JUDGMENT :

1. An Advertisement Notification bearing No.Adm/TW/C&R/23/311 dated 09.06.2023 was issued by the Registrar of Jammu University inviting applications, complete in all respects, for making recruitment to various faculty positions. The Advertisement Notification included one post of Assistant Professor Sociology earmarked for reserved category of Economical Weaker Section (EWS). The petitioner, claiming to be a member of EWS category, also applied for the said post. Amongst other applicants for the post, respondent No.4 had also sought consideration under EWS category.

2. The process of selection, conducted by the University, culminated into issuance of the Provisional Select List by the Registrar vide his No. Adm/TW/C&R/24/1743 dated 29th January, 2024. Respondent No.4 was shown as provisionally selected for the post in question under EWS category. Feeling aggrieved, the petitioner has approached this Court through the medium of instant petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to throw challenge to the selection of respondent No.4. Selection of respondent No.4 is challenged, inter alia, on the following grounds:-

(i) Because respondent No.4, who does not