Supreme Court of India
State O Haryana & Ors vs Miss Ajay Walia on 7 July, 1997
Equivalent citations: AIR 1997 SUPREME COURT 3007, 1997 (6) SCC 255, 1997 AIR SCW 3039, 1997 LAB. I. C. 2886, 1997 (5) SCALE 48, 1997 (3) UPLBEC 1665, (1997) 6 JT 592 (SC), 1997 (2) UJ (SC) 355, 1998 (1) SERVLJ 62 SC, (1997) 3 SCT 553, (1997) 4 SERVLR 638, (1997) 3 UPLBEC 1665, (1997) 7 SUPREME 189, (1997) 5 SCALE 48, (1997) 2 CURLR 438, (1997) 4 LAB LN 489, 1997 SCC (L&S) 1445, (1998) 1 LABLJ 80
Bench: K. Ramaswamy, D.P. Wadhwa
PETITIONER: STATE O HARYANA & ORS. Vs. RESPONDENT: MISS AJAY WALIA DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/07/1997 BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, D.P. WADHWA. ACT: HEADNOTE: JUDGMENT:
O R D E R Leave granted.
We have heard learned counsel on both sides. This appeal by special leave from the judgment of the Punjab 7 Haryana High Court, made on October 15, 1996 in CWP No. 12474/95.
The admitted facts are that in June 1980 there was a requisition in the Irrigation Department for filling up of four vacancies of sub-Divisional Clerks. The Subordinate service selection Board advertised the posts. Instead of selecting four candidates , it prepared a list of 28 candidates in November 1982 and recommended them for appointment Eight candidates including the respondent were recommended for appointment in Hathnikund Procurement Circle. The Superintendent Engineer wrote a letter to the selection Board on November 3, 1982 stating that procurement Circle had not requisitioned for recruitment of any candidate and that he could not make any appointment; accordingly, he returned the request the request for appointment.
It would appear that the respondent has been making application to various authorities from time to time but the same failed to bear any fruit. As a consequence, writ petition came so be filed in October 1996 seeking issuance of writ write of mandamus for appointment to the post of Sub-Divisional Clerk. The High court allowed the write petition and directed the state to appoint the appellant forthwith on the post of S.S.C in any Department of the State of haryana. The High court also awarded costs quantified at Rs, 10,000/-Thus, this appeal by special leave challenging the order of the High Court. The facts reveal that requisition was made for recruitment only four candidates. The service selection Board had no power and jurisdiction to select as many as 28 candidates and to recommend their names to various Departments for appointment. in the circumstances, when the Superintending Engineer Hathnikund circle had not requisitioned appointment of 8 candidates including the respondent, he rightly not acceded to and returned the list to the Board stating that he could not make any appointment as the ad hoc sub-Divisional Clerks already working had obtained stay form the High Court against their termination. In these circumstance, the direction asking the superintending Engineer to appoint the respondent, issued by the High court is obviously illegal moreover, the selection was made in 1982 and writ petition came to be filed in 1995, i.e., after and inordinate delay. Representations repeatedly repeatedly given to various arthouities fo not furnish her fresh course of action to file writ petition. The High court is wholly unjustified to have enteriained and allowed the writ petition.
The appeal is accordingly allowed. The Judgment of the High Court is set asidce. The writ petition stands dismissed. No costs.