STATE OF ODISHA Vs. MANOJ KUMAR PANDA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) All the above mentioned writ applications involve common questions of fact and law. Hence, they were heard together and are now disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) Facts of the case, in nutshell, are as follows:-

(3.) The grievance of the petitioners is that though they were eligible to appear in the Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination, 2011 as per the Odisha Civil Service (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Rule, 1991 (hereinafter referred to as "1991 Rules") till 13.7.2011 but by virtue of the amended Rule i.e. Odisha Civil Service (Combined Competitive Recruitment Examination) Amendment Rules, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as "2011 Rules") particularly the amendment brought to Rule 5(ii)(i)(a) of the 1991 Rules they became ineligible to make an application pursuant to advertisement dated 17.11.2011. The further case of the petitioners is that 2011 Rules has made discrimination between the candidates like the petitioners, who have crossed the age as prescribed in the said Rule and the candidates who have not crossed their age limit. In some cases reservation of 27% of the posts for SEBC candidates has been challenged.