Judgement

RANGANATH MISRA, J.:- This appeal is by special leave and is directed against the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing a writ petition of the appellants in limine. On 8th May, 1987, the Government of Punjab, respondent 1, notified in the State Gazette the criteria for holding of Competitive Entrance Examination for selection of candidates for admission to MBBS/BDS course in the three medical colleges and two dental colleges within the State. The Notification, inter alia, provided :-

"(i) Admission shall be given on the basis of the relative merit of candidates determined on the result of the Competitive Entrance Examination. In the case of reserved seats relative merit of the candidate shall be determined within each category of reservation except that in the category of Sportsmen/Sportswomen admission shall be made out of eligible candidates on the basis of their gradation done by the Department of Sports (Punjab) and in the category of children/widow of the defence personnel candidates of sub-category vii (b) given in Para III(d) infra, shall be admitted only if eligible candidates of sub-category vii (a) are not available. A candidate, however, must s