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3.It is relevant to note that the petitioner said to have been completed the Apprentice Training at Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited and obtained the National Apprenticeship Certificate during the month of May, 2000. Such being the position, the petitioner has submitted his application for preference in the year 2022, after lapse of several years. It is well settled that the apprentice trainees have no right to be appointed in preference to other applicants. This aspect has been clearly laid down by the Hon'ble Division of this Court in W.A.No.235 of 2005 in paragraph No.6 and the same is read as follows:

“We are of the view that this Court has clearly laid down that the Apprentice Trainees have no right to be appointed in preference to other applicants.....” In fact, the Division Bench judgment relied upon by the applicant only followed the above referred to earlier decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in “1995 AIR SC 1115”, yet, the Hon'ble Supreme Court, while setting aside the order of the Division Bench, has ruled out as above. Therefore, the apprentices who have undertaken training under the provisions of the Apprentice Act, 1971, did not acquire any special status in order to contend that they are entitled to seek for preference in the job opportunities in the various Government Institutions, much less the members of the appellant in N.L.C Ltd.”

4.In the light of the above decision, this Court is of the view that the apprentice trainees have no right to be appointed in preference to other applicants, that too, after lapse of several years. Therefore, mere giving direction to consider the representations of the petitioner, will not serve any N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.