MANDEEP KUMAR Vs. U.T. CHANDIGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The instant appeal arises out of the judgment dated 17.01.2020, passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in Civil Writ Petition No. 24383 of 2016, whereby the aforesaid Writ Petition was dismissed on the basis of statement made by learned Additional Advocate General of the State of Punjab regarding the decision taken by the authorities to re­advertise the unfilled posts of Elementary Trained Teachers (in short "ETT") afresh and to fill up it in accordance with law. Being aggrieved by the said judgment, the appellants have preferred the instant appeal.

(3.) The controversy in nutshell brought by way of suo moto PIL registered by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana pertained to inaction of the State of Punjab in filling up of vacancies of ETT, which were advertised vide two separate advertisements dated 08.11.2015 and 30.07.2016. In the abovesaid advertisements, total of 4500 and 2005 vacancies of ETT were notified under various categories inclusive of SC/ST, OBC, freedom fighter, handicapped etc. respectively. After entertaining the Public Interest Litigation and as per the interim directions of the High Court, the posts of ETT had been filled up as per merit and category wise. But due to not having selected eligible candidates of SC/ST category those posts remained vacant. Now, it is the grievance of the appellants that the unfilled posts of SC/ST category may be filled from the eligible candidates of Backward Class category, directing interchangeability of the said vacant posts.