K.S. Radhakrishnan, J.

Public Service Commission issued a notification in the Gazette dated 13th August 1996 inviting applications for appointment to the post of Binder Gr. II in the Government Presses of the Printing Department. Qualifications prescribed for the post were as follows: (1) Must have completed the SSLC course or its equivalent and (2) must have passed KGTE or MGTE in Book Binding (Lower). On the basis of the above mentioned notification several persons applied including the petitioners herein. Petitioners possess SSLC and Diploma in Printing Technology. They have not passed KGTE or MGTE in Book Binding (Lower).

2. Petitioners applications were rejected by the Public Service Commission on the ground that they do not possess KGTE or MGTE in Book Binding (Lower) which are the essential qualification prescribed in the notification. According to the petitioner since they have passed Diploma in Printing Technology they should be treated as qualified for applying for the post of Binder Grade II. It is their case Diploma course is three year course and all the subjects for KGTE and MGTE in Book Binding (Lower) have been included in the three year Diploma Course. Re