1. This writ petition projects a pathetic story of a young person who was nearly successful in his attempt to get employed with the prestigious Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, since re-named as `Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited’. For establishing the steel plant, at Viskhapatnam, large tracks of land have been acquired by the State compulsorily. The State Government apart from ordering for payment of market value as compensation for the compulsory acquisition of the lands also came up with a rehabilitation package so as to secure employment either to the land loser or his dependant in the steel plant. For regulating this entire exercise, a sub-employment exchange has also been opened up at Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam. The eligible land losers have all been identified and they were all furnished with rehabilitation cards (Rcards). As and when Visakhapatnam Steel Plant was undertaking recruitment drive, a certain percentage of vacancies were thrown open for recruitment from the source of rehabilitation card holders. In that process, the writ petitioner herein has undergone the selection process to the post of `Assistant Technician’. He has come through the written test followed by viva voce. The Visakhpatnam Steel Project through its communication No. PL.NER.9 (23), dated 12th Jan 1988 informed the writ petitioner that he was selected for appointment as `Assistant Technician Trainee’ and the said offer of appointment was subject to his fitness on medical examination ether by the company’s doctor or a medical officer authorized by the said company. The detailed conditions and terms subject to which the said offer of appointment has been made, have all been listed out, with which we are not so much concerned now. It appears that the writ petitioner has also subjected himself for medical examination at the company’s hospital sometime immediately after 12.1.1988. But, however, on the plea that he has not heard anything thereafter from the Steel plant, he has filed the present writ petition.

2. This writ petition has been instituted on 25.2.1999, more than 11 years after the selection process has culminated in an offer of appointment as an `Assistant Technician’ is made to him. It would be worth noticing the pleadings as set up by the writ petitioner in the affidavit filed in support of the above writ petition.

“3. ….. I have called for interview for the post of Assistant Technician Trainee in Visakhapatnam Steel Project. Later I have received a letter dated 12.1.1988 intimating me that I have been selected for appointment as ASSISTANT TECHNICIAN TRAINEE in Visakhapatnam Steel Project. But I have not been appointed. I do not know what is the reasons for not appoint me in the said post. I have been anxiously waiting for consideration by the respondent for any suitable post. I have made personal enquiries in the office of the respondent organization and requested for providing another opportunity to me for my selection. All others have been appointed and very few were left over including myself.”

3. The Deputy Chief Personnel Manager has filed a detailed counter affidavit. In paragraph 18(B) of the said counter affidavit, this is what has been stated:

“18(B) ….. it is submitted that the petitioner had qualified in the written test, interview subsequently held in November 1987 for the post of Assistant Technician Trainee and hence he was intimated to appear for Medical Examination. However from the records it is seen that he did not join VSP. The possibilities are that he must have remained absent and not appeared for Medical Examination or he must have been declared medically unfit. Since this pertains to the year 1987-88 and as a result of lapse of so much of time, we are not able to locate the records pertaining to his medical examination.”

4. From the above pleadings what emerges is this:

The writ petitioner was selected and must have appeared for medical examination as was directed in the offer of appointment or he would have avoided