PUNJAB MANDI BOARD Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This common order shall dispose of the aforementioned two writ petitions, as they arise from a similar factual matrix. The petitioner-Board in CWP-14378-2024 seeks a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing of the order dtd. 1/12/2023 (Annexure P-19) passed by respondent No.2 (Additional Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Punjab), whereby the revision petition filed by respondent No.3-Jagroop Singh was allowed directing the correction of his date of birth in the service record from 1/1/1966 to 15/1/1968 and the order dtd. 27/12/2023 (Annexure P-20) passed by respondent No.2, whereby the review application filed by the petitioner-Board against the order dtd. 1/12/2023 was dismissed.

(2.) Petitioner-Jagroop Singh, in CWP-15371-2025, seeks a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing of chargesheet dtd. 20/3/2025 (Annexure P-1 in CWP-15371-2025) issued against him by the respondent-Board.

(3.) Briefly stated, the genesis of this litigation lies in the dispute regarding the recorded date of birth of Jagroop Singh, who is respondent No.3 in CWP-14378-2024 and petitioner in CWP-15371-2025. He was initially appointed as Clerk on ad hoc basis for 89 days vide office order No.756 dtd. 8/4/1992 (Annexure P-1 in CWP-14378-2024) and joined his duties on 16/4/1992. At the time of joining, he submitted his matriculation certificate (Annexure P-2), issued on 1/10/1984, in which his date of birth is recorded as 1/1/1966. This date was also consistently declared by him in the proforma for police verification dtd. 27/5/1992 (Annexure P-3). His services were regularized w.e.f. 2/5/1994 vide office order No.1338 dtd. 18/9/1994 (Annexure P-4) and he was later promoted, ultimately holding the position of Secretary, Market Committee, Dhariwal.