MARKANDEY KATJU, J.

( 1 ) LEAVE granted.

( 2 ) THIS appeal has been filed against the final judgment and order dated 19/9/2006 of the High Court of Madras in Writ Petition Nos. 9521 and 18563 of 2000 and Writ Petition No. 21870 of 2001.

( 3 ) HEARD learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

( 4 ) THE appellant (respondent No. 3 in the Writ Petition) applied for the post of Deputy Director (Agriculture) in the Agriculture Department, government of Pondicherry. That post was to be filled up by direct recruitment in pursuance of the advertisement issued by the Union Public service Commission (hereinafter in short 'upsc') dated 23/5/1998 inviting applications from eligible candidates.

( 5 ) THE appellant states that he was fully qualified for the post, but he was not called for the interview although similarly placed candidates had been so called.

( 6 ) IN this connection it may be mentioned that in the advertisement for the post issued by the UPSC, essential qualifications mentioned therein were as follows :

"essential : a. : Educational : M. Sc. Degree in Agriculature from a recognized University or institution. B: Experience : Two years experience in extension wor