RAJNEESH KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has challenged the appointment of respondent no.4 to the post of Soil Conservation Officer.

(2.) IN brief, the post of Soil Conservation Officer is governed by the Punjab Soil Conservation and Water Land Development Class III Service (Non -Ministerial) Rules, 2001 (for short, ''the Rules"). Vide advertisement Annexure P -1, 25 post of Soil Conservation Officers in the pay scales of Rs. 10300 -34800+GP Rs. 5000/ - were advertised. The basic qualification for the said post was B.Sc Agriculture or B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering or B.Sc../B. Tech. Civil Engineering degree from a recognized University or institution or Pass in Punjabi up to Matric Standard. The age of the candidates was required to be not less than 22 years and not more than 35 years as on 01.01.2011. 40% quota in the said service was to be filled up from the candidates possessing degree of Civil Engineering and Agricultural Engineering and out of three posts of Soil Conservation Officer in the Backward Class category, one being 40% was to be filled up from those degree holders. Similarly, out of 11 posts meant for General Category, five were to be filled up from Engineers category. Otherwise, 25 posts were advertised as under: -

(3.) THE petitioner, who belongs to Backward Class and was fully eligible having Engineering Degree, applied for the said post and was to be considered in the 40% quota. After selection, notice regarding counseling was published and the result of the selected candidates was shown vide notice dated 16.6.2012 in which Roll Number of the petitioner (18047) was at Serial No. 2 in the Backward Class candidates of Engineering Category. The person having Roll Number 18019 was at Serial No. 1.