In Shankarasan Dash v. Union of India, reported in JT 1991 (2) SC 380, a Constitution Bench of this Court which had occasion to examine the question whether , candidate seeking appointment to a civil post can be regarded to have , acquired, at indefeasible right to appointment in such post merely because of the appearance of-his name in the merit list (select list) of candidates for such post has answered the question in the negative by enunciating the correct legal position thus:

"It is not correct to say that if a number of vacancies are notified for appointment and adequate number of candidates are found fit, the successful candidates acquire an indefeasible right to be appointed which cannot be, legitimately denied. Ordinarily the notification merely amounts to an invitation, to qualified candidates to apply for recruitment and on their selection they do not acquire any right to the post. Unless the relevant Recruitment Rules so indicate, the State is under no legal duty to fill up all or any of the vacancies. However, it does not mean that the State has the licence of acting in an arbitrary manner. The decision not to fill up the vacancies has to be taken bona fide