BINOD SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant case relate to appointments to 31 posts of Administrative Officers (Group "A" post) in the Border Road Organization which were requisitioned by the Border Roads Development Board (herein referred to as "BRDB") by its letter of 15th May, 2007 addressed to the UPSC towards these appointments. The UPSC published and circulated an advertisement bearing No. 06 dated 28 March, 2009 (WP(C) No.5457/2011). As per this advertisement, applications were invited for 31 posts, out of which 5 were reserved for scheduled castes category candidates; 2 for schedules tribes category candidates; 8 for other backward classes and 1 post was reserved for physically handicapped candidate. As a result 15 posts remained available for the unreserved category. In addition to the stipulated educational qualifications, the candidates were required to possess five years experience in a supervisory capacity in General Administration, Establishment, Finance & Accounts. It is noteworthy that by a corrigendum dated 28th April, 2010, the UPSC wrote to the BRDB that the qualifying experience for appointment to the said post of Administrative Officer to be increased from 5 years to 7 years in supervisory capacity for purposes of short-listing as there were large number of applicants.

(2.) Based on this short-listing criteria, the UPSC shortlisted 178 candidates for interview.

(3.) It is undisputed that all the petitioners in W.P. Nos.4997/2011; 5457/2011 as well as in the third petition No.6403/2011 were short-listed for interview. The writ petitioners are persons who are serving in different capacities with the Border Roads Organization. As they met the eligibility criteria, they applied for appointment to the BRDB pursuant to the advertisement dated 28th March, 2009. The applications were supported by the experience certificates issued by the concerned authorities with the different units of the Border Roads Organization (which included General Reserve Engineering Force).