BIJAY THONGAM Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These 2 (two) Writ Petitions viz. (1) Civil Rule No. 409/1998 and (2) Civil Rule No. 450/ 1998 raise the same issues to be determined by this Court. Hence they are taken up together for disposal by a common judgment.

(2.) By Notification dated 28th May, 1997 applications were invited for undergoing training course of Female Health Workers, in short FHW, for the session 1997-98 by the Medical Directorate, Govt. of Manipur. The writ petitioners submitted applications to the competent authority in time. Thereafter by Notification dated 19th August, 1997 it was announced that the written test for selection of FHW training course 1997-98 would be held on 24.8.1997 at the G.P. Women's College, Imphal. The said notice was issued by the Director of Health Services. Admit Cards were duly issued to the petitioners and they all appeared in the test held on 24.8.1997. It was reliably learnt that selection had been made by a duly constituted Selection Board and the list had been submitted to the State Govt. for approval. The petitioners were eagerly awaiting the results of the said test.

(3.) On 23.5.98 a news report appeared in local English Daily "The Imphal Free Press" that the results of the written test for selection of FHW held in August, 1997 had been cancelled as the marks of several candidates were found to be tampered with. A copy of the said news report has been filed with the petitions. Marks of at least 23 general candidates and 15 S/T candidates were said to have been over-written or modified or otherwise manipulated on the tabulation sheets. It was also stated that one candidate who had obtained only 2 marks was found to have been credited with 70 marks while someone who was credited with 62 marks was found to have got only 4 marks, in another local Manipur Daily "Yakairo" dated 23.5.98 it was reported that candidate bearing Roll No. 127 stood first in the test. It is contended that petitioner in Civil Rule 409/1998 is the person who bad taken the aforesaid test with Roll No. 127.