IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
D.N. PATEL, J.
Ranjeet Singh & ors.
Vs.
State of Jharkhand & ors.
W.P.(S) No. 5900 of 2011 with W.P.(S) No. 5981 of 2011
Decided On : 29th August, 2012
Writ petitions filed by candidates seeking employment to the posts of Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander, pursuant to public advertisement bearing No.1 of 2008, on the basis of actual vacancies, as on date available in the State of Jharkhand; secondly for issuing directions upon the respondents to the effect that the posts, actually advertised, should be enhanced to the actual vacancies, available in the State of Jharkhand and thirdly; to appoint the petitioners on the posts of Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander, were dismissed by the court.
Fact of the Case:
In response to a public advertisement bearing No.1 of 2008, issued for filling up 384 vacancies of the posts of Sub-Inspector, Sargent and Company Commander, in total 1595 applications were received. Subsequently, another public advertisement was issued, which is at Annexure 2 to the memo of petition, wherein, the age limits now prescribed are as under: (i) General Category 19 years to 35 years (ii) Other Backward Class 19 years to 38 years (iii) Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes 19 years to 40 years The relaxation of age, thus, is prescribed by the advertisement, but, this relaxation is given as a one time measure. It is also mentioned in the advertisement that in future the minimum and maximum age limit will be as per the circular bearing No. 2029 dated 7th May, 2008.
Finding of the Court:
The State has taken care of all the candidates, who have become overage. Had there been no second advertisement, several candidates would have become ineligible to prefer applications for the posts, in question, because since last several years, these posts were never advertised. Keeping in mind the interest of those candidates, who have been, otherwise overaged, they were brought within the age limit, by enhancing the upper age limit or by giving relaxation in the upper age limit by 11 years. However, this is a onetime measure. In fact, this is not necessary but the State, being a newly separated State, appears to be overcautious in pointing out as to what will be the future maximum age limit, otherwise the same is not required to be mentioned in the present advertisement.
Issues: Whether the State is under an obligation to fill up all the existing vacancies and the total number of existing vacancies as on the date of interview must be filled up from the very same examination.
Ratio Decidendi: There is no legal obligation on the part of the State to fill up all the vacancies. How many posts are to be filled up is left at the discretion of the State. This discretion in the Service Jurisprudence is known as a “Power of the State” and thus, there is no corresponding “duty” vested in any candidate. It is always left at the discretion of the State.
Final Decision: Writ petitions dismissed.
D.N. Patel, J.
1. The issues involved in both the writ petitions, being common, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. However, for the practical purposes, W.P.(S) No. 5900 of 2011 shall be treated as main writ petition for referring annexures hereinbelow.
2. These writ petitions have been preferred firstly for getting employment to the posts of Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander, pursuant to public advertisement bearing No.1 of 2008, on the basis of the actual vacancies, as on date available in the State of Jharkhand; secondly for issuing directions upon the respondents to the effect that the posts, actually advertised, should be enhanced to the actual vacancies, available in the State of Jharkhand and thirdly; to appoint the petitioners on the posts of Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander.
3. Factual Matrix:
? The State of Jharkhand has issued a public advertisement bearing no.1 of 2008 on 1st March, 2008 for fulfilling the vacancies of different posts in the Police Department, namely, Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander, in total 384. The said advertisement is at Annexure 1 to the memo of petition.
? In the advertisement, it is mentioned that the number of vacancies can be increased or decreased. So far as minimum and maximum age limits are concerned, the advertisement speaks as under:
sl. Category Minimum Age Minimum Age
No.
1. General 19 Years 24 Years
2. Other Backward Class 19 Years 24 Years
3. Scheduled Castes/ 19 Years 24 Years
Scheduled Tribes
(Male & Female)
? Thereafter, another public advertisement was issued, which is dated 23rd May, 2009, as per the learned counsels appearing in both the writ petitions, and the said advertisement is at Annexure 2 to the memo of petition, wherein, the age limits now prescribed are as under:
Sl. No. Category Minimum Age Maximum Age
1. General 19 years 35 years
2. Other Backward Class 19 years 38 years
3. Scheduled Caste/ 19 years 40 years
Scheduled Tribe
(Male & Female)
? The relaxation of age, thus, is prescribed by the advertisement, but, this relaxation is given as a one time measure. It is also mentioned in the advertisement that in future the minimum and maximum age limit will be as per the circular bearing No. 2029 dated 7.5.2008. According to this, the age relaxation is not a permanent phenomenon. With the aforesaid rider, second advertisement was issued and except this, there is no other material change in the second advertisement. Total number of vacancies advertised is 384 for the posts of Sub Inspector of Police, Sargent and Company Commander.
? Examination, pursuant to the aforesaid advertisements, was conducted on 11th September, 2011; interviews were taken on and from 9th January, 2012 and thereafter, the result was published on 25th February, 2012.
? These petitioners applied for information, under Right to Information Act, whereupon, information was given to them vide Memo No. 3467 dated 15.12.2011, which is at Annexure B to the rejoinder affidavit, filed by the petitioners, that as on date there are total available vacancies of the post of Sub Inspector of Police are 1492 whereas total available vacancies of the post of Sargent are 82. Further, in para 10 of the rejoinder affidavit it has been pointed out that there are 103 vacant posts of Company Commander. Earlier advertisement was given in 1994 for the aforesaid three posts.
4. Arguments canvassed by the counsel for the petitioners:
(i) All vacancies available as on the date of interview must be filled up from the very same examination.
(ii) There is no statutory embargo for not to fill up all the existing vacancies and the total number of existing vacancies as on the date of interview, as alleged by the counsel for the petitioners, is 1595, which is slightly higher than what is given by the respondent State under the Right to Information Act.
(iii) The State of Jharkhand is
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