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2021 Supreme(Guj) 1166

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
NIKHIL S. KARIEL, J.
SANJAYKUMAR RAGHUBHAI JOSHI - Appellant
Versus
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE - Respondent
SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 5825 of 2021
Decided On : 26-11-2021

Advocates Appeared:
For The Appellant : MS MAMTA R VYAS
For The Respondent: MS SURBHI BHATI, AGP

Headnote:

Gujarat Civil Services (General Conditions) Rules, 2000 - Rule 11 - Certificate of physical fitness a prerequisite for substantive appointment or continuance in service - Petitioner had been selected for post of Lok Rakshak through process conducted by respondent Authorities vide an advertisement published , and whereas petitioner had cleared both written as well as physical examinations and after verification of all requisite documents, petitioner had been selected and given posting as Lok Rakshak with SRPF, Group-12 - Whether a particular type of unfit certificate by Medical Board would be ground of termination of service or cancellation of appointment order or not – Held, Court, appropriate directions deserve to be issued to respondents - Respondent authorities are directed to appoint petitioner on post of Lok Rakshak ignoring his colour blindness, if nothing adverse is found against him - Petitioner shall be granted continuity of service, but petitioner would not be entitled for promotion on basis of such continuity - It is clarified that continuity of service would only be applicable for purpose of deciding the pay as well as pensionary benefits and whereas case of petitioner for promotion to be considered only after actual qualifying service has been undergone by petitioner as per relevant Rules - Necessary orders in this regard shall be passed by concerned respondent within a period of eight weeks from date of receipt of this order - Needless to clarify that petitioner would not be entitled to any back-wages, and whereas continuity of service would be treated as notional for purpose of salary - Petition stands allowed.

JUDGMENT :

1. Heard learned Advocate Mrs.Mamda Vyas on behalf of the petitioner and learned AGP Ms. Surbhi Bhati on behalf of the respondent State.

2. Issue Rule returnable forthwith. Learned AGP waives service of notice of Rule on behalf of the respondent State.

3. With the consent of the learned Advocates for the parties, the present petition is taken up for final hearing.

4. By this petition, the petitioner challenges a decision of respondent No.2 of removing the petitioner from service on the ground that the petitioner had been declared unfit in medical examination.

5. Learned Advocate Mrs.Vyas for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner had been selected for the post of Lok Rakshak through the process conducted by the respondent Authorities vide an advertisement published on 26.10.2016, and whereas the petitioner had cleared both the written as well as physical examinations and after verification of all requisite documents, the petitioner had been selected and given posting as Lok Rakshak with SRPF, Group-12, Gandhinagar vide letter dated 20.9.2017. That such appointment of the petitioner was subject to his clearing the medical examination and whereas the petitioner was called for his physical examination before the Medical Board of Civil Hospital, and whereas it appears that since the petitioner was having partial colour vision deficiency, the petitioner's case had been referred to the Chairman, Board of Referees by a letter dated 20.8.2017 by the Civil Surgeon, General Hospital, Gandhinagar. It further appears that since the petitioner had been declared ‘unfit’ on account of having colour vision deficiency vide a letter dated 4.11.2018, the respondent No.2 had relieved the petitioner from service. Learned Advocate Mrs.Vyas would submit that the issue involved in the petition is no more res integra more particularly in view of the fact that a decision of learned Single Judge of this Court had been confirmed by Hon’ble Division Bench, and the said judgement has been consistently followed by various decisions of this Court. Insofar as delay in preferring the present petition is concerned, learned Advocate Mrs.Vyas would rely upon a decision of Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in case of Dipesh K. Ashok Vs. State of Gujarat in LPA No.538 of 2020 in SCA No.9199 of 2020, whereby Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court had set aside the decision of the learned Single Judge of having rejected the petition on the ground of delay more particularly, according to the Hon'ble Division Bench, though several such orders, related similar issue, were attached to the petition, the learned Single Judge had not considered the same and as such, undisputedly, since this issue of colour blindness is the only issue by virtue of which the appellant – petitioner was deprived of employment, the Hon’ble Division Bench was inclined to consider the case of the appellant. The Hon’ble Division Bench further observed that this issue has been well examined time and again and as such, simply because some delay has taken place at the instance of the appellant – petitioner would not be an impediment.

6. Learned AGP could not controvert the legal position inasmuch as this Court speaking through learned Single Judge as well as Hon'ble Division Bench has held that in absence of colour blindness not being one of the grounds as per the Rules based upon which the candidate could be disqualified. Learned AGP has argued on delay and as such contended that the petitioner who has been declared ineligible for appointment, seeks to challenge an order passed in the year 2018 and whereas since the same would be barred by delay, and therefore, it is requested that this Court may not consider the request of the petitioner.

7. Having regard to the submissions made by the learned Advocates for the petitioner, who have not submitted anything further, it appears that this Court (Coram: A.S. Suphehia, J.) in Dinesh G. K. Vs. State of Gujarat (SCA No.7638 of 2013) had inter a

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