THE HONOURABLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE SUJOY PAUL AND THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE RENUKA YARA WRIT APPEAL Nos.889 and 898 of 2023 COMMON JUDGMENT: (Per Hon’ble The Acting Chief Justice)

These intra-Court appeals are directed against order dated

28.08.2023 passed in W.P.No.31494 of 2016. W.A.Nos.898 and 889 of 2023 have been filed by the writ petitioner and respondent No.3 respectively challenging the findings that went against them in the impugned order. For the sake of convenience, the parties are hereinafter referred to as they were arrayed before the Writ Court.

2. The parties have fought a long drawn battle in the corridors of the Court till the Supreme Court. There is a chequered history of litigation, which can be briefly stated as under:

Facts:

3. On 21.01.2016, advertisement Notification No.1/2016 was issued inviting candidature for the post of Assistant Director (Plant Health Management). The National Institute for Plant Health Management (‘NIPHM’) Service Bye-Laws, 2008 (‘Bye Laws’), lays down the service conditions and the same can be treated as recruitment rules for the aforesaid post. The last date for submission of applications was 31.05.2016. On 16.06.2016, written test