IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
ANOOP KUMAR DHAND, J.
Dr. Priyanka Joshi D/o Shri Prem Chand Joshi – Appellant
Versus
Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University – Respondent
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 26876 of 2018
Decided on : 24-07-2023
Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner Act, 2013 - Section 8(iii) - Process for selection - Appointment on post - Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, whereby Respondents be directed to issue appointment in favour of Petitioner on post of Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) in terms of Employment Advertisement with all consequential benefits and reliefs - Held, Petitioner cannot be blamed if respondents have not proceed further with process as per provision contained under Section 8(iii) of Act of 2013 - Since petitioner has approached this Court before expiry of waiting list and by way of passing an interim order Court has continued operation of said reserve list and said order is still in currency - Respondents was supposed to act in accordance with instructions issued by UGC vide its letter and complete recruitment process accordingly - Since post of Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) is still lying vacant on account of non- joining of selected candidate, respondents are supposed to fill same by operating reserve merit list - Petition disposed of.
JUDGMENT :
1. Instant petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following prayer:-
a) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, whereby Respondents be directed to issue appointment in favour of Petitioner on the post of Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) in terms of Employment Advertisement dated 17.4.2017, with all consequential benefits and reliefs.
b) Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, whereby Respondents be directed to operate the wait list/reserve list and give appointment on the basis of same with all consequential benefits and reliefs. In alternative, the period of six month for operating the wait list/reserve list may be extended.
c) Any other appropriate order or direction which the Hon’ble Court may deem just, proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioner.
d) Cost of the Writ Petition may also be awarded in favour of the petitioner.”
2. Counsel for the petitioner submits that pursuant to the advertisement dated 17.4.2017, the petitioner participated in the process for selection for appointment on the post of Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science). Counsel submits that only one post was advertised for unreserved female candidate and one Ms. Ragini Ranawat was selected on the aforesaid post and appointment letter was offered to her on 30.06.2018. Counsel submits that said Ms. Ragini Ranawat joined elsewhere and the post in question was lying vacant and the petitioner was at Merit No.1 in the reserve/waiting list. The respondents have not operated the same for the reasons best known to them. Counsel submits that when the reserve list was not operated, she approached this Court by way of filing of the instant petition. Counsel submits that while issuing notices to the respondents on 12.12.2018, this Court passed this interim order that “The waiting list for the post of Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) made pursuant to the selection following the advertisement dated 17.4.2017 issued by the Jobner University shall remain operative”. Counsel submits that looking to the letter dated 19.07.2018 issued by His Excellency, the Governor, the selection process was kept in abeyance. Subsequently, the Ministry of Human Resources Development, (for short, ‘MHRD’) Department of Higher Education, Government of India issued a letter on 07.03.2019 directing the Secretary, University Grants Commission, New Delhi, for issuing necessary directions to all the universities to start the recruitment process immediately. Counsel submits that in consonance with the aforesaid letter, the University Grants Commission, New Delhi (for short, ‘UGC’) issued a letter on 07.03.2019 directing all the universities to start the recruitment process immediately. Counsel further submits that vide order dated 09.07.2021 the Department of Higher Education, Government of Rajasthan issued guidelines indicating therein that the advertisement in which no activity relating to final selection i.e. examination or interview etc. has not been completed and the recruitment process is still pending at the stage of advertisement and inviting the application, in such cases, the new rule notified on 07.03.2019 will be applied and the vacancies to be brought in the new roster accordingly. Counsel submits that in the instant case, aforesaid situation was not existing as the selection process was completed prior to issuance of the new rule which is notified on 07.03.2019. Counsel submits that under these circumstances, there is no hurdle with the respondents to operate the waiting list and offer appointment to the petitioner. Counsel submits that the respondents have operated the reserve/waiting list on 19.07.2018 with regard to identical post and granted appointment to the similarly situated persons on the post of Assistant Professor. Counsel submits that the respondents cannot make any discrimi
Jammu and Kashmir Vs. Satpal reported in 2013(11) SCC 737
K. Jayamohan Vs. State of Kerala and Ors. reported in AIR 1997 SC 2619
State of M.P. and Ors. Vs. Sanjay Kumar Kathak and Ors. reported in 2007 (12) SCALE 72
State of Rajasthan and Ors. Vs. Jagdish Chopra reported in (2007) 8 SCC 161
Sub-clause (vi) of Rule 277A of Rules of 1996 read as Authorized Agency shall prepare category wise select list of candidates declared successful on basis of criteria of selection laid down.
The petitioner's claim for appointment on the post of JLO from the reserved waiting list was found to be valid as he approached the Court before the expiry of the wait list, and the Court allowed the....
The obligation of the state to operate the waiting list and fill vacancies from it when selected candidates do not join, as established in previous case law, was the central legal principle.
Waiting list candidates entitled to appointment for vacancies within validity period, tolled by judicial proceedings; cannot be denied arbitrarily.
Waiting lists do not confer vested rights for appointment, and recruitment processes can lapse with new selections, as confirmed by the court.
Selected candidates do not have an indefeasible right to be appointed, and executive instructions cannot override statutory rules.
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