JUDGMENT

R.M. Lodha, J.-Leave granted.

2. On July 18, 2007, a Resolution (for short "Resolution") was issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Government of Bihar providing for procedure and guidelines for employment on contract basis. Inter alia, it provided that employment on the contract basis will be done only against the sanctioned posts and on the basis of the advertisement. It further provided that employment on contract basis may be considered under any scheme for special proposal for short period only. In case of delay in regular employment against the permanent posts, the employment on contract basis can be made for short time and for maximum period of one year. It also provided that maximum age limit for employment on contract basis would be 65 years.

3. On June 13, 2009, an advertisement (hereinafter referred to as "advertisement") was issued in the newspaper "Hindustan" by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar inviting applications for employment on contract basis for 4062 posts of Subject Matter Expert (for short "SME") under "Krishi Prasar Sudridhikaran Yojna (for short "Yojna"). The advertisement provided for minimum qualification