RAJASTHAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Vs. SHIKUN RAM FIRUDA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The challenge in these appeals is to an order passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur on 26th May, 2017, which is the subject matter of Civil Appeal Nos. 8148-8149 of 2019 and the orders passed on different dates following the said order.

(2.) The brief facts leading to the present appeals are that an advertisement was published on 18th June, 2013 inviting applications for various posts in the Rajasthan State and Subordinate Services under the Rajasthan State and Subordinate Services (Direct Recruitment by Combined Competitive Examination) Rules, 1999 (for short, 'Rules'). Number of posts advertised were 233 in the State Services and 490 in the Subordinate Services. A corrigendum was issued on 24th June, 2013 increasing number of posts to 990. It was on 10th July, 2014, a Press Note was issued cancelling the examination on account of certain irregularities which came to the notice of the Commission. On 12th November, 2014, another Press Note was issued, which has led to the present set of appeals. The Press Note gave an opportunity to the candidates to make corrections in their online application forms and change of category after payment of Rs.100/-. The said Press Note reads as under:

(3.) The last date of submission of application forms was 31st July, 2013 and the preliminary examination was conducted on 26th October, 2013. The respondents, who shall hereinafter be called as writ petitioners, were serving in the Army on the last date of submission of application form as also on the date on which preliminary examination was held on 26th October, 2013. Laxman Singh, one of the writ petitioners, retired on 31st July, 2014 but applied for change of status from General Category to Ex-servicemen Category in pursuance of the Press Note dated 12th November, 2014. Since, such change was not accepted, writ petitions were filed. Writ petition filed by Laxman Singh was dismissed by the learned Single Bench on 9th November, 2016 holding as under: