UNION OF INDIA Vs. APURBA LAL BISWAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of a bunch of petitions bearing Nos. WP.CT Nos. 82 to 103 of 2019. Challenge in the writ petitions is to the common order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Kolkata Bench (for short, 'the Tribunal') whereby bunch of Original Applications were decided by a common order dated March 08, 2018.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that recruitment process for 5,726 Group 'D' staff was initiated by the Railway Recruitment Cell, Eastern Railway on September 25, 2006. Total of 13,83,004 applications were received. The recruitment was to be carried out by holding a written examination, which was to be followed by physical efficiency test. Written examination was held from November 04, 2007 to January 06, 2008 whereas physical efficiency test was held from May 31 to June 02, 2008. On February 06, 2009 a provisional panel of 5,300 candidates was prepared after their medical examination. Various Original Applications were filed by number of applicants challenging the action of the Railway Recruitment Cell whereby their applications were rejected on account of certain minor discrepancies. The same were allowed vide order dated August 20, 2009. The aforesaid order was challenged by some of the candidates who were earlier shortlisted for appointment by filing WP.CT 278 of 2009 titled as Rajat Baran Sinha and Ors. vs. Union of India and Ors., which was allowed by this Court vide order dated December 21, 2009. The petitioners before this Court were directed to be impleaded as respondents in the proceedings before the Tribunal in different Original Applications and the Tribunal was directed to hear the matters afresh.

(3.) The Original Applications were finally disposed of by the Tribunal vide order dated April 09, 2010. The rejection of the applications of the candidates was quashed and they were directed to be reconsidered. As there were about 2.60 lakhs applications which were rejected, the respondents before the Tribunal were given liberty to scrutinize their applications as well. Fresh list of the candidates falling in the zone of consideration was to be prepared. After carrying out aforesaid exercise a panel of 5,512 candidates was notified on January 22, 2012 and balance 214 was notified on August 11, 2012. Making it total of 5,726, the number of posts advertised.