RAMANJEET SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who was an applicant for recruitment to Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) & Other Allied Services, has filed the instant writ petition being aggrieved of the action of the respondent-Punjab Public Service Commission (hereinafter to be referred as the Commission) in holding him ineligible under the category of Sports Person.

(2.) Brief facts that would require notice are that the Commission issued advertisement dated 14.9.2012 inviting applications for filling up a total of 160 posts in the Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) & Other Allied Services to be filled up through the Punjab Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination, 2012. It has been pleaded that the petitioner is a graduate and currently serving as an Inspector in the Department of Food & Supplies, State of Punjab and being eligible under the advertisement, had duly submitted his application under the Sports Person category. The petitioner was permitted to appear in the Preliminary Examination of the Punjab Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination, 2012, which was held on 25.11.2012. The result of such Preliminary Examination was declared in which the petitioner secured 182 marks, whereas the cut off in the General Sports Category was stipulated at 153 marks. On having cleared the Preliminary Examination, the petitioner was hopeful of making a good attempt even in the Main Written Examination but is aggrieved by the issuance of a list of ineligible candidates on 31.5.2013 by the Commission in which the name of the petitioner is reflected at Sr. No. 15 and the ground of rejection mentioned is "not covered in the definition of Sports Person, Punjab as per rules".

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is a Sports Person and has represented the Punjabi University, Patiala Football Team in an All India Inter University Tournament organized by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi and had won such tournament. As per such achievement, it is submitted that the Director, Sports, Punjab has even awarded a Sports Gradation Certificate i.e. 'B' Grade and the same has been produced on record as Annexure P-2.