2007 Supreme(All) 1685
[2007(7) ADJ 572]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : DILIP GUPTA, J.
SUSHIL KUMAR SHARMA ...........Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS ......Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 37482 of 2006, decided on 25th May, 2007)
Counsel :
Kamlesh Shukla for the Petitioner; Rajeev Gupta, Manoj Kumar, K.R. Sirohi, S.C. for the Respondents.
Headnote:Appointment—Cancellation of—Class IV employee in Aligarh District Judgeship—Advertisement of posts—Appointment to any post can be made only after proper advertisement has been made inviting application from eligible candidates—Any appointment without holding the proper selection where all eligible candidates get a fair chance to complete would be violative of Article 16 of the Constitution and illegal—Appointment of respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 5 had been made without issuing any advertisement, liable to be set aside. [Paras 22 to 29]
Hon’ble Dilip Gupta, J.—This petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 26th May, 2006 passed by the learned District Judge, Aligarh whereby the waiting list of the candidates declared on 21st July, 2005 for Class IV employees in the Aligarh District Judgeship was cancelled. The petitioner has also sought the quashing of the appointment orders of respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 5 as Chowkidars in Aligarh District Judgeship. The relief for appointing the petitioner as a Class IV employee on the vacant post has also been sought.
2. An advertisement was issued in the Newspaper ‘Amar Ujala’ on 18th June, 2005 inviting applications for the two posts of Class IV employees in the District Court, Aligarh. It was mentioned that the number of posts can be increased or reduced. The petitioner applied for being considered for appointment against the said post and on the basis of the written examination and the interview, a list of seven candidates was declared on 21st July, 2005 in which the petitioner was placed as Serial No. 4. It was mentioned in the said list that the candidates at Serial Nos. 1 to 3 had been selected for appointment while the rest were kept in the waiting list which would be in existence for a period of two years.
3. The petitioner claims that he was subsequently appointed as a peon in the Court of Civil Judge (LD), Atrauli as one Avnesh Kumar Sharma took leave from 25th July, 2005 up to 25th October, 2005. This appointment of the petitioner which lasted till 25th October, 2005 was made as he was at Serial No. 1 in the waiting list declared on 21st July, 2005. The petitioner thereafter submitted an application before the District Judge, Aligarh on 24th April, 2006 mentioning therein that as two posts had fallen vacant in Class IV category on account of the promotion of Sri Anil Rai and Sri Srikant he may be appointed. This application was rejected by the District Judge in view of the report submitted by the In-charge, Nazarat. Subsequently, the District Judge by his order dated 26th May, 2006 also cancelled the waiting list of four persons declared on 21st July, 2005 in view of the Inspection Note made by the learned Administrative Judge on 12th May, 2006 and the circular dated 20th February, 1999 issued by this Court. Soon thereafter, the District Judge, Aligarh appointed respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 5 as Chowkidars.
4. The contention of the petitioner is that he was at Serial No. 1 in the waiting list prepared on 21st July, 2005 which list was valid for a period of two years but without any rhyme or reason the said list was cancelled by the District Judge by the order dated 26th May, 2006 and immediately respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 5 were appointed as Class IV employees in an arbitrary manner without even advertising the said posts.
5. It needs to be mentioned that the appointment to Class IV post in District Judgeship is provided under Rule 4 of the U.P. Subordinate Civil Courts Inferior Establishment Rules, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Rules’) and the same is as follows :
“4. Method of recruitment.—Recruitment to the following posts in the establishment shall be made.
(1) Daftaries and bundle lifters—By promotion strictly on merits from amongst process servers, orderlies, office peons and farrashes who have put in at least five years service as such :
Provided that no person shall be promoted to these posts unless he is able to read and write Hindi in Devnagri Script with correctness and fluency and can discharge the duties of the office satisfactorily and in the case of the post of daftari unless he also knows book binding.
(2) Process servers, orderly, peons, Office peons and farrashes—(a) by appointment of candidates on the waiting list prepared under Rule 12, or (b) by transfer from one post to another according to suitability.
(3) Chaukidars, Malis, Waterman and sweepers—By direct recruitment on the discretion of District Judge.”
6. A counter affidavit has also been filed on behalf of the District Judge,