IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 16.04.2026 Sanjeev Kumar …..Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ....Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR Present : Mr. Vishal Mittal, Advocate for the petitioner.

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NAMIT KUMAR, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioner has filed the instant petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of a writ of certiorari for quashing the impugned speaking order dated 01.01.2026 (Annexure P-12) passed by the Director, Education Recruitment Directorate, Department of School Education, Punjab, whereby the representation dated 28.11.2025 submitted by the petitioner has been rejected. Further, seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to appear before the Scrutiny Committee to consider his candidature under EWS Category for the post of Master Cadre (English).

2. Brief facts of the case, as have been stated in the petition, are that the respondents issued an Advertisement dated 06.04.2021 (Annexure P-1) inviting online applications for 899 posts under the Master Cadre (English-Border Area). Being fully eligible, the petitioner submitted his onli