IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

216 (3 cases) CWP-4590-2009 Date of Decision: 12.12.2025 Romio Mokal …Petitioner Versus State of Haryana and others …Respondents With Sr. Case No. Petitioner Respondents No.

2. CWP-9454-2024 Kavita Sharma State of Haryana and others

3. CWP-19765-2009 Sandeep State of Haryana and others CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present: - Mr. Ravinder Malik, Advocate and Mr. Anuj Malik, Advocate for the petitioner (in CWP-4590-2009)

Mr. H.S. Dhindsa, Advocate for petitioner (in CWP-19765-2009)

Ms. Puneeta Sethi, Additional Advocate General, and Mr. Ravi Partap Singh, Deputy Advocate General, Haryana Mr. Gurlabh S. Bhaika Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioner in CWP-9454-2024 for respondent No.6 in CWP-4590-2009 for respondent No.11 in CWP-19765-2009 Mr. Samrat Malik, Advocate for respondents No.4 and 7 in CWP-4590-2009 and respondent Nos.7 and 8 in CWP-19765-2009 ***

JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (Oral)

1. As common issues are involved in the captioned petitions, with the consent of all parties, the same are hereby disposed of by this common order. For the sake of brevity and convenience, facts are borrowed from CWP No.4590 of 2009.

2. The petitioner through instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of selection of respondent Nos. 4 to 8.

3. During the pendency of petition, the petitioner waived of her challenge qua respondent No.5-Sameer. Accordingly, respondent No.5 was deleted from the array of respondents.

4. The respondent with intent to encourage sportspersons vide advertisement dated 12.10.2008 invited applications from sportspersons for the post of Sub-Inspectors. 10 posts were advertised. In the advertisement, qualification was prescribed. Recipients of Arjun Award of Government of India or Bhim Award of the State of Haryana, winners of Gold/Silver/Bronze Medal in Olympics or winners of Gold/Silver/Bronze Medals in Commonwealth Games or Asian Games or winners of Gold Medal in Asian Championships conducted by recognized International/National Federations or winners of Gold/Silver Medal in SAARC Games or winners of Gold Medal in National Championships were eligible to apply. In the advertisement, procedure for selection was prescribed. As per procedure, candidates had to file application. The Recruitment Board had to examine sports achievements and shortlist candidates eligible for physical measurement. The said process comprised measurement of height and chest. The candidates complying with the prescribed standards of height and chest were eligible for interview. The respondent shortlisted 30 candidates for interview. There were 20 marks for interview/personality test. In the interview, the Recruitment Board was supposed to assess current form of candidates, utility to department and present level of physical fitness. The Inspector General of Police, Ambala Range, Ambala on 26.02.2009 after completing selection process forwarded names of 11 (10+1) candidates to Director General of Police, Haryana who ordered to appoint 10 candidates.

5. The petitioners are assailing selection of 5 candidates. Selection of 2 candidates is assailed in CWP No.4590 of 2009 and 3 more in CWP No.19765 of 2009. The petitioners are primarily claiming that they are possessing better sports achievements, thus, were more meritorious e.g. they are claiming that there have played in Seniors Championship whereas selected candidates played Juniors Championship. They are further claiming that there are two candidates who were not even eligible to participate because they were not possessing requisite sports achievements. There are 2 candidates who were possessing forged certificates. The Recruitment Board did not follow prescribed criteria while granting marks in the interview. Candidates of lesser merit were granted higher marks, thus, meritorious candidates could not be selected.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioners submit that fraud vitiates everything. Selected can