ARTI K CHHABRA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SPECIAL leave granted.

(2.) . The Central Services Group 'A' consists of as many as 45 services including Indian Revenue Service which comprises among others, Customs Branch (Indian Customs Service, Group 'A') and CentralExcise Branch (Central Excise Service, Group 'A'). Similarly, Group 'B' Services consist of a number of services. But with them, we are not concerned in this appeal. The result of the aforesaid rule is that a candidate who has been approved for appointment to Indian Police Service can for bettering his prospects, appear in the next examination and on the basis of his performance can be considered for appointment either in I.A.S. or I.F.S. or to any of the Central Services Group 'A'. Similarly, if he has been approved for appointment to any of the Group 'A' Services, he can for bettering his prospects appear in the next examination and on the basis of his performance in that examination, can be considered for appointment in I.A.S. or I.F.S. or I.P.S. but not for appointment in any other Group 'A' Services. There is a similar restriction on the horizontal movement in Group 'B' Services.

(3.) THE respondents also defend the favoured treatment given to I.P.S. in this behalf, by pointing out that the movement of candidates from I.P.S. to Group 'A' Services and vice versa has been permitted from the inception of the Examination Scheme. THEy are two entirely different categories of Services and hence allowing the mobility is justified.