NAVNEET RATURI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since common question of law and fact is involved in the aforementioned writ petitions, therefore, the same are taken up together and are being decided by this common judgment for the sake of brevity and convenience.

(2.) Writ petition no. 4359 (S/S) of 2018 shall be the leading case.

(3.) Brief facts of the case are that petitioners in response to an advertisement issued by respondent no. 2 for filing up the posts of Group 'A' and 'B' on contractual basis applied for the post of Office Assistant (N.S.). The essential qualification for said post was (i) a degree from recognized University (ii) proficiency in computer application and (iii) Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) at 8000 key depression per hour on computer. Apart from the aforesaid, the respondent no. 2 had further sought for 5 years experience in this field in a reputed organization. The salary provided was Rs.26,000/- per month (consolidated basis). The selection process included a written test. The petitioners appeared in the written test and also appeared for interview. After the written test and interview result was declared on 30.01.2015, petitioners' name appeared at sl. No. 14, serial no. 10 and serial no. 22 respectively. Petitioners then joined on the post of Office Assistant (NS) in January / February, 2015. The Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide his communication dated 28.08.2018 has provided that the Department Related Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare reviewed the progress of AIIMS (including the respondent no. 2 herein) on 28.08.2018 and asked the respondent no. 2 to provide details as to what preference can be extended to contractual staff in regular recruitment and whether they can be regularized. Petitioners have not been able to procure the response of respondent no. 2 on the said query / questionnaire of the respondent no. 1.