IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWPOA No.4669 of 2019 Reserved on: 10.04.2026 Decided on: 27.04.2026 Karan Sharma & another ...Petitioners Versus State of HP & another ...Respondents Coram Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, Judge Whether approved for reporting? ¹ Yes For the petitioners: Ms. Reeta Hingmang, Advocate.

For the respondents: Mr. Rupinder Singh Thakur and Mr. Amandeep Sharma, Additional Advocates General, for respondent No.1.

Mr. Shivank Singh Panta, g Advocate, for respondent No.2.

Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, Judge The petitioners by way of present petition have prayed for the following substantive reliefs:-

“(i) That the respondents may kindly be directed to declare the petitioners successful on the basis of the marks obtained by them in the written examination itself and grant them appointment as Asst. manager (FO) and (F&D) respectively being topper and second topper in the merit list of their respective categories after setting aside the complete process of interview held on 19.06.2014/11/05/2015 for the post of Asstt.

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment?

Manager (FAB) and Assistant Manager (FO).

(ii) That the communication dated 23/09/2015 (Annexure P11), whereby petitioner no.1 h.as been not recommended for the post in Pquestion, may kindly be set aside with the further direction to respondent: corporation to conduct fresh interview.

(iii) That the respondent-Corporation may kindly be directed to not to issue fresh advertisement for the post of Assistant Ma nager (FO) and (F&B).

(iv) That in alternativfe this Hon’ble Court may constitute indoependent interview committee to conduct fresh interview for the post of Assistant Manager (FO) and (F&B) in terms of judgment dated 06/04/2015 passed by Hon’ble High Court in CWP no. 9554/2014.”

2. Shorn of unnecessary details, the key facts of the case are that respondent No.2-Corporation had issued an advertisement dated 12.07.2012, inviting applications to fill up various posts of Managers, Assistant Manager (F&B), Assistant Manager (F.O.), Trainees and Accounts Clerks. Petitioners No.1 and 2 being eligible had applied H respectively for the post(s) of Assistant Manager (FO) and Assistant Manager (F&B). They have appeared in the written test held on 14.02.2014. After declaration of the result, they were called for the interview which was held on 19.06.2014. Both the petitioners appeared before the Selection Committee, who conducted the interview on 19.06.2014. It has been averred that both of them did well in the interview and were at Serial No.1 and 2 respectively, in their respective categories. They were expecting to be selected for the posts. However, respondent No.2-Corporation did not declare the result qua the posts applied for by them, whereas, the result of other categorieHs was declared. On inquiry, it was transpired that respondent No.2 had already issued the list of selected candidates for contractual appointment with respect to various categories i.e. Account Clerks, Junior Engineetr (Civil), Trainee (Waiting) and Manager (Food & Beverages) and not for the posts to which the petitioners had applied.

3. Petitioner No.1 feeling aggrieved by the action of respondent No.2-Corporation preferred a writ petition bearing CWP No.9554 of 2014, titled, Karan Sharma vs.

State of H.P. & another, which came to be disposed of on 06.04.2015, directing respondent No.2-Corporation to conduct interview afresh, for all the eligible candidates on a date to be intimated to them, by a newly constituted interviewing board/selection committee and the proceedings be returned in a sealed cover.

4. After the directions being issued by this Court, the interview of petitioner No.1 was conducted to the post of Assistant Manager (FO) on 11.05.2015, by the committee constituted for the purpose and his name had not been recommended for the post applied.

5. It has been averred in the earlier petition that in the petition instituted by petitioner No.H1, which