorothatothereowasoaolacunaotherein,omerelyo becauseo theo resulto iso noto palatable.o Ino Uniono ofo Indiao v.o S.o VinodhoKumar;(2007)o8oSCCo100,othisoCourtoheldothat:o o "18.o Ito iso alsoo wello settledo thato thoseo candidateso whoohadotakenopartoinotheoselectionoprocessoknowingofullyo wellotheoprocedureolaidodownothereinowereonotoentitledotoo questionotheosame.o(SeeoMunindraoKumarov.oRajivoGovilo

(1991)o 3o SCCo 368o ando Rashmio Mishrao v.o M.P.o Publico ServiceoCommissiono(2006)o12oSCCo724.)"o o

19.l Theolawoinothisoregardoisowellosettledoandonoofurtherojudgmentsoareo requiredotoobeonoticed.oHowever,oasoweohaveoalreadyonoticed,otheoselectionsoando appointmentomadeoinotheoadvertisementoareosubjectotootheodecisionoofotheoWrito Petitiono (CWP-16904-2021),o therefore,o theo aforesaido principleo ofo estoppelo wouldohaveonooapplicationoandowe,otherefore,owouldonotoacceptotheocontentiono ofotheoStateotoodismissedotheseoWritoPetitionsoonotheogroundothatotheopetitionerso haveoparticipatedoinotheoselectionoprocess,osinceotheiroparticipationoisosubjectotoo theofinalooutcome.oMoreover,oifotheoprocessoadoptedobyotheoStateodoesonotofallo

o o o Pageo10oofo25o o

withinofourocornersoofotheoethosoofotheoConstitutionoandoequalityoclause,oono technicalogrounds,otheoWritoPetitionsocannotobeodismissed.oo

20.l InoaorecentojudgmentopassedobyotheoApexoCourtoinoKanishkoSinhao andoAnotheroVs.oTheoStateoofoWestoBengaloandoAnother;o2025oINSCo278,oito hasobeenoheldothatoordinarily,oallotheojudgmentsopassedobyotheoCourtsolayingo downo ao law,o willo haveo ao retrospectiveo effecto unlesso declaredo otherwiseo specificallyobyotheoCourt.o

21.l Witho regardo too theo Statute,o onceo ito iso declaredo ultrao vires,o theo provisiono wouldo beo treatedo too haveo beeno deletedo ab-initio,o i.e.o fromo itso inception.oo

22.l Ito iso noticedo thato theo socio-economico criteriao whicho weo haveo consideredoinotheocaseoofoSukritioMaliko(Supra)oowasoquashedoandoweohaveo heldoasounder:-o o o "79.o Keepingoinoviewoouroaforementionedofindings,oweoconcludeoaso under:-o A)l Theosociooeconomicocriteriaointroducedovideoamendmento notificationo datedo 05.05.2022o iso quashedo ando seto aside.o Theobonusomarksograntedoonotheobasisoofosociooeconomico criteriaoheldotoobeoviolativeoofoArticleso14,o15oando16oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia.o B)l CEToresultodeclaredoono10.01.2023oasowelloasosubsequento resultodatedo25.07.2023oareoquashed.oItoisodirectedothato theofreshomeritoshallobeonowopreparedosolelyoonotheobasiso ofotheoCETomarksoofotheocandidatesowhoohaveoappearedoino theo same.o Makingo ito aso ao basis,o theo State/Commissiono shallo nowo issueo ao fresho advertisemento foro fillingo upo variouso postso ando eacho candidateo shallo beo allowedo too applyostrictlyoinoaccordanceowithotheoRulesoforotheopostso andoifomoreothanofourotimesoapplicantsoareoavailableoforo

o o o Pageo11oofo25o o

theoposts,otheorespondentsomayolayodownoaocut-offoofotheo CETo foro theo purposeo ofo participation.o Theo Ruleso foro examinationoshalloaccordinglyofollow.oTheoresultoshallobeo declaredoaccordingly.oo C)l Thoseocandidates,owhoohaveobeenoappointedoonovariouso postsoonotheobasisoofotheoearlieroresult,oshallobeoallowedotoo participateoinotheofreshoselectionoprocessoifotheyofalloinotheo newomeritolistoofotheoCET.oTillofreshoselectionoisopreparedo theyoshallobeoallowedotoocontinueotooperformotheirodutieso onotheopostsotoowhichotheyohaveoappointed.oHowever,oifo theyoareonotoselectedoultimatelyoinotheofreshoprocess,otheyo shallohaveotooleaveotheopostsoandotheiroappointmentsoshallo standoterminatedoforthwith.oNoorightoshallobeocreatedoino theirofavouroonoaccountoofocontinuingoonotheopostsonorowillo theyo beo entitledo too claimo anyo benefito ono accounto ofo theo sameoexceptotheosalaryoforotheoperiododuringowhichotheyo performotheiroduties.o D)l Keepingo ino viewo ouro findingso relatingo too conductingo ofo examinationowithoutodeclaringotheoresultoofoCETofinallyobyo theoCommission,oweodirectotheoChiefoSecretary,oHaryanao too takeo stepso too appointo ao suitableo candidateo havingo experienceoofoconductingoexaminationsoasoSecretaryoofotheo Haryanao Staffo Selectiono likeo theo Controllero ofo ExaminationsoofoanyoStateoUniversities.oo E)l Ino ordero too maintaino transparencyo ando consistency,o theo CommissionoisohenceforthodirectedotooframeoRulesoofotheo Commissiono foro conductingo ofo itso examinationso withouto leavingoanyodiscretionoforoitsoofficialsooroMembersotootakeo decisionsoonotheirowhimsoandofanciesowhichohasoresultedo inotheopresentolitigation.oo F)l Theoexerciseoshallobeocompletedoafreshopositivelyowithinoao periodoofosixomonths.o o o 80.o AllotheoWritoPetitionsoareoaccordinglyoallowedoandoallotheo LPAsoareodismissed."o

o o o Pageo12oofo25o o

o

23.l Theo ordero passedo byo thiso Courto ino theo caseo ofo Sukritio Maliko (Supra)ohasobeenoupheldobyotheoApexoCourtoinoSLP(C)oNo.13275-13277oofo 2024.o

24.l TheoStateoofoHaryanaovideonotificationodatedo11.06.2019oaddedo followingoclauseoinoplaceoofoexistingoClauseo(d)oinoparao6oofotheonotificationo datedo28.01.2017oasoundero:-o "HARYANAoGOVERNMENTo GENERALoADMINISTRATIONoDEPARTMENToo (GENERALSERVICES)o Notificationo Theo11thoJune,o2019o o No.o G.S.R.o 25/Const./Art.309/2019.-o Ino exerciseo ofo theo powerso conferredobyotheoprovideotooarticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,otheo Governoro ofo Haryanao herebyo makeso theo followingo amendmento ino theo Haryanao Government,o Generalo Administrationo Departmento (Generalo Services),o Notificationo No.o 523-3GS-70/2068,o datedo theo 28tho January,o 1970,onamely:o AMENDMENTo o InotheoHaryanaoGovernment,oGeneraloAdministrationoDepartment,o Generalo Services,o Notificationo No.523-3GS-70/2068,o datedo theo 28tho January,o1970,oinoparao6,oforoclauseo(d),otheofollowingoclausesohallobeo substituted,onamelyo "(d)oo (i)oo Theo selectiono ando recommendationo ofo theo nameso ofo theo candidateso belongingo too Groupo Bo postso viz.o Teacher,o Educationalo supervisor,o Teachero Educatoro ino Schoolo Educationo Departmento ando GroupoCopostsoinoallodepartmentsoshallobeodoneoonotheobasisoofowritteno exam,osocio-economicocriteriaoandoexperience.o o (ii)o Theo Commissiono shallo beo ato libertyo too seto theo numbero ofo questions,omarksoperoquestionoandodurationoofowrittenoexamination.oTheo schemeoofomarksoinorespectoofoselectionotootheopostoshallocompriseoofototalo 100omarks,oasodetailedobelow,onamely:-o Sr.No.o Subjecto Markso 1o Writtenoexamo 90o 2o Soci-economicocriteriaoandoexperienceo 10o

o o o Pageo13oofo25o o

o o (iii)oTheo90omarksoforowrittenoexamoshallobeodividedointootwoo partso comprisingo

(a)o 75%o weightageo foro Generalo Awareness,o Reasoning,o Maths,o Science,o Computer,o English,o Hindio ando concernedo oro relevanto subject,oasoapplicable;o

(b)o 25%o weightageo foro History,o Currento Affairs,o Literature,o Geography,oCivics,oEnvironment,oCultureoetc.oofoHaryana.o

(iv)oTheo10omarksoforosocio-economicocriteriaoandoexperienceoshallo beoallocatedoasofollows,-o o (a)oifoneitherotheoapplicantonoroanyopersonofromoamongotheo applicant'sofamilyovizofather,omother,ospouse,obrothersoandosonsois,o waso oro haso beeno ao regularo employeeo ino anyo Departmento Boardo Corporation/oCompany/oStatutoryoBodyoCommission/oAuthorityoofo Governmento ofo Haryanao oro anyo othero Stateo Governmento oro theo GovernmentoofoIndia;o (05omarks)o o (b)oo ifotheoapplicantois,-o o o (i)oaoWidow;ooro

(ii)o theo firsto oro theo secondo childo ando hiso fathero hado diedo beforeoattainingotheoageoofofortyotwooyears;ooro

(iii)otheo firsto orotheosecondo childoandohisofatherohadodiedo beforeotheoapplicantohadoattainedotheoageoofofifteenoyears,o (05omarks)o o (c)oo ifotheoapplicantobelongsotoosuchoaodenotifiedotribeo(Vimukto JatisoandoTapriwasoJatis)ooroNomadicotribeoofotheoStateoofoHaryanao whichoisoneitheroaoScheduledoCasteonoroaoBackwardoClass:o (05omarks)o

(d)oExperience:oOne-halfo(?0.5)omarkoforoeachoyearooropartothereofo exceedingosixomonthsoofoexperience,ooutoofoaomaximumoofosixteeno years,o ono theo sameo oro ao highero posto ino anyo Department/Boardo Corporation/o Company/o Statutoryo Body/Commission/Authorityo ofo Governmento ofo Haryana.o Noo markso shallo beo awardedo foro anyo periodolessothanosixomonths.o o o o o (maximumo8omarks)o

o o o Pageo14oofo25o o

o Note:oNooapplicantoshallobeogivenomoreothanoaototaloofo10omarksoforo socio-economicocriteriaoandoexperienceounderoanyocircumstances."o D.oS.oDHESI,o ChiefoSecretaryotooGovernment,oHaryana."o o

25.l Asoperotheoaboveonotification,owhileo90omarksohaveobeenoawardedo forotheowrittenoexamination,o10omarksoareoallottedoforosociooeconomicocriteriao andoexperience.oOutoofototalo10omarks,omaximumo05omarksowouldobeoawardedo tooanoapplicantowhoohasonoooneoinofamilyoaoregularoemployeeowithotheoStateo Government/Department/Board/Corporation/Companyo aso mentionedo ino categoryo (a)o ofo theo Clauseo (iv).o Similarly,o maximumo 05o markso wouldo beo allottedotooanoapplicantowhoofallsounderocategoryo(b)oofoclauseo(iv)onamelyo widowoorotheofirstoorosecondochild,owhoseofatherodiedoeitherobeforeoheoattainedo theoageoofo42oyearsoorowhereotheoapplicantoattainedotheoageoofo15oyears.o05o marksohaveobeenoallottedotootheoapplicantobelongingotootheonomadicotribesoaso mentionedoinocategoryo(c)oofoClauseo(iv)oando8omarksohaveobeenoallottedoforo experience,oone-halfo(=0.5omark)oforoeachoyearotooanoapplicantowhoohasobeenoano employeeoasomentionedoinoCategoryo(d).oInotheonoteothereof,oaoriderowasoalsoo mentionedo thato undero anyo circumstances,o maximumo 10o markso wouldo beo awardedotooanoapplicantoforobothoexperienceoandosociooeconomicocriteria.oo

26.l Theoconceptoofograntingospecialobonusomarksoonocriteriaootherothano aso laido downo ino theo Constitutiono ofo India,o haso beeno examinedo ato lengtho ino KailashoChandoSharmaoVs.oStateoofoRajasthanoandoOthers;o2002o(6)oSCCo 562,otheoapexoCourt.oTheoApexoCourtohasoconsideredotheoquestionowhetherotheo domicilesoofotheoparticularodistrictsoofotheoStateoofoRajasthanocouldobeogiveno extraobonusomarksoinotheoselectionoprocessoonlyoonotheobasisooforesidenceoando

o o o Pageo15oofo25o o

whethero theo saido exerciseo waso constitutionallyo valido wheno testedo ono theo touchstoneoofoArticleso14oando16oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oandoheldoasounder o "Weohaveonoodoubtothatosuchoaosweepingoargumentowhicho hasotheoovertonesoofoparochialismoisoliableotoobeorejectedoonotheo plainotermsoofoArticleo16(2)oandoinotheolightoofoArticleo16(3).oAno argumentoofothisonatureofliesoinotheofaceoofotheoperemptoryolanguageo ofo Articleo 16(2)o ando runso countero too ouro constitutionalo ethoso foundedo ono unityo ando integrityo ofo theo nation.o Attemptso too prefero candidatesoofoaolocaloareaoinotheoStateowereonippedoinotheobudobyo thisoCourtosinceolongopast.oWeowouldolikeotooreiterateothatoresidenceo byoitselfo—obeoitowithinoaoState,oregion,odistrictoorolesseroareaowithino aodistrictocannotobeoaogroundotooaccordopreferentialotreatmentooro reservation,osaveoasoprovidedoinoArticleo16(3).oItoisonotopossibleotoo compartmentalizeo theo Stateo intoo districtso witho ao viewo too offero employmento too theo residentso ofo thato districto ono ao preferentialo basis."o

27.l InoPardeepoJainoVs.oUnionoofoIndiao;o1984oAIRo(SC)1420,otheo SupremeoCourtohasoobservedoasounder:-o

22.o Soo mucho foro admissiono too theo M.B.B.S.o course,o buto differentoconsiderationsomustoprevailowhenoweocomeotooconsidero theoquestionooforeservationobasedoonoresidenceorequirementowithino theo Stateo oro ono institutionalo preferenceo foro admissiono too posto graduateo courses,o sucho as,o M.D.,o M.S.o ando theo like.o Thereo weo cannoto allowo excellenceo too beo compromisedo byo anyo othero considerationsobecauseothatowouldobeodetrimentalotootheointeresto ofotheonation.oItowasorightlyopointedooutobyoKrishnaoIyer,oJ.oino JagdishoSaran'socase,oandoweowhollyoendorseowhatoheohasosaid:o "Theo basico medicalo needso ofo ao regiono oro theo preferentialopushojustifiedoforoaohandicappedogroupocannoto prevailo ino theo sameo measureo ato theo highesto scaleo ofo specialityohereotheobestoskilloorotalent,omustobeohandpickedo byoselectingoaccordingotoocapability.oAtotheoleveloofoPh.oD.,o

o o o Pageo16oofo25o o

M.D.,oorolevelsoofohigheroproficiency,owhereointernationalo measureoofotalentoisomade,owhereolosingooneogreatoscientisto oro technologisto ino theo makingo iso ao nationalo losso theo considerationsoweohaveoexpendedouponoasoimportantolosso theiro potency.o Hereo equality,o measuredo byo matchingo excellence,ohasomoreomeaningoandocannotobeodilutedomucho withoutograveorisk."o "Ifoequalityoofoopportunityoforoeveryopersonoinotheo countryoisotheoconstitutionaloguarantee,oaocandidateowhoo getsomoreomarksothenoanotheroisoentitledotoopreferenceoforo admission.oMeritomustobeotheotestowhenochoosingotheobest,o accordingotoothisoruleoofoequalochanceoforoequalomarks.o Thisopropositionohasogreateroimportanceowhenoweoreacho theohigherolevelsoofoeducationolikeopost-graduateocourses.o Afteroall,otopotechnologicaloexpertiseoinoanyovitalofieldolikeo medicineo iso ao nation'so humano asseto withouto whicho itso advanceoandodevelopmentowillobeostunted.oTheoroleoofohigho gradeoskilloorospecialotalentomayobeolessoatotheolesserolevelso ofoeducation,ojobsonoodisciplinesoofosocialoinconsequence,o butomoreoatotheohigherolevelsoofosophisticatedoskillsoando strategicoemployment.oToodevalueomeritoatotheosummitoisotoo temporizeowithotheocountry'sodevelopmentoinotheovitaloareaso ofoprofessionaloexpertise.oInoscienceoandotechnologyoando otherospecializedofieldsoofodevelopmentalosignificance,otoo relaxolazilyooroeasilyoinoregardotooexactingostandardsoofo performanceomayobeorunningoaograveonationaloriskobecauseo ino advancedo medicineo ando othero criticalo departmentso ofo higheroknowledge,ocrucialotoomaterialoprogress,otheopeopleo ofoIndiaoshouldonotobeodeniedotheobestotheonation'sotalento lyingolatentocanoproduce.oIfotheobestopotentialoinotheseofieldso isocold-oshoulderedoforopopulistoconsiderationsogarbedoaso reservations,o theo victims,o ino theo longo run,o mayo beo theo peopleothemselves.oOfocourse,othisounrelentingostrictnessoino selectingotheobestomayonotobeosooimperativeoatootherolevelso

o o o Pageo17oofo25o o

whereoaobroadomeasureoofoefficiencyomayobeogoodoenougho andowhatoisoneededoisomerelyotooweedooutotheoworthless."o "Secondly,oandomoreo importantly,oitoisodifficultotoo denounceo oro renounceo theo merito criteriono wheno theo selectionoisoforopostograduateooropostodoctoralocoursesoino specializedosubjects.oThereoisonoosubstituteoforosheeroflair,o foro creativeo talent,o foro fine-tuneo performanceo ato theo difficultohighestoofosomeodisciplinesowhereotheobestoaloneoiso likelyo too blossomo aso theo best.o Too sympathizeo mawkishlyo witho theo weakero sectionso byo selectingo substandardo candidates,oisotoopunishosocietyoasoaowholeobyodenyingotheo prospecto ofo excellenceo sayo ino hospitalo service.o Eveno theo poorest,o wheno strickeno byo criticalo illness,o needso theo attentionoofosuper-skilledospecialists,onotohumdrumosecond-rates.o Soo ito iso thato relaxationo ono merit,o byo overo rulingo equalityoandoqualityoallotogether,oisoaosocialoriskowhereotheo stageoisopostograduateooropost-doctoral."o o Theseo passageso fromo theo judgmento ofo Krishnao Iyer,o J.o clearlyo ando forciblyo expresso theo sameo viewo whicho weo haveo independentlyoreachedoonoouroownoandoindeedothatoviewohasobeeno sooablyoexpressedoinotheseopassagesothatoweodoonotothinkoweocano usefullyoaddoanythingotoowhatohasoalreadyobeenosaidothere.oWeo mayo pointo outo thato theo Indiano Medicalo Councilo haso alsoo emphasizedothatoplayingowithomerit,osoofaroasoadmissionsotooposto graduateocoursesoareoconcerned,oforopamperingolocalofeeling,owillo boomerang.o Weo mayo witho advantageo reproduceo theo recommendationo ofo theo Indiano Medicalo Councilo ono thiso pointo whichomayonotobeotheolastowordoinosocialowisdomobutoisocertainlyo worthyoofoconsideration:o "Studento foro post-graduateo trainingo shouldo beo selectedostrictlyoonomeritojudgedoonotheobasisoofoacademico recordoinotheoundergraduateocourse.oAlloselectionoforopost-graduateostudiesoshouldobeoconductedobyotheoUniversities."o o

o o o Pageo18oofo25o o

Theo Medicalo Educationo Reviewo Committeeo haso alsoo expressedotheoopinionothato"alloadmissionsotootheopost-graduateo coursesoinoanyoinstitutionoshouldobeoopenotoocandidatesoonoanoallo Indiaobasisoandothereoshouldobeonoorestrictionoregardingodomicileo inotheoState/UToinowhichotheoinstitutionoisolocated."oSooalsooinotheo policyo statemento filedo byo theo leanedo Attorneyo General,o theo GovernmentoofoIndiaohasocategoricallyoexpressedotheoviewothat:o "Soo faro aso admissionso too theo institutionso ofo post-o graduateo collegeso ando specialo professionalo collegeso iso concerned,oitoshouldobeoentirelyoonotheobasisoofoalloIndiao merito subjecto too constitutionalo reservationso ino favouro ofo ScheduledoCastesoandoScheduledoTribes."o o Weoare,otherefore,oofotheoviewothatosoofaroasoadmissionsotoo post-graduateo courses,o sucho aso M.S.,o M.D.o ando theo likeo areo concerned,oitowouldobeoeminentlyodesirableonototooprovideoforoanyo reservationobasedoonoresidenceorequirementowithinotheoStateooroono institutionalo preference.o But,o havingo regardo too bordero considerationso ofo equalityo ofo opportunityo ando institutionalo continuityoinoeducationowhichohasoitsoownoimportanceoandovalue,o weo wouldo directo thato thougho residenceo requiremento withino theo Stateoshallonotobeoaogroundofororeservationoinoadmissionsotooposto graduateo courses,o ao certaino percentageo ofo seatso mayo ino theo presentocircumstances,obeoreservedoonotheobasisoofoinstitutionalo preferenceoinotheosenseothatoaostudentowhoohasopassedoM.B.B.S.o courseo fromo ao medicalo collegeo oro universityo mayo beo giveno preferenceoforoadmissionotootheopost-graduateocourseoinotheosameo medicalocollegesoorouniversityobutosuchoreservationoonotheobasisoofo institutionalo preferenceo shouldo noto ino anyo evento exceedo 50o pero centoofotheototalonumberoofoopenoseatsoavailableoforoadmissionotoo theopost-ograduateocourse.oThisoouterolimitowhichoweoareofixingo willoalsoobeosubjectotoorevisionoonotheolowerosideobyotheoIndiano MedicaloCounciloinotheosameomanneroasodirectedobyousoinotheocaseo ofo admissionso too theo M.B.B.S.o course.o But,o eveno ino regard,o too admissionsotootheopost-graduateocourse,oweowouldodirectothatosoo

o o o Pageo19oofo25o o

faroasosuperospecialtiesosuchoasoneurosurgeryoandocardiologyoareo concerned,othereoshouldobeonooreservationoatoalloevenoonotheobasiso ofo institutionalo preferenceo ando admissionso shouldo beo grantedo purelyoonomeritoonoalloIndiaobasis."o o

28.l Weo furthero findo thato theo respondents-Stateo haso conductedo theo entireoselectionoinoaowhollyoslipshodomanner.oTheonotificationoofograntingotheo 10obonusomarksoforosociooeconomicocriteriaoandoexperienceoisonotobasedoonoanyo RulesoframedounderotheoprovisootooArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oItoiso alsoo noticedo thato noo datao waso collectedo beforeo layingo downo sucho ao socioo economicocriteria.oWeofurtherofindothatoonceotheoreservationsohaveoalreadyobeeno providedostatutorilyounderotheoEWSocategory,oasowelloasoonoaccountoofosocialo backwardnessobyoprovidingoreservationoforobackwardoclass,ofurtherograntingo benefitounderosociooeconomicocriteriaowouldoleadotoobreachoofo50%oceilingolimito asolaidodownoinoIndiraoSawhneyoVsoUnionoOfoIndiaoAndoOrso;oAIRo2000o SupremeoCourto498oandorecognizedobyotheoConstitutionoframersowhileomakingo amendmentoinoArticleo16o(4)o(b).oThisoCourtofindsothatowhatocannotobeodoneo directlyocannotobeodoneoindirectly.o

29.l Ino theo caseo ofo Sukritio Maliko (Supra),o thiso Courto haso heldo aso under:-o o "31.oThisoCourtofindsothatotheosociooeconomicocriteriaowhicho haso beeno introducedo byo theo respondentso iso clearlyo ano acto ofo arbitrarinessoandodiscriminationocreatedotootheosimilarlyosituatedo personsoandonoopersonooughtotoobeogivenobenefits.oTheonotificationo datedo05.05.2022,owherebyomarksohaveobeenograntedoonotheobasiso sociooeconomicocriteria,oisoclearlyounjustified.oItoisosubmittedothato theograntingoofo10omarksoonotheobasisoofosociooeconomicocriteriao experienceo completelyo changeso theo resulto ofo ao competitiveo

o o o Pageo20oofo25o o

examination.oMarksohaveobeenoallottedotoothoseoapplicantsowhoseo fatherodiedoorowhooisoaowidowoorowhooisofromoVimuktoJaatioando TeprivasoJaati.oItoisoonlyoavailableotooaopersonowhooisohavingoao Haryanao domicileo ando placeo ofo residenceo whicho iso completelyo againstotheoprovisionsoofotheoConstitution.oWeofindothatotheolawohaso beenowellosettledobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtothatoweightageoono theobasisooforesidenceocannotobeoallowedotoobeogranted.oTheoRighto tooEquality,oasoenshrinedoinotheoConstitution,ohasobeenoviolatedoando ao classo haso beeno createdo basedo ono theo familyo backgroundo simplicitoro whicho doeso noto haveo anyo intangibleo differentia.o Theo candidatesowhoseoparentsoareoinoGovernmentojob,owouldobeodeniedo 5%oweightageowhileotheowardoofoaoshopokeeperooroaoprivateojobo holderowouldobeoentitledoforo5%oweightageoandowardoofoaonurseooro peonodoctoroemployedoinotheoStateoGovernmentowouldobeodeniedotheo saidobenefit.o o XXXXoXXXXXXXXo o XXXXoXXXXXXXXo o 40.oWhileoprincipallyoweoagreeothatotheoStateohasotoofollowo theoprovisionsowhichoareoforotheowelfareoofotheopeople,obutotheyo cannoto createo ano artificialo classificationo whicho resultso ino discriminationobetweenosimilarlyoplacedopersons.oAllotheocandidateso whooapplyoforotheopostoareoequallyoentitledotooselectionobasedoonotheo commonoexaminationoconductedoforoall.oGrantingoadditionalomarkso toopersonsowhooareolocallyoplacedoandowhoohaveoHaryanaoParivaro PehchanoPataroinotheiropossession,oreflectsothatowhileotheoStateohaso deletedo theo wordso "whoo iso bonafideo residentso ofo Haryana"o byo makingoanoamendmentoono20.02.2023,otheorequirementocontinueso underotheosociooeconomicocriteriaoforograntoofomarks."o o

30.l Ino Krishnao Raio (Dead)o Througho Lrso &o Ors.o Versuso Banaraso HinduoUniversityoThroughoRegistraro&Ors.o;o2022oLiveoLawo(SC)o553,otheo apexoCourtoexaminedotheoprincipleoofoestoppeloandoacquiescenceoandoheldoaso under:-o

o o o Pageo21oofo25o o

o "22.o However,o theo Divisiono Bencho fello ino erroro ino applyingo theo principleo ofo estoppelo thato theo appellantso havingo appearedoinotheointerviewoandobeingounsuccessfuloproceededotoo challengeo theo sameo ando ono thato groundo alone,o allowedo theo appeals,oset-asideotheojudgmentoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudge.oTheo DivisionoBenchohavingoapprovedotheoreasoningoofotheolearnedo SingleoJudge,ooughtonototoohaveointerferedoinotheojudgmentoofotheo learnedoSingleoJudgeoonoaotechnicaloplea.oTheoDivisionoBencho oughto too haveo consideredo thato theo appellantso wereo Class-IVo employeesoworkingofromo1977oonwardsoandoexpectingofromothemo too haveo raisedo seriouso objectiono oro protesto ato theo stageo ofo interviewo ando understandingo theo principleso ofo changingo theo Ruleso ofo theo game,o waso tooo far-fetched,o unreasonableo ando unwarranted."o o

31.l Thus,o weo findothatotheoselectiono processo hasobeeno "tainted"oono accountoofotheograntingoofobonusomarks.oIfotheobonusomarksoareodeletedofromo theoselectionoprocess,otheomeritoriousocandidatesowouldohaveobeenoselected.o Suchoaoselectionowhichoisosolelyobasedoonoacquiringobonusomarksowouldobeoino violationoofotheoprinciplesoofoequalityoasoenshrinedounderoArticleo14oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.oByocarvingooutoartificialoclassoofoapplicants,owhoowouldo beoentitledotoo05obonusomarks,oasoabove,otheoprinciplesoenshrinedounderoArticleo 16o wouldo stando violated.o Noo othero reservation,o exceptotheooneo aso availableo underoArticleo15oando16oofotheoConstitution,ocanobeolaidodownobyoanyoState.o Anyo processo ofo appeasingo theo peopleo ono theo principleo ofo saluso populio esto supremaolexostandsovitiatedoonotheoanviloofoArticleo14.oNooexerciseowasodoneo beforeo adoptingo sucho ao criteriao ando ino termso ofo judgmento renderedo byo theo Hon'bleoSupremeooCourtoinoM.oNagrajoVs.oUnionoofoIndiao;o2006o(8)oSCCo212.o

o o o Pageo22oofo25o o

32.l However,oweofindothatotheoadvertisementowasoissuedoinotermsoofo theo notificationo ino 2019o ando theo selectiono processo waso overo ino 2022,o ito iso submittedobyotheolearnedoStateocounselothatotheoappointmentsoofotheocandidateso whoohaveoselectedoearlier,oshouldobeosaved.oWe,ohowever,ofindothatoonceotheo criteriaoisofoundotoobeoinoviolationoofotheoArticleso14oando15oofotheoConstitutiono ofoIndia,osuchoselectionoprocessocannotobeosavedomoreoso,oasotheosameowaso continuedobyotheoStateoatotheiroownorisk,osinceotheoCourtoitselfodirectedotheo selectionsotoobeosubjectotootheodecisionoofotheseocases.oAnyoappointmentomadeo thereto,owouldotherefore,oheldotoobeotemporaryoandonoorightocanobeosaidotoohaveo accruedotooanyoofotheocandidate,owhoohasobeenoappointedoearlier.oo

33.l However,oitowouldobeoappositeotoonoticeotheojudgmentoofotheoApexo CourtoinotheocaseoofoRanoVijayoSinghoandoOthersoVs.oStateoofoUttaroPradesho andoOtherso;(2018)o2oSupremeoCourtoCaseso357owhereinothisoCourtohasoheldoaso under:-o o "35.o Havingo weighedo theo optionso beforeo us,o weo areo ofo opinionothatotheomiddleopathoisoperhapsotheobestopathotoobeotakeno undero theo circumstanceso ofo theo case.o Theo middleo patho iso too declareotheothirdosetooforesultsosinceotheoBoardohasoundertakenoao massiveoexerciseounderotheodirectionsoofotheoHighoCourtoandoyeto protectothoseocandidatesomayonowobeodeclaredounsuccessfulobuto areoworkingoasoTrainedoGraduateoTeachersoaoresultoofotheofirsto oro theo secondo declarationo ofo results.o Ito iso alsoo possibleo thato consequento upono theo thirdo declarationo ofo resultso someo newo candidatesomightogetoselectedoandoshouldothatohappen,otheyowillo needo too beo accommodatedo sinceo theyo wereo erroneouslyo noto selectedoonoearlierooccasions.oo o 36.oLearnedocounseloforotheoappellantsocontendedobeforeo uso thato ino caseo hero clientso areo noto selectedo aftero theo thirdo declarationooforesults,otheyowillobeoseriouslyoprejudicedohavingo

o o o Pageo23oofo25o o

workedo aso Trainedo Graduateo Teacherso foro severalo years.o However,o witho theo middleo patho thato weo haveo choseno theiro servicesowillobeoprotectedoand,otherefore,othereoisonoocauseoforo anyo grievanceo byo anyo ofo theo appellants.o Similarly,o thoseo whoo haveo noto beeno selectedo buto unfortunatelyo lefto outo theyo willo beo accommodated."o o

34.l Takingointooconsiderationotheoaforesaidolaw,oweoapplyotheotheoryo ofo"noofault"owithoregardotootheocandidatesowhoowouldobeooustedofromotheomerito listoalthoughotheyohadoclearedotheowrittenoexaminationoandohaveobeenoworkingo foroquiteoaolongotimeonow.oWeoalsoonoticeothatotheocandidates,owhoowouldohaveo beeno appointed,o wento undero ao cumbersomeo selectiono processo ando theiro appointmentsowereomadeoinotermsoofotheomethodoandomanneroofoselectionoaso laidodownoinotheoadvertisement.oAlthough,oweohaveonotoapprovedotheosocioo economicocriteriaoadoptedovideonotificationodatedo11.06.2019,osuchoappointeeso oughtonotobeomadeotoosuffer.oo

35.l Weoalsoonoticeothatoaftero2019,ovacanciesomayobeoavailableowitho theoStateoGovernment.oWe,otherefore,osaveotheiroappointmentsowithoaoconditiono thatotheyowouldohaveonooclaimoforoseniorityoinotermsoofotheoadvertisementoofo 2019.o

36.l We,o therefore,o findo thato notificationo datedo 11.06.2019o too beo ino violationoofoArticlesoofo14,o15oando16oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoandotheosameo isoaccordinglyodeclaredoultraoviresoandoliableotoobeoquashedoandosetoaside.oo

37.l Since,oweohaveosetoasideotheocriteriaoofoaddingoupotoo10obonuso markso ono theo basiso ofo socio-economico criteriao ando experience,o weo issueo followingodirections:-o

o o o Pageo24oofo25o o

A.l TheoStateowouldobeorequiredotoopublishoaorevisedoresultoando onotheobasisoofotheorevisedoresult,otheocandidatesowhooareo foundotoobeomeritorious,owouldobeoentitledotoobeoconsideredo foro appointmento foro theo concernedo postso whicho wereo advertisedoinotheoyearo2019.oo B.l Thoseocandidates,owhoohaveoalreadyobeenoappointed,oifotheyo falloinotheosaidomeritowouldocontinueotooperformotheiroduties.o C.l Thoseoappointees,owhooareogoingotoobeooustedoonoaccountoofo theorevisedomeritolist,oshallobeoallowedotoocontinueoagainsto futureopostsoandoinothisoregard,otheoStateoGovernmentomayo conductoanoexerciseoofofindingooutovacanciesoforothem.oIfonoo vacanciesoareoavailable,otheyowillobeoallowedotoocontinueoono ado hoco basiso tillo vacancieso areo madeo available.o Theiro appointmentsowouldobeotreatedofromotheodateotheovacancieso areosoomadeoavailableoandowouldohaveonooclaimoonotheopostso whicho wereo advertisedo video advertisemento ino 2019.o Theo poweroisobeingoexercisedotoosaveosuchoappointmentsoasothereo wasonoofaultoofosuchopersons,owhoohaveoalreadyoappointedo andohaveobeenoworkingoforoyearsonow.oo D.l Theocandidates,owhooareoplacedoinotheorevisedomerit,owillobeo treatedoasoseniorotoothoseo whoseoappointmentsohaveobeeno savedoalthoughonotofallingoinotheomerit.o E.l Theonewoincumbents,owhoowouldobeoselectedoonoaccountoofo theo revisedo merito list,o wouldo beo entitledo too claimo theiro

o o o Pageo25oofo25o o

appointmentso fromo theo dateo theo similarlyo situatedo othero candidatesowereoappointedowithoalloconsequentialobenefitsoofo seniorityo ando payo parity.o However,o theiro salaryo wouldobeo fixedonotionallyofromotheodateoothersowereoappointedotillotheo dateotheyojoinotheopost.o F.l Theoexerciseoshallobeoconductedowithinotheoperiodoofothreeo months.o

38.l Inoviewoofotheoabove,oallotheseoWritoPetitionsostandodisposedoofooooooooooooooo inotheoaforesaidoterms.o

39.l Allopendingo applicationsoino theseocasesoshallostandodisposedo ofo accordingly.o o o o o [SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA]o JUDGEo o o o o o o o o o [MEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTA]o Mayo22,o2024o JUDGEo EssoKayo o o o o o Whetherospeakingo/oreasonedoo o :o o Yesoo /oooooooNoo WhetheroReportableo o o :o o Yesoo /oooooooNoo o