IMPORTANT POINT
Mere inclusion of name of a candidate in the select list does not confer on such candidate any vested right to get an order of appointment.

Headnote:SERVICE LAW-Selection-Mere inclusion of name of a candidate in the select list does not confer on such candidate any vested right to get an order of appointment-Acquisition of 987 acres of land for setting up of a power project-Policy decision in Order dated 18.7.1997, for providing employment on priority basis to one member of the affected family whose land has been acquired-Names of 277 persons were recommended for appointment on priority basis-Respondent was one among them-Revision of policy-Pursuant to amended policy, only three candidates were recommended for appointment-In 1998, appellant Board decided to set up a homeopathic dispensary-Respondent filed writ petition for direction to appoint him as a Homeopathic Physician in Homeopathic dispensary at power station-Whether High Court was justified in directing appellant Board to offer appointment to respondent-(No).
       The High Court committed an error in proceeding on the basis that the respondent had got a vested right for appointment and that could not have been taken away by the subsequent change in the policy. It is settled law that mere inclusion of name of a candidate in the select list does not confer on such candidate any vested right to get an order of appointment. (Para 4)
       It is not disputed that neither homeopathic dispensary at Lehra Mohabbat power station nor a post of Homeopathic Physician was available on 18.7.1994. The decision to set up a homeopathic dispensary at Lehra Mohabbat and to create a post of Homeopathic Physician in the dispensary was taken only on 1.7.1998 long after the policy decision dated 18.7.1994 and subsequent to the change in the policy dated 15.5.1998 and 2.6.1998. This being the position, the question of the respondent seeking for appointment to the said post pursuant to policy decision of 18.7.1994 itself did not arise. At any rate, there could be no vested right in him to claim the appointment to the said post. The High Court also committed an error in taking a view that the policy decision of 2.6.1998 could not have retrospective application to the disadvantage of the respondent. There is no question of applying the policy retrospectively. On 17.9.1998 when the names of suitable candidates were sought from the employment exchange pursuant to the decision of the Board dated 1.7.1998, it could not be said that the right of the respondent was taken away when he did not have any such vested right to get an appointment to Class-II post of Homeopathic Physician. It may also be added that the respondent was not eligible to claim appointment on priority basis having regard to the changed policy from 2.6.1998 inasmuch as the land acquired from him was less than 2 acres and he was also over-aged as on 17.9.1998. The revised policy made the position clear that there could be no relaxation in regard to qualification and the age limit. Further the scheme was devised on 18.7.1994 and subsequently it was revised only as a concession to give a helping hand as far as possible to rehabilitate the displaced families whose lands were acquired. The respondent has got compensation for his land which was acquired. The scheme giving appointment on priority basis was only in the nature of concession to eligible candidates which the respondent could not claim as a matter of right having taken compensation amount for his land which was acquired, more so when he did not fulfill the necessary requirements under the revised scheme. The High Court in the impugned order has observed that "Obviously, if the effort of the respondent is to deny to the petitioner the job that he seeks in the present case on the ground that he is overage, action of the respondents cannot but be termed as discriminatory." This observation is not based on proper foundation or facts. It is not a case where any mala fide is alleged against the appellant or its officers. There is nothing to show that anybody was bent upon denying the appointment to the respondent. (Para 6)

JUDGMENT

Shivaraj V. Patil, J.-The appellant-Board acquired 987 acres of land situated in few villages for setting up of a power project, which included 10 Kanals and 18 marlas belonging to the respondent, at Lehra Mohabbat and paid compensation to the land owners. On 18.7.1994, the appellant Board, with a view to rehabilitate the displaced persons who lost their lands because of acquisition, vide Office Order dated 18.7.1994 constituted a committee for providing employment on priority basis to one member of the affected family whose land has been acquired for the aforesaid purpose. Pursuant to the said policy decision as contained in the Office Order dated 18.7.1994, names of 277 persons were recommended for appointment on priority basis. The respondent was one among them. Out of them, 173 persons were appointed against the available vacancies on the basis of qualification possessed by them limited to the maximum of Class-III posts. On 15.5.1998 and 2.6.1998, the appellant-Board revised the policy considering that there was no justification to offer employment to those persons whose lands acquired were very nominal and they need not be given appointment. It was further decided that instead of the Committee constituted earlier, the Chief Engineer (GHTP) should re-examine the proposal only of those land owners whose lands to the extent of 2 acres or more had been acquired for giving benefit of employment on priority basis. It was also decided that no relaxation as regards qualification or age be given in future. Pursuant to this amended policy, cases of the candidates whose lands were acquired were considered and only three candidates were recommended for appointment. All other pending cases were rejected. By the Office Order dated 1.7.1998, the appellant-Board decided to set up a homeopathic dispensary at Lehra Mohabbat power station for which a Class-II post of Homeopathy Physician was created for the welfare of staff and their families stationed at the aforesaid power project. A separate committee was also constituted for selecting a suitable candidate for the said post. Pursuant to the said Office Order, the Chief Engineer on 17.9.1998 addressed a letter to the District Employment Officer, Bhatinda to send names of suitable candidates for the said post by 27th October, 1998. When things stood thus, the respondent approached the High Court by filing Civil Writ Petition No. 16989/1998 with a prayer to quash the aforesaid letter dated 17.9.1998, and to quash the revised policy decision dated 2.6.1998. Further, direction was sought to the appellant-Board to appoint him as a Homeopathic Physician in the Homeopathic dispensary at Lehra Mohabbat power station. The appellant-Board contested the writ petition raising plea that he was not eligible to be appointed on priority basis under the scheme; inter alia contenting that the acquired land of the respondent was less than two acres and as such he was not eligible for appointment on priority basis in terms of the policy dated 2.6.1998; the post of Homeopathic Physician was not a Class-III post and as such he was not eligible even under the original scheme dated 18.7.1994; more over, he was found over-aged and no relaxation could be given under the amended scheme dated 2.6.1998. The appellant also contended that merely because the respondent was one of the 277 candidates whose names were recommended by the committee for appointment, the same does not entitle him for the appointment. Further, the compensation for the acquired land was given to the respondent as in case of other land owners and as such the respondent could not claim appointment under the scheme as a matter of right. The Division Bench of the High Court, by the impugned judgment, allowed the writ petition and directed the appellant-Board to offer appointment for the post of Homeopathic Physician to the respondent as soon as possible, preferably within one month from the date of the order. In these circumstances, aggrieve

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2004 Supreme(SC) 1281

IMPORTANT POINTMere inclusion of name of a candidate in the select list does not confer on such candidate any vested right to get an order of appointment.

Cases Referred (3)

IMPORTANT POINT
Mere inclusion of name of a candidate in the select list does not confer on such candidate any vested right to get an order of appointment.