JUDGMENT

RANGANATH MISRA, J. :— After hearing the matter on 6 th November, 1987 we had allowed the appeal and directed reasons to follow. We proceed to state the reasons.

2. The Union of India has carried this appeal against the decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal at Patna. The respondent took the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in the year 1983 held on the basis of notification dated 18th December, 1982. The Civil Services Examination is a combined one for several services including Indian Foreign Service, Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service. He in his application form against column 22 which required information about services/posts in order of preference mentioned his preference for Indian Administrative Service only. The results of the examination were published on 25th March, 1984. on the basis of written examination; final results following viva voce test were published on 25th of May, 1984, and the respondent was placed in the 280th position in the final merit list. There is no dispute that on the basis of the position secured by him, he was not entitled to be recruited into the Indian Administrative