DEEPAK KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of a bunch of petitions bearing CWP Nos. 124, 320, 1071, 1475, 1750, 1797, 1800, 2385, 2857, 3034, 3381, 4027, 4158 and 7697 of 2014, as common questions of law and facts are involved.

(2.) The issue under consideration is regarding selection to the post of Inspector (Group B) in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab.

(3.) Arguments of petitioners Mr. Sardavinder Goyal, Advocate appearing for the petitioners in CWP No. 124, 1071, 4027 and 4158 of 2014 submitted that advertisement for 461 posts of Inspector (Group B) in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab was issued on 8.10.2013. The last date for submission of applications on-line was 9.11.2013. The selection procedure was specified in the advertisement itself, which was on the basis of written examination only with no marks for interview. A public notice was subsequently published in the newspapers, as well as uploaded on the website intimating the applicants that due to receipt of large number of applications, the written test will be held in two stages. First stage test will be held for shortlisting of candidates on 15.12.2013 in two shifts, namely, morning and evening. The applicants will be divided equally in both the shifts. The allocation of shift to the candidates will be at random. Five times the number of vacancies in each category from both shifts will be shortlisted for second stage test, which will be held on 12.1.2014. No weightage of marks obtained by the candidates in first stage test was to be given as the same was only for shortlisting. After first stage examination, 4,609 candidates were shortlisted for second stage test. Though as per the data supplied, 4,709 candidates should have been permitted to appear in the second stage test, but only 4,609 candidates were allowed, hence, there was difference of 100 candidates, which is not clear from the summary statistics uploaded on the website after declaration of result of first stage.