IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 27.02.2026 ISHAN BANSAL .....Petitioner VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present : Mr. Karan Singh, Advocate for Mr. Gaurav Jain, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

KULDEEP TIWARI, J.(Oral)

1. This Court vide order dated 16.02.2026, had passed the hereinafter extracted order:-

“The petitioner, fetching grievance from a decision taken by the respondent authorities, wherethrough, he was not held eligible under the Sports Category to compete for the post of Junior Engineer, in Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Punjab, which, were advertised vide Advertisement No. 03 of 2024 (Annexure P-1).

Learned for the petitioner submits that no reason, whatsoever, has been assigned while declining the claim of the petitioner, for considering him under the Sports Category. He further draws attention of this Court towards Rule

2(a) (ii) of the Punjab Recruitment of Sportsmen (First Amendment) Rules, 2020 (Annexure P-9), to submit that the petitioner is eligible, as he participated in 62^nd Junior National Shooting Championships, which were conducted by the National Riffle Association of India, duly affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association.

He next submits that, as per the sports policy as framed by the State of Punjab, in 2023, the petitioner is entitled for reservation in the employment in the Grade (B) category posts. The Rule 2(a)(ii) and 2(a)(iii), are extracted hereinafter:

(2) They shall come into force on and with effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

In the Punjab Recruitment of Sportsmen Rules, 1988, in rule 2, in clause or sub-clause (a), the following shall be substituted, namely:-

(a) In the case of recruitment to a reserved vacancy in Group A or Group B posts:-

(i) XXX XXX XXX (ii) that he has won Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal in Senior National Championship or National Games in team or individual events while representing the State of Punjab in such sports events as have been conducted by such respective National Sports federations as are affilinted or recognized to the Indian Olympic Association;

or (iii) that he has won first, second or third position in team or individual events and/or he has won Gold or Silver or Bronze Medals at International Sports meets, conducted by Sports Federation affiliated or recognized by the International Olympic Committee itself.”

Further, the sports policy of 2023, entitling the petitioner for Grade (B) posts, is also extracted hereinafter:-

“Grade (B)

Sportsmen/Women who have achieved top 3 positions in the following tournaments/meets/ competitions/ Championships conducted by such a respective National Federation as are affiliated/ Recognized by Indian Olympic Association-

(i) Medal Winner of National Games and Senior National Championship organized by Indian Olympic Associations.

(ii) National Championship for women organized by Sports Authority of India.

(iii) Junior National Championships organized by recognized National Federation of that Game under the banner of Indian Olympic Association where at least 10 States have participated.

(iv) All India Inter Universities competitions, National School Games under 17 and under 19, All India Rural Sports.

(v) Medal winner of Punjab School teams/Kendriya Vidalya Schools and Novodhya Sangathan Schools teams in School National Championship. (School must be situated in Punjab.

(vi) Youth National Championship under age group 21,19,18,17 and National Level Khelo India Tournament (Under-16 and above), All India Rural meet under age 16 organized by SAI.”

Notice of motion.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, AAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of all the respondents, and waives service.

At this stage, on the oral request of learned State counsel, Director Sports, Directorate of Sports, Punjab, is impleaded as respondent no.4, in the instant petition.

The Registry is directed to carry out necessary c