Digitally signed by SHAYNA KADRI

2026:CGHC:2556 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 4025 of 2023

1 - Dr. Arundhati Singh Parihar Excavation Assistant Directorate Culture And Archeology, Civil Lines Raipur (C.G.)

2 - Smt. Seema Tiwari Technical Assistant (Writing) Directorate Culture And Archeology, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.)

... Petitioner(s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Culture, Government Of Chhattisgarh, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur (C.G.)

2 - Director Directorate Of Culture, Indravati Bhawan, Naya Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh

3 - Public Service Commission Through Secretary North Block, Sector-

19, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar (C.G.)

... Respondent(s)

(Cause-title is taken from Case Information System)

For Petitioners : Mr. Akhil Kumar Samantray, Advocate For State : Mr. Anand Dadariya, Dy. A. G.

For Resp. No. 3 : Mr. Pratik Vishwakarma, Advocate appearing on behalf of Mr. Anand Mohan Tiwari, Advocate SB- Hon'ble Shri Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad

Order on Board

15/01/2026

1. The present writ petition is being filed challenging the impugned Advertisement No. 853 / 105 / Advertisement / 2020 dated 24.05.2023 issued by the Public Service Commission on the requisition of the Department of Culture & Archaeology, whereby applications have been invited to fill the posts of Archaeological Officer, Epigraphist, Numismatist, Archaeologist and Curator by way of direct recruitment, seeking following reliefs:-

“10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for entire record relating to the petitioners for kind perusal.

10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/mandamus directing the respondents to consider the petitioners representation and the proposal made by the directorate culture & archeology providing promotional avenue to the petitioners who are working in the department for last 15 years without any promotion.

10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/direction to the concerned respondent no.4 not to proceed further in the direct recruitment process as advertised in 853/105/advertisement/2020 dated 24.05,2023 and advertisement no.07/2023/examination/24.05.2023.

10.4 That, the Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/direction that the Respondent No.1 to fill up the post of archeological officer, epigraphist, archeologist, numismatist, archive officer and curator by promotion from the feeder cadre.

10.5 Any other relief, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit according to the facts & circumstances of the case may also be granted”

2. Facts of the case, in a nutshell, are that petitioner No.1 has been working as an Excavation Assistant in the Directorate of Culture & Archaeology since 02.09.2008 and petitioner No.2 has been working as a Technical Assistant (Writer) since 14.05.2008 in the same department. After the formation of the State of Chhattisgarh, the State initially adopted the Madhya Pradesh Archaeology, Archives and Museum (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 1998, which provided ample promotional avenues; however, the subsequently notified Recruitment Rules, 2020 drastically reduced promotional posts, adversely affecting the feeder cadre. The posts of Archaeological Officer, Archaeologist, Numismatist, Epigraphist and Curator remained vacant for more than 20 years, during which period the petitioners and similarly placed employees discharged the duties of the said posts. Despite repeated representations and proposals sent by the Directorate recommending that these posts be filled by promotion, the same were ignored, and instead, requisition was sent to the Public Service Commission for direct recruitment, resulting in issuance of the impugned advertisement dated 24.05.2023. The petitioners possess the requisite qualifications and more than 15 years of relevant experience, far exceeding the eligibility criteria prescribed in the advertisement, yet their legitimat