203 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 05.02.2026 Barjinder Kumar and others ....Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and another ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. G.S. Bal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Dilshad Singh Gill, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Vikas Arora, DAG, Punjab.

Ms. Deepali Puri, Advocate for the respondent-PUNSUP.

HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL)

1. The present civil writ petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing the advertisement (Annexure P-32) to the extent of inviting applications for recruitment of Drivers (17 posts) and also a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to regularize the services of the petitioners as Drivers.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners inter alia contends that petitioners were appointed as Drivers on contract basis in the year 2006 as discernible from their appointment letters (Annexures P-3 to P-15). He further submits that they have been continuously working on the post of Driver for the last 19 years, without there being any complaint to their work a