SAROJ BHALLA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) (Oral) - On Nov. 27, 1993, the Punjab Public Service Commission advertised six posts of Lecturers in Philosophy. One of these six posts was in a Training College. The candidates were inter alia required to have a Master's Degree in the relevant subject with atleast 55% marks. In case of the post in the Training College, "the qualification of M.Ed. alongwith above qualification" was also essential. The petitioner was a candidate for all the six posts. The Punjab Public Service Commission conducted the selection. The results was declared on Oct. 4, 1994. The petitioner was not one of the successful candidates.

(2.) Feeling aggrieved, she filed this petition. She impleaded all the six selected candidates as respondent Nos. 3 to 8. It was inter alia alleged that none of the "six private respondents possess the qualification of M.Ed. Accordingly, none of them is eligible for being appointed to the post of Lecturer in Philosophy in the State Government Training College in terms of the advertisement Annexure P1". She also stated that she possessed the qualifications of MA, M.Ed., M.Phil. She was eligible.

(3.) In response to the notice issued by the Court, a written statement was filed on behalf of the Punjab Public Service Commisison by the Secretary. It was admitted that the petitioner was the only candidate who had M.Ed. qualification and that none of the other applicants possessed this qualification. It was further stated that "the Commisison had recommended six candidates against the six vacancies of Lecturers in Philosophy as per their merit". So far as the post in the Training Colleges was concerned, it was averred that "Veena Kumari (application No. 35) had been recommended against the post of Lecturer in Philosophy in Training College..." So far as the petitioner is concerned, it was averred that "she was interviewed but her merit does not fall within the zone of selection. Being lower in merit, her name was not recommended for the post of Lecturer (in) Philosophy in the Training College."