M.M.Kumar, J.

1. The petitioner has approached this Court for issuance of direction to the respondents to extend benefit of notification dated 24.5.2010 (Annexure P-3) amending Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Services) Rules, 1994. According to the amendment made by insertion of Rule 5A, the upper age limit of appointment in service for any category of person seeking employment has been raised from 35 to 37. The aforesaid amendment reads as under :-

"5A. Increase in upper age limit - Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 5, on and with effect from the commencement of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2010, where in any other service Rules, or in Government instructions, the upper age limit for appointment to any service or for any category of persons, is different from thirty-five years, it shall be deemed to have been increased by two years."

2. The petitioner has claimed that the advertisement for appointment to the post of PCS (Executive Branch) has been issued on 28.11.2009 and the last date of receipt of the applications is 28.12.2009 alleging that the benefits of notification dated 24.5.2