Judgment

K. JAGANNATHA SHETTY, J.- This is an appeal by the A.P. Public Service Commission against the decision of the A.P. Administrative Tribunal dated September 22, 1989. The appeal raises a question as to the scope of Rule 5 of the A.P. Police Service Rules, 1966.

2. The facts are not in dispute and may be stated as follows : The Public Service Commission issued an Advertisement/Notification No. 18/1983 inviting applications for selection in a Combined Competitive Examination to be held in November 1983 at Anantapur, Guntur, Hyderabad, Kakinada, Tirupathi, Visakhapatanam and Warangal Centres for recruitment to the posts included in Grade I Services. The notification was published in the gazette dated August 25,1983. The post of Deputy Superintendent of Police was one of the posts for which applications were invited. The respondent applied to that post as well as to other posts. The minimum age prescribed for selection to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police was 21 years as on July 1, 1983, as against 18 years for other posts. The respondent did not complete 21 years as on July 1,1983. He was short by 19 days and his case, therefore, was not considered for appointment to