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16. Learned counsel stated that for all the Units, i.e., Mayapuri, Nilokhedi and Aligarh, the governing decisions contained in the Minutes of meeting of 5.7.2007 held under the Chairmanship of Additional Director and Head of Department, Directorate of Printing, had clearly mandated that all Presses had to circulate to other sister GIPs details of their surplus employees who could be transferred or redeployed to the other sister Presses by 15.7.2007 and more importantly, advertised posts that were to be filled up by them on direct recruitment basis/deputation. This clearly limited the discretion of the Units which were not expected to fill all the vacancies which had been determined and noticed in the Office Order of 18.5.2007. It was stated that, whereas, the number of posts identified for the purpose of the Government Presses at various locations after modernization was much larger the number W.P.(C) 1989/14, 2001/2014, 2013/2014, 3410/14, 3745/14 & 4952/14 Page 15 of posts identified for the purpose of direct recruitment and transfer was a smaller figure. Each Press had to comply with the later order embodied in the Minutes of meeting of 5.7.2007 and indicate the vacancies that had to be filled through direct recruitment. Instead of doing so, the Selection Committees in the present case went ahead and selected far greater number of candidates than the available vacancy. This pointed to a clear mistake on the part of the various Units and the Selection Committee who understood and interpreted the Circulars contrary to their intent. It was argued, therefore, the Central Government was entitled to exercise discretion and cancel the entire recruitment process, instead of carrying out a segregating exercise of trying to salvage a part of it. This exercise, it was submitted, is in conformity with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Union of India v. O. Chakradhar, (2002) 3 SCC 146. Reliance was also placed upon the decision in Shankarsan Dash v. Union of India, AIR 1991 SC 1612, for the proposition that the recruitment agency is not bound to make appointment and operate the entire select list for good and valid reasons. Learned counsel for the Government of India Press, lastly, argued that no candidate has a right to contend that he ought to be appointed. At best, he has a right to be considered for appointment. In the present case, even though, the appointments were made - of a large number of individuals, the fact remains that the fatal infirmities undermined the recruitment process. This is not a case where the petitioners can be said to have acquired an entitlement or lien to the post so as to claim that upon completion of their probation period, their services cannot be terminated. It was further urged that the petitioners cannot insist that any violation of principle of natural justice took place. The concerned authorities considered the entire records after the previous W.P.(C) 1989/14, 2001/2014, 2013/2014, 3410/14, 3745/14 & 4952/14 Page 16 judgment and order of this Court in the writ proceedings and made the order cancelling the entire recruitment process. There is no arbitrariness or unfairness and that no individual has been discriminated against or given favourable treatment.

d) Priority for absorption/redeployment within the same Press will be given to the employees according to their seniority subject to clearing the trade tests, wherever applicable.

e) The interest of the surplus employees has been taken care of by way transfer/redeployment/absorption and also special voluntary retirement scheme. However, creation of super-numerary posts as demanded by some Associations will not be possible as this will be against the spirit of the Government decision regarding modernization of Government of India Presses.

f) The surplus employees are allowed to give their options for transfer/redeployment to other Government of India Presses wherever possible. They will also be eligible for Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme for surplus Government employees as per DOPT's O.M. No.25013/6/2001-Estt.(A), dated 28.02.2002 in terms of notification No. (-17034/2(B&F)/CM/Status Report published in the Gazette of India on 24.07.2006.

g) It has been noticed that the Recruitment Rules for some of the newly created posts under modernization scheme of the Presses do not exist. The concerned Presses will consult the model RRs for these posts as may be issued by DOPT or may be available in other Departments/Organizations. On the basis of these model RRs, the concerned Presses will prepare draft RRs for such posts and send the same to the Directorate for further examination and finalization. They will also take necessary action to fill up such posts on ad hoc on the basis of draft RRs as prepared by them and approved by the Directorate of Printing.

k) All the Presses will circulate to other sister GIPs with a copy to the Directorate of Printing, the details of their surplus employees who can be transferred/redeployed in other sister Presses by 15.07.2007, if not circulated earlier. They will also advertise the posts which are to be filled up by them on direct recruitment basis/deputation basis upto 20.07.2007 positively. All the GIPs will also send a fortnightly reports based on status upto 15 should be sent as on 15.7.2007 and should reach Directorate of Printing on or before 20.7.2007 indicating the action taken regarding filling up of the posts in each category as well as regarding Special VRS applications received and their status.