R. K. Sabharwal And Ors vs State Of Punjab And Ors on 10 February, 1995
15. Mr. Govindaswamy, the learned counsel appearing for
the applicants submitted that the question mooted before the
Tribunal was never whether the SC/ST candidates could be
considered against the general merit quota based on their merit
level, but was that after the verdict passed by the Supreme Court
in R.K. Sabharwal's case [cited supra] and the subsequent
decisions, the posts had to be identified and the recruitment had to
W.P(C) No. 32141 of 2009 and
O.P.(CAT) No. 2947 of 2011
: 18 :
be effected only in respect of such posts. By virtue of the course
pursued by the Railways, giving en-mass appointments to all
selected candidates including the SC/ST candidates in the
unreserved quota, that too, without pursuing timely selection
process, all the slots of SC/ST candidates were left open and again
forward giving undue benefit to the reservation segment, at the
cost of the unreserved category like the applicants. If the posts
are filled up, with reference to the date of arising of vacancies, the
verdict passed by the CAT is liable to be sustained, submits the
learned counsel. After such exercise, if there are carried forward
vacancies of SC/ST, the applicants do not have any objection in
filling up all such slots en-bloc, from the persons belonging to those
categories. It is stated that there was no grievance even after
issuance of Annexure A9 and that the issue has popped up only
because of the interpretation/clarification given as per Annexure
A1, which has been intercepted by the Tribunal. It is further
pointed out that non-impleadment of the candidates concerned has
not caused any prejudice to them, as the Tribunal has specifically
stated in Ext. P5 order that they need not be reverted but could be
adjusted against the carried forward vacancies and that their
W.P(C) No. 32141 of 2009 and
O.P.(CAT) No. 2947 of 2011
: 19 :
seniority which may undergo some change could be effected only
after issuing due notice to them.