IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

240 CWP-25087-2025 Date of Decision: February 12, 2026 Karan Sukhija ....Petitioner VERSUS State of Haryana and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present : Mr. K.D.S. Hooda, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Saurabh Girdhar, AAG, Haryana.

Mr. Rajvir Singh Sihag and Mr. Nikhil Sharma, Advocate for respondent No.3.

HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (Oral)

1. The present petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing the impugned order dated 21.10.2024 (Annexure P-13) passed by respondent No.3, whereby extension for joining of the petitioner for the post of Assistant Manager was declined. Further praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to allow the petitioner to join on the post of Assistant Manager against one post which is still lying vacant.

Reply on behalf of respondent No.3 is filed in the Court today, which is ordered to be taken on record and copy thereof has also been supplied to the learned counsel for the petitioner in the Court itself. Registry is directed to place the same at an appropriate place.

2. On 09.09.2025, the following order was passed by this Court:-

“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 seeking quashing of the order dated 21.10.2024 (Annexure P-13) passed by respondent No.3, vide which extension sought by the petitioner for joining on the post of Assistant Manager was declined and further to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to allow him to join on the aforesaid post against the post, which is still laying vacant.

Learned counsel for the petitioner, inter alia, contends that the petitioner participated in the selection process and he was duly selected. Pursuant thereto, the petitioner was offered appointment letter dated 04.07.2024 (Annexure P-5). Further, vide letter dated 06.07.2024 and subsequent email dated 15.07.2024, the petitioner sought extension to join on the post of Assistant Manager and initially, his request was accepted and time for joining was extended upto 03.10.2024. However, vide impugned order dated 21.10.2024 (Annexure P-13), request of the petitioner seeking further extension for joining on the aforesaid post was rejected. The petitioner has raised the primary grievance that being higher in merit than last candidate, who had joined and one post is still lying vacant, despite that, he was not allowed to join his duties pursuant to his appointment on the post of Assistant Manager, which is arbitrary and unsustainable in the eyes of law.

Notice of motion.

Mr. Piyush Khanna, Addl. AG, Haryana, who is present in the Court, accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1 & 2-State and Mr. Vikrant Pamboo, Advocate appears on behalf of respondent No.3. They seek time to have complete instructions and file the reply.

Adjourned to 14.10.2025.

Reply, if any, be filed in the Registry on or before the next date of hearing, with an advance copy to learned counsel for the petitioner.

To be taken up immediately after the urgent.”

3. Learned counsel for respondent No. 3 submits that vide order dated 21.10.2024, the fourth request of the petitioner for extension of time to join the service of the Bank was declined on the ground that the petitioner had retracted from his request and had adopted an unprofessional approach.

4. In rebuttal, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner sought extension in view of unavoidable circumstances beyond his control, as firstly the petitioner was granted extension of three months and during that period he was assigned election duty in the State of Haryana. The resignation papers of the petitioner were not processed; resultantly, the HR Manager of the petitioner’s branch sent a request letter to respondent No. 3