VINIT KUMAR Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) At the heart of the present proceedings lies a challenge to a selection process which commenced in the year 2011 with an advertisement issued on 4/3/2011 by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited ( 'UPPCL ') for filling up 2974 posts of Technician Grade-2 (Trainee) Electrical. The petitioners, being unsuccessful candidates, in this writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, assail the revised result dtd. 20/1/2013 and the consequential appointments and seek, among other reliefs, a fresh exercise of selection and an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation ( 'CBI '). In order to appreciate the grievance of the petitioners, relevant facts need mention which are stated infra.

(2.) An advertisement was issued by UPPCL, Lucknow inviting applications from eligible candidates for filling up 2974 posts of Technician Grade-2 (Trainee) Electrical in Electricity Distribution Corporations under UPPCL. Of the advertised posts so advertised, 1778 were earmarked for candidates belonging to General Category, while 353, 128 and 715 posts respectively stood reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes. The advertisement prescribed the following eligibility criteria:

(3.) A written examination was conducted on 7/8/2011, in which 13,576 candidates participated; of these, 6288 candidates, including the petitioners, qualified for interview. The interviews of the successful candidates were held between 28/11/2011 and 28/12/2011. The result of the selection to the post in question was declared on 21/5/2012. A number of candidates who appeared at the interview were, however, unable to produce their DOEACC Certificates at that stage. Upon representations made by such candidates seeking extension of time for production of the certificates, UPPCL issued press notices extending the deadline from time to time, finally up to 31/7/2012, with the caveat that failure to submit would result in automatic cancellation of the candidate 's selection.