SANDEEP KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order shall dispose of Civil Writ Petition Nos. 8274, 15658, 15950, 19243 of 2002, 16460 and 17690 of 2003 as the common questions of law and facts are involved. In these petitions, the petitioners seek issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to issue them appointment letters as they were already selected by the Subordinate Selection Board, Punjab, Chandigarh (for brevity, 'the Board').

(2.) The facts in brief are that the petitioners applied for the post of Multipurpose Health Worker in pursuance to advertisement No. 1/2001 for filling up 400 vacancies. The Board conducted the interview from 26.4.2001 to 22.5.2001 and result was prepared on 27.12.2001 but due to imposition of Election Code in the State of Punjab in the wake of ensuing Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections, the result was not declared as is evident from the notice issued by the Board. Finally, the Board declared the result on 25.2.2002.

(3.) In the reply filed by respondents 1 and 2, the facts as narrated above have not been denied but it has been submitted that the Punjab Government issued instructions on 1.10.2001 that the appointment to Centrally sponsored schemes should be made on contract basis and not on regular basis. As such, the requisition sent to the Board vide letters dated 7.8.1998 and 24.1.2001 for filling up 400 posts of Multipurpose Health Workers (Male) and Block Extension Educators respectively has been withdrawn. It has further been averred that vide letter dated 5.3.2002 addressed to all the Heads of Departments of Punjab State, the State Government has decided that no appointment shall be made on the recommendations of Subordinate Services Selection Board. It has also been averred that vide letter dated 23.9.2002 the State Government showed its inability to accord the approval for filling up the aforementioned vacancies.