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(i)   the   officers   promoted   on   the   basis   of merit­cum­seniority   under   50%   quota   (hereinafter   referred   to as “promotees”);

(ii) the   direct   recruits   under   25%   quota   (hereinafter referred to as “direct recruits”); and

(iii)officers   promoted   on   the   basis   of   limited departmental   competitive   examination   under   25%   quota   (as   it then   existed)   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   “out   of   turn promotees”).

4. The members of Punjab Superior Judicial Service had filed writ petition in the High court challenging the seniority list dated   24.12.2007   issued   by   the   High   Court   determining   the inter   se   seniority   of   the   members   of   the   Punjab   Superior Judicial Service.

The cadre strength of  Punjab Superior Judicial Service before 2007 comprised of 88 posts. The High Court on 14.10.2004 had made   10   promotions   as   per   unamended   Rules   on   10   vacancies which   were   existing   since   prior   to   amendment   of   Rules   on 15.01.2004. On 31.08.2007, total cadre strength was 89, which was   increased   to   107   as   on   11.10.2007.   The   process   for recruitment   of   direct   recruits   under   Rule   7(3)(c)   of   Rules, 2007   was   initiated   on   02.02.2008   with   the   publication   of advertisement. The promotions under 50% quota on the basis of merit­cum­seniority   was   affected   on   18.02.2008.   The competitive   test   for   limited   departmental   competitive examination   was   held   on   18.05.2008   for   which   process   was initiated on 23.04.2008 by issuance of letter via e­mail. Full Court   on   25.07.2008   approved   the   recommendations   both   for direct recruitment and out of turn promotion, by two separate letters i.e. letter No.628 dated 29.07.2008 the recommendation of   direct   recruitment   and   by   letter   No.629   dated   29.07.2008 recommendation   for   out   of   turn   promotion   were   sent   to   the Government.   The   appointment   letters   in   reference   to   limited competitive   examination   were   received   earlier   then   those   of direct   recruits.   On   14.08.2008,   Governor   of   Punjab   issued Office Order whereby eight Officers were promoted under out of turn   quota,   posting   with   regard   to   whom   was   issued   on 22.10.2008.   The   Governor   of   Punjab   had   issued   letter   for direct   recruits   on   28.11.2008   with   regard   to   whom   posting order   dated   08.12.2008   was   issued.   Fifteen   Officers   were promoted under 50% quota, eight Officers were promoted under out of turn promotion quota 25%. Twelve direct recruits were appointed   vide   order   dated   08.12.2008.   The   process   of recruitment of all the three streams was thus completed in the same   year   and   Officers   of   the   three   streams     joined   their respective posts in the year 2008 itself although on different dates. The promotees got joining first followed by out of turn promotees   and   lastly   by   direct   recruits.   This   Court   in  All India   Judges   Association   and   Ors.   vs.   Union   of   India   and Ors.,   2010   (15)   SCC   170,  reduced   the   out   of   turn   promotion quota   from   25%   to   10%   which   was   to   take   effect   from 01.01.2011. The High Court initiated the process of fixation of inter se seniority of the officers of two streams in the year   2014.   A   tentative   seniority   list   was   prepared   and circulated by the Registrar of the High Court on 25.09.2014 to the members of Superior Judicial Service. Various objections to   the   list   were   filed   including   the   objections   by   direct recruits as well as officers promoted under the out of turn quota.   The   Judges'   Committee   submitted   a   report   after considering   the   objections   recommending   that   tentative seniority list determined does not require any modification or alteration and the same may be finalised. The report of the Committee   was   accepted   by   Full   Court   on   22.12.2015.   A notification dated 24.12.2015 was issued publishing the inter se   seniority   of   the   members   of   Punjab   Superior   Judicial Service, promoted, appointed, absorbed in the year 2008. From serial   Nos.1   to   14   in   the   list   were   the   promotee   Officers, from   serial  Nos.15   and   16   were   direct   recruits,  from   serial Nos.17   to   24   were   promotee   officers   through   limited departmental   examination   and   from   serial   Nos.25   to   35   were direct recruits. 

  “27....It is imperative that they keep abreast of knowledge of law and the latest pronouncements, and it is for this reason that the Shetty Commission has recommended the establishment of a judicial academy which is very necessary. At the same time, we are of the   opinion   that   there   has   to   be   certain   minimum standards,   objectively   adjudged,   for   officers   who are   to   enter   the   higher   judicial   service   as Additional   District   Judges   and   District   Judges. While we agree with the Shetty Commission that the recruitment to the higher judicial service i.e., the District   Judge   cadre   from   amongst   the   advocates should be 25 per cent and the process of recruitment is to be by a competitive examination, both written and   viva   voce,   we   are   of   the   opinion   that   there should   be   an   objective   method   of   testing   the suitability of the subordinate judicial officers for promotion   to   the   higher   judicial   service. Furthermore,   there   should   also   be   an   incentive amongst the relatively junior and other officers to improve   and   to   compete   with   each   other   so   as   to excel   and   get   quicker   promotion.   In   this   way,   we expect that the caliber of the members of the higher judicial  service  will  further  improve.  In  order to achieve   this,   while   the   ratio   of   75   per   cent appointment by promotion and 25 per cent by direct recruitment   to   the   higher   judicial   service   is maintained,   we   are,   however,   of   the   opinion   that there should be two methods as far as appointment by promotion   is   concerned   :   50   per   cent   of   the   total post in the higher judicial services must be filled by   promotion   on   the   basis   of   principle   of merit­cum­seniority.   For   this   purpose,   the   High Courts should devise and evolve a test in order to ascertain  and  examine  the  legal knowledge  of  those candidates and to assess their continued efficiency with  adequate  knowledge of  case law.  The  remaining 25   per   cent   of   the   posts   in   the   service   shall   be filled by promotion strictly on the basis of merit through   the   limited   departmental   competitive examination   for   which   the   qualifying   service   as   a Civil   Judge   (senior   division)   should   be   not   less than five years. The High Courts will have to frame a rule in this regard. ”

Issue No.1: 

Whether promotees are in excess of their quota?

38. The High Court in its impugned judgment has noticed the cadre strength of Punjab Superior Judicial Service as 107 on 10.11.2007.     The   Promotion   quota   under   Rule   7(3)(a)   was determined as 53 and actual working having been found as 58. High   Court   noticed   that  05   officers  were   working   in  excess. 25   per   cent   quota   under   Rule   7(3)(b)   was   determined   as   27, which   was   found   to   be   vacant.     Direct   recruits   were   also determined as 21 excluding the officers in position.  14 posts were   advertised   for   direct   recruitment.     One   of   the   issues raised is as to whether for determination of the quota cadre strength has to be looked into or quota has to be determined on   the   basis   of   vacancies   by   bifurcating   vacancies   as   per respective quota.  The issue is no more res integra.   In  All India Judges Case (supra), this Court in Para 29 has held “One of the methods of avoiding any litigation and bringing about certainty in this regard is by specifying quotas in relation to posts and not in relation to the vacancies”. A Three Judge Bench   of   this   Court   in  Srikant   Roy   and   Others   Vs.   State   of Jharkhand   and   Others,   (2017)   1   SCC   457  while   determining question   of   number   of   vacancies   in   respect   of   limited competitive examination of Jharkhand as in Jharkhand Superior Judicial   Service   has   held   that   “cadre   strength   is   always measured by the number of posts comprising the cadre and the percentage of quota has to be worked out in relation to number of   posts   which   form   the   cadre   and   has   no   relevance   to   the vacancy   that   would   occur.     Following   was   laid   down   in Paragraph 24:­ “24.  The   High   Court   has   overlooked   the   distinction between “post” and “vacancy”. If the requisite posts were already exhausted by the direct recruits against the   earmarked   quota   for   direct   recruitment,   merely because some vacancies occur, it would not be open to the   aspiring   candidates   against   the   direct   recruit quota   to   challenge   the   selection   process   commenced for   the   in­service   judicial   officers   by   promotion through   limited   competitive   examination.   The   cadre strength   is   always   measured   by   the   number   of   posts comprising the cadre. The right to be considered for appointment can only be claimed in respect of a post in the given cadre. The percentage of quota has to be worked out in relation to number of posts which form the   cadre   and   has   no   relevance   to   the   vacancy   that would occur…………………………….”