SHESH NATH Vs. CANTONMENT BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN the present appeal, existence of Rule 5 -B (2) of the Cantonment Fund Servants Rules 1937 has not been denied. The said Rule authorizes grant of relaxation in the age limit, subject to any directions issued by the Central Government in that behalf. In the appeal, there is also no dispute that the Central Government issued a Circular on 29th August, 1989 and, thereby, directed giving of relaxation to the people in government service for appointment in Group 'C posts. In the present appeal, there is also no dispute that respondent no. 2 was within the age, thus, directed to be relaxed by the said Circular dated 29th August, 1989. The only contention in the present appeal is that in one advertisement issued earlier, it was indicated that existing employees will be entitled to relaxation, but in the advertisement, which was responded by the appellant, there was no such mention. It has been contended, accordingly, that a conscious decision was taken, when the advertisement, responded by the appellant, was issued to the effect that no relaxation will be given. It was also contended that any appointment, contrary to the terms contained in the advertisement, is per se illegal. In the circumstances, it has been stated that this Court should set aside the judgment and order under appeal, by which the writ petition, filed by the appellant challenging the appointment of respondent no. 2 on the ground that he was more than the maximum age limit prescribed in the advertisement, has been dismissed.

(2.) LEARNED Judge, while dealing with the matter, has stated that the terms and conditions or the qualifications mentioned in the advertisement are required to be made known to the public, who are applying for the posts and such qualifications are not required to be indicated in the advertisement for the departmental candidates since the departmental candidates are covered by their own Rules and Regulations, which are not required to be spelt out, though in the interest of justice, a mention should be made in the advertisement that the departmental candidates could also apply, so that the candidates from the open market are made aware of the said fact.

(3.) IN the instant case, Rule 5 -B (2) of the said Rules, authorized the Central Government to issue directions pertaining to relaxation of age limits generally or specifically. In exercise of such statutory power, the Central Government has granted relaxation by the said Circular dated 29th August, 1989. In law, when the conditions of eligibility are prescribed by law, prescription, thus made, must be read in the advertisement. In the circumstances, despite not mentioning in the advertisement that such relaxation is available to people already in service of the Central Government, the same is required, in law, to be read in the advertisement.