MANOJ YADAVA Vs. RAJIV TANDON

JUDGEMENT

(1.) What is the ratio of the decision dated August 20, 1990 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal deciding 62 Original Applications, lead matter being the Original Application filed by one Alok Kumar, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in the decision Mohan Kumar Singhania Vs. UOI, 1992 Supp1 SCC 594 falls for consideration in the instant group of writ petitions. A preliminary issue pertaining to limitation: whether the Original Application(s), being 7 in number, filed by the private respondents registered as OA Nos.412/2005, 2889/2005, 2890/2005, 2891/2005, 2892/2005, 2893/2005 and 1525/2006 were barred by limitation also arises for consideration.

(2.) Appointment to All India Group 'A' and Group 'B' services such as IFS, IAS, IPS etc. is through a process of selection conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (for short 'UPSC'). What is popularly known as the Civil Services Examination (for short 'CSE') is held each year by UPSC, and as per the scheme a preliminary examination, serving as a Screening Test is held, followed by the main examination and an interview.

(3.) The time cycle of the CSE is such that commencing from the notice inviting applications till declaration of final result it takes over a year. Applications are invited for the ensuing exam in the months around October or November of the previous year. The preliminary examination is held in the month of June, with the main examination held in November, followed by interviews; and the results are announced by the middle of June of the next year. Allocation to various services is made with reference to the merit position in the select list taking into account the preference of the candidate(s).