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The petitioner is a candidate for recruitment to the post of Process Server. His candidature has been rejected on the score that he was over age for the recruitment under OBC category.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that various Sessions Courts are recruiting Group-C and Group-D post wherein the age criteria is 18 to 38 years for General Category and relaxation of age for reserve category is as per rules/instructions of the Punjab Government. If the rules read with Punjab Government instructions in respect of prescription of age for reserve category is taken into consideration, 5 years over and above the normal recruitment age for Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes has been prescribed and the same is being followed. Therefore, having regard to the age criteria from 18 to 38 years, the petitioner's claim cannot be rejected. Hence, rejection of petitioner's claim that he is over age is contrary to the various notifications issued from time to time by various Sessions Courts while recruiting to the post of Group-C and Group-D. Whereas in the present case, the prescription of age criteria as 18 to 35 years 1 of 4 is contrary to their own criteria prescribed for various posts.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Having regard to the Rule 9 of 2012 Rules read with Government circular dated 24.1.1979, it is evident that for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other Backward Classes maximum age would 40 years. As on the last date of submission of application to the post of Process Server, the petitioner is over age, therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for the relief sought in the present petitioner.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further contended that from time to time various Sessions Courts while inviting application for Group-C and Group-D post, the age criteria is being stipulated as 18 to 38 years. Therefore, similar benefit should have been extended to the petitioner.