Jawahar Lal Gupta, J.

1. The petitioner prays for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider his case for admission to the B.Tech. (Textile Technology) course as candidates below him including respondent No.3 have already been admitted to the said course. A few facts may be noticed.

2. A combined entrance test for admission to the various Engineering Colleges in the State of Haryana was held on June 4, 1995. The petitioner who claims to be a member of the Backward Classes appeared in that test and qualified it. He was placed at No.3602 in the order of merit.

3. The candidates who had qualified the entrance test were required to submit fresh application for admission to the Engineering Course. These applications had to reach the Chairman of the Admission Committee on or before September 8, 1995. The petitioner sent his application form by speed post from the post office at Bhiwani in the State of Haryana on September 2, 1995. In the normal course of events, it should have reached the addressee on or before the last date fixed for the receipt of applications. The Chairman had to send letters of interview to the various applicants. However, a