JATINDER PAL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this judgment we shall deal with certain appeals relating to officers of the State of Punjab. We shall also deal with Interlocutory Applications Nos. 10-12/98 filed by the Railways and IAS 4-6 by the Union of India. We shall also deal with certain contempt applications and other Interlocutory applications.

(2.) The two appeals C.A. Nos. 316-317/99 have been preferred by the general candidates of Punjab against the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in CWPs 10756 of 1997 and 10759 of 1997 dated 8-10-1998. The High Court, in the judgment under appeal, following Jagdish Lal v. State of Haryana, (1997) 6 SCC 538 : (1997 AIR SCW 2257 : AIR 1997 SC 2366 : 1997 Lab IC 2301) in preference to the judgment in Ajit Singh Januja v. State of Punjab, (1996) 2 SCC 715 ; (1996 AIR SCW 1196 : AIR 1996 : SC 1189 : 1996 Lab IC 1030) hereinafter called Ajit Singh No. I. The officers here belong to the Punjab Education Department and the contest is for the post of Principals governed by the Punjab Education Service (School and Inspection Cadre) (Class II) Rules, 1976.

(3.) Today, we have delivered judgment in IAS 1 to 3 filed in Ajit Singh by the State of Punjab (C.As. 3792-94/89) (reported in 1999 AIR SCW 3460 : AIR 1999 SC 3471 : 1999 Lab IC 3128). That judgment will be described here as Ajit Singh (II) for convenience.