MUNISH BHARDWAJ Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) V. K. Gupta, C. J. What is under challenge in this writ pe tition, filed under Article 226 of the Con stitution of India, is the stipulation in Rule 11 of the Uttaranchal Higher Judicial Serv ice Rules, 2004 ('2004 Rules' for short) that a candidate for direct recruitment should not be less than 35 years and should not be more than 45 years for be ing eligible to apply for appointment in the Higher Judicial Service. Rule 11, for ready reference, is reproduced hereunder, which reads thus : "11. Age - A candidate for direct re cruitment must have attained the age of 35 years and must not have at tained the age of 45 years on the first day of January of the years in which the notice inviting applications is published : Provided that candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and such other categories as may be notified by the Government from time 'to time shall be entitled for relaxation in age ac cording to rules as are applicable at the relevant time. "

(2.) MR. Manoj Tiwari, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, who are practicing Advocates with more than 7 years experience at the Bar, submits that Article 233 of the Constitution of India, in so far as direct recruitment in the Higher Judicial Service is concerned, lays down only one eligibility criterion and that is that the persons applying should have not less than 7 years experience as Advocates. Since Article 233, according to MR. Manoj Tiwari, does not contain any stipulation with respect to age bar, according to him, any rule, which creates such a bar, has to be declared unconstitutional being ultra vires of Article 233. We do not agree with the submission.

(3.) THE argument has been noticed only to be rejected because it ignores a very basic difference between the 1972 Rules and 2004 Rules. 1972 Rules have not been framed by the Governor in con sultation with the High Court. No rule relating to recruitment to a judicial serv ice can be framed nor can it be held to be a valid piece of subordinate legislation, if it is framed without the consultation of the High Court. Since 2004 Rules have been framed by the Governor in consul tation with the High Court, it was open to the Governor to prescribe the cut off date, in other words, the effective date when the minimum and the maximum age bars would be operative.