LOTSTAR N. ARENGH Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE four writ petitions involving the same question of facts and law relating with the recruitment test or written test for the posts advertised in the advertisement dated 10.02.2012 issued by the Member Secretary, District Selection Committee, East Garo Hills, Williamnagar were taken up for joint hearing for disposal by a common judgment and order. For writing the common judgment and order WP(C)No.288 of 2013 is taken up as a leading case so as to avoid repetition of facts and law.

(2.) THE writ petitioners of WP(C)No.288/2013, after trying their luck by appearing in the written test examination for appointment to the post of Lower Division Assistant (for short 'LDA ') on 22.09.2012 and found not successful in the written test examination, filed the present writ petition only in the month of October, 2013 challenging the list of the successful candidates of the written test examination dated 19.06.2013 by alleging serious allegations against the authority, who conducted the written test examination. In the writ petition, no satisfactory explanation had been mentioned as to why they had been waiting for more than one year for filing the present writ petition alleging serious allegations against the authority, who conducted the said written test examination i.e. on 22.09.2012.

(3.) FACTUAL Background: - The Member Secretary, District Selection Committee, East Garo Hills, Williamnagar issued an advertisement dated Williamnagar 10.02.2012 for appointment to the posts of (i) Lady Supervisor (ii) L.D. Assistant (iii) Fishery Demonstrator (iv) Sectional Assistant (v) Driver (vi) Soil & Water Conservation Field Worker (vii) Duftry (viii) Plumber (ix) Chowkidar (x) Kalasi and (xi) Handyman. In the said advertisement dated 10.02.2012, numbers of posts advertised are not mentioned but only the words ''few posts '' are mentioned as number of posts advertised. For easy reference, the said advertisement dated 10.02.2012 (Annexure -I to the writ petition) is reproduced below: - ''GOVERNMENT OF MEGHALAYA OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, EAST GARO HILLS DISTRICT, WILLIAMNAGAR. No.EGH/DSC/69/99/216 Dated Williamnagar 10th February, 2012. ADVERTISEMENT An application in standard form are invited from the permanent residents of Meghalaya for the under -mentioned posts. The post carry the scale of pay besides usual allowances as admissible under the rules issued by the Govt. from time to time. Application should be submitted in standard form of application prescribed in Part -IX of the Gazette of Meghalaya along with attested copies of certificates relating to age, qualification, caste citizenship, and 3(three) copies of attested passport size photographs so as to reach the undersigned on or before 12th March, 2012. Candidate already in Govt. Service/Other Statutory Bodies should apply directly to the undersigned with a copy of ''No objection Certificate '' from their Employer/Authority. AGE LIMIT. Candidate must not be less than 18 (eighteen) years of age and not more than 27 (twenty seven) years of age as on 1st January 2012. The age is relaxable up to 5 (five) years for Schedule Tribe/Schedule Caste candidate. There will be no age bar for those already in Meghalaya Govt. services provided they entered service within the prescribed age limit. Candidates applying for the under mentioned posts have to take Written Test/Viva Voce. A panel of names will be drawn up for appointment in order of merit. Such panel will be subjected to the Job Reservation Policy of Govt. of Meghalaya and will be valid for 1(one) year. APPLICATION FEE. Applications should be accompanied by I.P.O. of Rs.10/ - (Rs5/ - for Schedule Tribe/Schedule Caste and Ex -Servicemen) and an Examination Fees of Rs.20/ - (Rs.10/ - for Schedule Tribe/Schedule Caste and Ex -Servicemen) and to be deposited to the Govt. accounts of the Secretary, District Selection Committee, East Garo Hills District, Williamnagar. No other mode of payment will be accepted. Fees are not refundable. PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF I.P.O. 1. Up -to -date I.P.O. only will be accepted (from the date of advertisement). 2. Payment Office should be written as at Williamnagar Post Office only. 3. No overwriting, correction, mutilated, torn etc. I.P.O. will be accepted. 4. I.P.O. should be completely filled up (no column to be left blank).