IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

259 Date of Decision : 09.04.2026 Ekta …..Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and another ....Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR Present : Mr. C.L. Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Kanav Singla, A.A.G., Punjab.

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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 mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for appointment to the post of Agriculture Development Officer as recommended by respondent No.2, vide memo dated 14.06.2023 (Annexure P-6), with all consequential benefits including seniority from the date her batchmates were appointed.

2. Briefly stated the facts of the case, as have been pleaded in the present petition, are that Punjab Public Service Commission, vide Advertisement No.09(i) dated 20.12.2016 (Annexure P-1), invited online applications for 141 posts of Agriculture Development Officer (Group-A) including 02 posts for Wards of Freedom Fighter, Punjab (Category No.74). The petitioner, who was serving as Agriculture Sub Inspector in the Department of Agriculture since 1