LASHKARI RAM Vs. THE PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Is the action of the Respondent-Punjab State Electricity Board in excluding Assistant Linemen and Sub Station Attendants from appointment to the posts of Junior Engineer-Grade-II (Electrical) violative of Article 16 of the Constitution This is the short question that arises for consideration in these six Letters Patent Appeals. The learned Single Judge having answered this question in the negative, the writ petitioners have filed these appeals. A few facts as referred to by the counsel for the appellants in LPA No. 331 of 1996 may be briefly noticed.

(2.) On May 2, 1994, the Punjab State Electricity Board invited applications for the posts of Junior Engineers-Grade-II (Electrical). Persons who possessed the prescribed qualifications and had worked for atleast five years or more as Lineman, were eligible. Certain other categories of employees were also entitled to compete. On June 14, 1994, the Board issued another advertisement. The qualifications were marginally modified. The appellants who were working as Assistant Linemen or Sub Station Attendants, filed writ petitions with the grievance that the action of the Board in excluding them from consideration was illegal and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. They pray that the respondents be directed to consider them for appointment.

(3.) The Board contested the claim and contended that only such categories of employees as had no avenue of promotion, were being considered for appointment to the posts of Junior Engineers-Grade II. The Assistant Linemen were eligible for promotion to the posts of Linemen. The Sub Station Attendants had an avenue of promotion to the posts of Sub Station Operators. Thus, they had been rightly excluded from the zone of consideration for appointment to the pasts of Junior Engineers-Grade II. The learned Single Judge having negatived the challenge, the appellants have filed these appeals.