SWAPAN KUMAR DAS Vs. BISWAJIT MAJI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) All the above appeals are directed against the order dated March 31, 2014 passed by a learned Single Judge holding that the entire recruitment process adopted by Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "ECL") for the post of Security Guard Technical and Supervisor Grade 'G' (hereinafter referred to as the said post) is illegal. APO No. 218 of 2014 that is the first appeal is filed by ECL. The second and the third appeal being APO No. 219 of 2014, and APO No. 256 of 2014 are filed by candidates who were successful till the stage of written test and are allowed to participate in the interview (hereinafter referred as the successful candidate). The writ petitioners, whose prayers were allowed by the learned Single Judge also filed a cross-objection alleging that one of their grounds of challenge was not accepted as stated hereinafter.

(2.) On June 25, 2011 ECL published an advertisement inviting applications from Ex-Army/ EX-BSF personnel or NCC, B & C Certificate holder or Sportsman of All India repute for the said post. 215 vacancies were notified in the said notice and the eligibility criteria relating to educational qualification was fixed as Matric or equivalent examination from any recognized Board or examination.

(3.) The appellant received 6,400 applications and 2580 applications were found to fulfill the eligibility criteria indicated in the said notice. The first step of the selection process required the applicants to pass the Physical Eligibility Test, thereafter they would appear in the written test and those successful in written test could finally appear in the oral interview. Those successful in the Interview, would be finally selected to the said post.