Sat Paul and Others v. State of Haryana and Others

CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -1-o o o o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoo AToCHANDIGARHoo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o02.09.2025o o o o o o o Pronouncedoon:o09.09.2025o 1)CWP-8363-2024o(O&M)o o o o o o o o o SatoPauloandoothersoo o o o o ooooo ....Petitioners o o o o o o o o o Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoooooooooooooooo o ooooooo...Respondentso o o 2)CWP-16347-2023o(O&M)o o o o o o o ArunoSinghoandoothersoo o o o o ....Petitioners o o o o o o o o Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoo o o o ...Respondentso o o 3)CWP-27694-2023o(O&M)o o o o o o o o o RakeshoKumaroandoothersoo o o o ooooooooooooo....Petitioners o o o o o o o o Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoooooooooooooooooooo o ...Respondentso o 4)CWP-27853-2023o(O&M)o o o o o o o o o BharatoSinghoandoothersoo o o o o ....Petitioners o o o o o o o o Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersooooooooooooooooooooooo o ...Respondentso o o 5)CWP-28200-2023o(O&M)o o o o o o o o o DaljitoSinghoandoanotheroo o o o o ....Petitioners o o o o o o o o o Versuso MOHD YAKUB StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersooooooooooooooooooooooo o ...Respondentso CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -2-o o o o o CORAM:HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARPREEToSINGHoBRARo o Present:o Mr.oKaranoNehra,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.ReshabhoBajaj,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.HarvinderoThakur,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitionerso(inoCWP-16347-2023,oo o o CWP-27694-2023o&oCWP-8363-2024).o o o o Mr.oManishoKumaroSingla,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.Bhoomika,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitionerso(inoCWP-27853-2023).o o o o Ms.RadhaoSingh,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.ShamsheroSingh,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.MeenaoSingh,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitionerso(inoCWP-28200-2023).o o o o Mr.BaldevoRajoMahajan,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oNikitaoGoel,oAdvocateoo o o forotheorespondent-Nigamo(inoCWP-28200-2023).o o o o Mr.BaldevoRajoMahajan,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mrs.RajnioGupta,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4o(inoCWP-8363-2024).o o o o Mr.DharamoPaloSainioAdvocateoo o o forotheoprivateorespondentso(inoCWP-8363-2024).o o o o Mr.BaldevoRajoMahajan,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.JagbiroMalik,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oNikitaoGoel,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4o&o7o(CWP-16347-2023),o o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4o(inoCWP-27694-2023)oandoo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4o&o7otoo10oo (inoCWP-27853-2023).o o o o Mr.NitinKaushal,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.Sahil,oAdvocateoforotheorespondento(AICTE).o o o o Mr.oSuniloK.oNehra,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.RahilMahajan,oAdvocateoandoo MOHD YAKUB o o Mr.AnujChaudhary,oAdvocateoo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -3-o o o o o o fororespondentsoNo.7otoo9,o12o&o13,oo o o 17otoo20,o22otoo34oando36otoo39o(inoCWP-8363-2024).o o Mr.InderpaloSingh,oAdvocateoforooo o o o Mr.NitinKaushal,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.5.oo o o o Mr.MazlishoKhan,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.15o(inoCWP-8363-2024).o o HARPREEToSINGHoBRAR,oJ.oo

1.o o Thiso commono ordero shallo disposeo ofo allo theo aforementionedocivilowritopetitionsoasotheyoariseofromoaosimilaro factualomatrix.ooHowever,oforotheosakeoofobrevity,otheofactsoareo takenofromoCWP-8363-2024.o

2.o o Theopresentocivilowritopetition(s)ohasobeenofiledoundero Articleso226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoforoissuanceoofoaowrito ino theo natureo ofo certiorario foro quashingo officeo ordero No.66/EOM/G-129odatedo23.02.2024o(AnnexureoP-35)oandoofficeo ordero No.67/EOM/G-129o datedo 23.02.2024o (Annexureo P-36),o wherein,otheoprivateorespondentsohaveobeenopromotedodeohorsotheo applicableoServiceoRules,oinoviewoofoinstructionsodatedo29.12.2004o (AnnexureoP-1),uponmisinterpretationoofotheojudgmentopassedobyo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinoInstitutionoofoMechanicalo Engineerso (India)o Througho Itso Chairmano v.o Stateo ofo Punjab,2019oSCCoOnlineoSCo1023o(hereinaftero'IMEocase')oando MOHD YAKUB judgmento datedo 29.08.2023o passedo byo thiso Courto ino CWPo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -4-o o o o No.12344oofo2022otitledoasoBharatoSinghoVs.oStateoofoHaryana.o o FACTUALoBACKGROUNDo

3.o o Briefly,o theo factso areo thato ao promotiono avenueo waso carvedooutoforotheoemployeesoofotheorespondent-HaryanaoPowero Generationo Corporationo byo officeo ordero datedo 29.12.2004o (AnnexureoP-1)owhichoreadsoasofollows:o "InoexerciseoofoPowersoconferredounderoclauseo(c)oofoSectiono 79oofotheoElectricityo(Supply)oAct,o1948,oreadowithoHaryanao ElectricityoReformsoact,o1997,oandoallootheroenablingopowerso inotheothisobehalf,oHaryanaoPoweroGenerationoCorporationo Limitedo iso pleasedo too amendo Sr.o No.o A-6o &o B-o 7o ofo theo RecruitmentoandoPromotionoPolicyoofoThermaloStaffonotifiedo video officeo ordero No.o 2845/Cadreo datedo 27.05.85o ando modifiedovideoofficeoorderono.o2878/Cadreodatedo7.8.85oando furtheronotifiedovideonotificationoNo.o9/Reg-129/L-I/Aodatedo

3.2.99.o

(A)oOperationoStaffo

6.oOperatoroGrade-1o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o b)o15%opostsoshallobeofilledoupobyopromotionoonoseniorityo cumo merito basiso fromo amongsto feedero cadreso namelyo Operatoro Grade-II,o Planto Attendanto Grade-l,o Planto AttendantoGrade-II,oHelpero"Grade-loandoHelperoGrade-ll.o Possessingo theo qualificationo ofo BE/AMIE/Ino Electrical/Mechanical/Electronicso Engineeringo oro threeo yearso Diplomao ino Engineeringo providedo theyo haveo threeo yearsoserviceoexperienceoonotheoaboveopostsoinoHPGC…o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o B)oMaintenanceoStaff:o

7.oForemanoGrade-IIo o b)o15%opostsoshallobeofilledoupobyopromotionoseniorityocumo MOHD YAKUB meritobasisoformoamongstofeederocadresoForemanoGrade-II,o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -5-o o o o ForemanoGrade-IV.TechnicianoGrade-l,oTechnicianoGrade-II,oHelperoElectrical/Mechanical/ElectronicsoEngineeringooro threeo yearso Diplomao holdero ino engineeringo Grade-1o ando HelperoGrade-II.opossessingotheoqualificationoofoprovidedo theyohaveothreeoyearsoserviceoexperienceoonotheoaboveoposto inotheoHPGC…"(emphasisoadded)o o

4.o o Accordingly,o theo petitioners,o whoo wereo appointedo aso Planto Attendantso Grade-II/Technician-II,o wereo promotedo too theo postsoofoOperatoroGrade-I/ForemanoGrade-II,orespectively,oundero theo15o%opostsodemarcatedoinothisoregard.oInoorderotoomeetotheo requiredo qualification,o theo petitionerso tooko ao leaveo withouto payo andoenrolledoinoaoregularodiplomaocourse.oSomeoofotheopetitionerso spento threeo yearso outo ofo serviceo aso theyo acquiredo theo diplomao beforeojoining.oo

5.o o However,otheoprivateorespondents,oenrolledoinodistanceo learningo programmeo offeredo byo respondento No.6-Instituteo ofo MechanicaloEngineerso(IME).oTheocourseoprovidedobyoIMEodido noto requireo attendanceo buto allowedo studentso too appearo ino examinationotooobtainoaoqualificationoadvertisedoasoequivalentotooao degreeoinoMechanicaloEngineering.oRespondent-IMEowasoinitiallyo derecognisedobutosubsequently,orecognisedotooaolimitedoextentovideo notificationo datedo 24.11.2016o (Annexureo P-3).o Theo mattero ofo promotiono ofo privateo respondentso waso kepto pendingo aso ito waso subjectotootheoresultoofotheolitigationoinitiatedowithorespectotootheo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -6-o o o o validityoofotheoqualificationsoissuedobyorespondent-IME.oWhenotheo litigationo arrivedo ato itso naturalo conclusion,o theo respondent-Corporationo promotedo theo privateo respondents.o However,o theo promotionoofotheopetitionersowasoreversedoinoorderotoomakeoroomo forothem.oAsosuch,oitoisotheogrievanceoofotheopetitionersothatotheo privateorespondentsogainedoanoadvantageooverothemoinospiteoofotheo facto thato theyo doo noto possesso theo requisiteo educationalo qualificationso foro promotiono ino termso ofofficeo ordero datedo

29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1).o CONTENTIONSo

6.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner(s)o intero aliao contendedothatotheorespondent-Corporationohaserredoinoextendingo theo benefito arisingo outo ofo theo IMEo case(supra)o too privateo respondents,oretrospectively,oinospiteoofotheofactothatotheyoareonoto eligibleoforotheosaidopromotionoinotermsoofotheocriterionosetooutoino termso ofo instructionso datedo 29.12.2004o (Annexureo P-1).o Theo instructionso datedo 29.12.2004o (Annexureo P-1)o areo statutoryo ino natureoasotheyohaveobeenoissuedobyotheorespondent-Corporationobyo invokingoClauseo(c)oofoSectiono79oofotheoElectricityo(Supply)oAct,o 1948o reado witho Haryanao Electricityo Reformso Act,o 1997o ando thereforeocannotobeosupersededobyoimpugnedoinstructionsodatedo MOHD YAKUB 19.12.2023o(AnnexureoP-37)obeingonon-statutory.ooTheofollowingo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -7-o o o o qualificationowasoprovidedoforofillingo15%opostsobyopromotionoono seniority-cum-meritobasisoamongstodifferentofeederocadres:ooo "Possessingo theo qualificationo ofo B.E./AMIEo ino Electrical/Mechanical/ElectronicsoEngineeringooro 03o yearso diplomao ino Engineeringo providedo theyo haveothreeoyearsexperienceoonotheoaboveopostsoino theofeederocadre."o(emphasisoadded)o o

7.o o Learnedocounselofurtherosubmittedothatotheobenefitoiso grantedo too theo privateo respondentso iso basedo ono incorrecto interpretationo ofo theIMEo caseo (supra),deo horso theo applicableo serviceorulesoaso03-yearoregularodiplomaohasobeenoequatedotooao

1.5-yearocertificateocourseoofferedobyorespondent-IMEothroughoao distanceo educationprogramme.o Further,o ito haso beeno theo stando ofrespondent-IMEo thato ito doeso noto provideo anyo educationo byo conductingoregularoclassesobutoonlyoallowsoitsostudentsotoowriteo necessaryoexaminations,owhileotheopetitionersohaveoobtainedotheiro diplomasobyoattendingoaoregularocourseowhichoisomoreorigorousoino natureo ando coverso allo requisiteo fieldso ofo technicalo education.o Despiteotheofundamentalodifferenceobetweenotheotwo,otheoprivateo respondentso haveo beeno promoted,o ino contraventiono ofo theo instructionsodatedo29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1).oInodoingoso,otheo respondent-Corporationohasogreatlyoprejudicedotheopetitionersoaso theoprivateorespondentsohaveobeenoallowedotoostealoaomarchoovero CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -8-o o o o themasotheiropromotionohasobeenoreversed,odespiteotheofactothatotheo privateorespondentsodoonotomeetotheocriterionoofo03oyearsodiplomao inoEngineering.oo

8.oo o Furthermore,o theo Directoro General,o Technicalo Education,o Department,o Stateo ofo Haryana,o hado issuedo ao notificationo datedo 19.07.2013o (Annexureo P-9)o wherebyo ito waso reiteratedothatotheodegreesoandodiplomasoobtainedothroughodistanceo educationo mode,o noto recognisedo byo theo jointo committeeo ofo Allo IndiaoCounciloforoTechnicaloEducation(AICTE)/UniversityoGrantso Commission(UGC)oandoDistanceoEducationoCouncilo(DEC),shallo notobeoconsideredotoobeovalidoforoselectionooropromotionoinoStateo Technicalo Universityo ando Governmento Engineeringo Collegeso ino theoStateoofoHaryana.Moreover,otheoAICTE,obeingoaoregulator,ohado issuedo ao publico noticeo (Annexureo P-10)o clarifyingo thato qualificationsoacquiredotheofieldoofoEngineeringoandoTechnologyo throughodistanceoeducationomodeoareonotorecognisedobyoit.oTheo matterowasoexaminedobyotheHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoOrissaoLifto Irrigationo Corporationo Ltd.o v.o Rabio SankarPatroo ando otherso 2017o(4)oSCTo683wherebyoneotimeorelaxationowasograntedoonlyotoo protecto theo individualso whoo hado alreadyo availedo theo benefitso accruedobyovirtueoofotheosaidoqualification,ohowever,oitowasoheldo MOHD YAKUB thatotheosameocannotobeousedotooseekofurtherobenefitsoinoservice.o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -9-o o o o Additionally,oaopubliconoticeodatedo23.02.2018o(AnnexureoP-14)o wasissuedobyotheoUGCostatingothatoprogrammesolikeoengineeringo thato requireo hands-ono trainingo areo noto permittedo too beo offeredo underoopenoandodistanceolearningomodes.oo

9.o o Heo furthero contendedo thato admittedly,o respondent-IMEdoesonotoholdoregularoclassesoforotechnicaloeducationoandotheo candidatesoareograntedotheosaidocertificateosimplyouponopassingotheo examinationsoconductedobyoit.oThisoissueohasobeenoraisedobeforeo theoConstitutionaloCourtsoonovariousooccasions.oHowever,oatonoo pointoofotime,odidotheoStateoofoHaryanaoorotheoTechnicaloEducationo Board,o Haryanao recognizeo theseo certificateo courseso offeredo byo respondent-IMEo noro dido ito carryo outo anyo amendmentso ino theo instructionsodatedo29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1).oAsoaomatteroofofact,o noo ordero oro instructionso haveo evero beeno issuedo byo theo Stateo ofo Haryanao oro theo Departmento ofo Technicalo Educationo grantingo equivalenceo too theseo certificateso witho theo regularo diplomas/degrees.oo

10.o o Furtherostill,olearnedocounselosubmittedothatothisoCourto ino CWPo No.1640o ofo 2008o titledo asoKartaroSingho v.o Uniono ofo IndiaoandoothersoandoinoCWPoNo.3727oofo2008otitledoasoVikaso Kumaro v.o Stateo Pollutiono Controlo Boardo ando otherso haso MOHD YAKUB examinedo theo validityo ofo theo certificateso issuedo byo respondent-CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -10-o o o o IMEoandoconcludedotheodegreesoinocertificatesoandomembershipo grantedo byo itcannoto beo treatedo aso equivalento too ao degreeo ino Engineeringo aso respondent-IMEo doeso noto haveo ao permanento recognitionofromoanyocouncilooroboardotooconductotheseocourses.oo Theo aforesaido judgmentso wereo alsoo upheldo byo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinoSLPo(c)oNo.o35793-96oofo2012otitledoaso VijayoKumaroandoothersoetc.v.oKartaroSinghoandoothersoetc.oTheo AICTEoandothereafter,otheoUGCohaveoconsistentlyotakenoaostando thatotheoEngineeringodegreesoobtainedobyowayoofoopenodistanceo learningoareonotorecognizedoandotheyoshallonotobeograntedoexoposto factoapproval,oasodiscernibleofromoAnnexuresoP-7oandoP-8.oo

11.o o However,oinoIMEocase(supra),otheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courto createdo ao one-timeo exceptiono ino caseo ofo theo Centralo GovernmentoEmployeesoinasmuchothatotheocertificatesoawardedobyo respondent-IMEo too candidateso enrolledo uptoo 31.05.2013o wereo allowedotoobeoconsideredoequivalentotooaoDegreeoinoMechanicalo Engineeringo foro theo purposeo ofo employmento ino Centralo Government.oLearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner(s)osubmittedothato whileo misinterpretingo theo judgemento ino IMEo case(supra),theo ChiefoSecretary,oGovernmentoofoHaryana,ohasoactedobeyondohiso authorityo ando issuedo notification/instructionso datedo 19.12.2023o MOHD YAKUB (Annexureo P-37)o wherebytheo benefitso ofo theo Diplomas/Degreeso CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -11-o o o o awardedo byo professionalo bodies/institutionso dulyo recognisedo byo theoMinistryoofoHumanoResourceoDevelopmentouptoo31.05.2013o areovalidoforotheostudentsoenrolledothereinouptoo31.05.2013.oo

12.o o AoconsistentostandohasobeenotakenobyotheoStateoagainsto recognisingoengineeringoqualificationsoobtainedothroughodistanceo learning,oasoindicatedobyoinstructionsoandonotificationsoissuedobyoito (AnnexuresoP-1,oP-9,oP-10,oP-13,oP-16o&oP-17).oAodeviationowaso madeo foro theo firsto timeo video impugnedo instructionso datedo

19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37),o wherebyo equivalenceo haso beeno grantedotootheocertificatesograntedobyoinstitutesolikeorespondent-IME,owithoutocarryingooutoanyoamendmentoinotheoRules.oFurther,o theo inquiryo carriedo outo byo theo respondent-Corporationo ino thiso regardo alsoo remainedo inconclusiveo ando lefto theo decisiono quao validityo ofo saido qualificationo too theo Court,o aso discernibleo fromo AnnexureoP-24.oo

13.o o Witho regardso too theo issueo ofo granto ofo retrospectiveo benefito too theo privateo respondents,o learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner(s)o placedo relianceo ono theo decisiono ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoAshokoKumarov.oDepinderoSinghoDhesio(2019)o 8oSCCo280,owhereinotheoCourtoclarifiedothatotheodirectionsoinotheo OrissaoLifto(supra)owereointendedotoorestoreostatusoquooante,oi.e.,o MOHD YAKUB restoreotheobenefitsothatocandidatesowereoalreadyoenjoyingoonotheo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -12-o o o o dateoofopassingoofotheojudgmentoandonototooconferoanyoadditionalo advantage.oItowasoarguedothatotheointentionoofotheoCourtohasonevero beeno too provideo retrospectiveo benefitso too individualso whoo haveo obtainedotheirodegreesothroughoaodistanceoeducationoprogramme.o Theoone-timeoexemptionograntedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto cannotobeomisinterpretedotooprovideobenefitsotoodistanceoeducationo diplomao holderso retrospectively.o Relianceoino thiso regardo iso alsoo placedoonotheojudgementorenderedobyotheoDivisionoBenchoofothiso CourtoinoJagdishRaiSinglaov.oStateoofoHaryana,o2023oNCPHHCo 39806.oo

14.o o Perocontra,oMr.BaldevoRajoMahajan,oSenioroAdvocateo submittedo thato theo disputeo witho respecto too validityo ofo theo certificateso awardedo byo respondent-IMEo onlyo aroseo ino theo yearo 2016oandoaoclarificationowasosought.oAccordingly,theoDepartmento ofo Technicalo Educationo issuedo ao lettero datedo 27.07.2006o (AnnexureoR-2/3)owherebyoitowasoreiteratedothatodiplomas/degreeso thatohaveorecognitionofromotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaoshalloalsoobeo recognisedo byo theo Governmento ofo Haryana.Learnedo Senioro counselo emphasisedo specificallyo thato theo impugnedo instructionso datedo 19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37)o iso whollyo ando solelybasedo upono theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino MOHD YAKUB IMEcase(supra).oFurther,oitoisonototheocaseoofotheopetitioner(s)othato CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -13-o o o o theo saido instructionso areo taintedo byo malafideo oro arbitrariness.o Additionally,o theo followingo stando waso takenino theo writteno statementofiledobyorespondentsoNo.2otoo4:o "5.oThatoitoisomostohumblyosubmittedothatoshowocauseonoticeso wereoissuedotootheopetitionersodatedo11.02.2021o(Annexureo P-21),o ino viewo ofo clearo provisionso containedo ino theiro promotionoordersowhichoisoreproducedoasounder:-o o "Theoaboveopromotionsohaveobeenomadeoonotheoclearo understandingothatoifothereoisoanyosenioroperson(s)otoo them,otheyoareoliableotoobeorevertedotootheirooriginalo postoofoOperatoroGrade-IIowithoutoanyonoticeotoomakeo roomoforosenioroperson(s)."o o o o Although,oasoperotheoconditionomentionedoinopromotiono ordero noo noticeo waso necessary,o however,o followingo theo principleo ofo naturalo justiceo noticeso wereo servedo upono too petitioners.o o Asoperorecord,onooobjectionsohaveobeenomadeobyotheo petitionersoagainstotheoaforesaidoclauseomentionedoinotheiro promotionoordersotillotheoinstitutionoofothisowritopetition.o o Theoansweringorespondentotookoactionoinolineowithotheo judgmento datedo 13.08.2019o ofo theoHon'bleoApexo Courto ino Civilo Appealo no.o 17922/2017o titledo aso IMEo Vso Stateo ofo PunjaboandoothersoandoHaryanaoGovernmentonotificationo no.o 42/703/2019-5GS-Io datedo 31.01.2020o clarifiedo thato AICTEoinoitso52ndoEmergentoMeetingoheldoono03.08.2017o decidedo too recognizeo equivalenceo foro allo purposeso includingohigheroeducationoandoemploymentotootechnicalo courseso conductedo byo variouso professionalo bodies/institutionso whicho wereo dulyo recognizedo byo theo MHRDowithopermanentorecognitionouptoo31stoMay,o2013.o Thus,o allo thoseo studentso whoo wereo enrolledo witho theseo institutionsowithopermanentorecognitionoupotoo31.05.2013o standorecognized."o o

15.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoprivateorespondentsosubmittedo MOHD YAKUB thatotheodiplomasowereoobtainedobyotheoprivateorespondentsoprioro CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -14-o o o o too theo yearo 2013o ando therefore,o iso noto affectedo byo IMEo case(supra).o Further,o ino termso ofo theo notificationo datedo

06.12.2012(Annexureo P-6)byo theo Ministryo ofo Humano Resourceo Development,o theseo certificateso areo valid.Heo furthero referredo too paragrapho4oofotheoIMEocaseo(supra),owhichoreadsoasofollows:o "4.o Ono 26.05.1976,o theo Governmento ofoIndia,oMinistryo ofo EducationoandoSocialoWelfare,oDepartmentoofoEducation,oono theo recommendationo ofo Boardo ofo Assessmento foro EducationaloQualificationsoprovisionallyorecognizedo"aopasso ino theo Associateo Membershipo Examinationo ofo theo MechanicaloEngineersoAssociationo ofoIndiao atoparo witho ao degreeoinoMechanicaloEngineeringofromoaorecognizedoIndiano University/Institutiono foro theo purposeo ofo recruitmento too superioropostsoandoservicesounderotheoCentraloGovernmento foroaoperiodoofothreeoyears."oOno06.10.1981otheoGovernmento ofoIndia,oMinistryoofoEducationoandoCulture,oDepartmentoofo Education,oonotheorecommendationoofoBoardoofoAssessmento foro Educationalo Qualifications,o decidedo too continueo too recognizeoaopassoinoAMIEoofotheoappellantoforotheopurposeoofo recruitmentotoosuperioropostsoandoservicesounderotheoCentralo Government."o o

16.o o Heo furthero submittedo theo issueo ino IMEo case(supra)o pertainedotooengineeringodegreesoandonotodiplomas.oAsosuch,otheo diplomasoofotheoprivateorespondentsoareonotoadverselyoaffectedobyo IMEcase(supra).Additionally,o theo privateo respondentso receivedo theirodiplomasopriorotootheoyearo2013oFurther,otheoargumentowitho regardotootheocourseodurationobeingothreeoyears,odoesonotoholdoanyo forceoinoviewoofotheojudgmentorenderedobyothisoCourtoinoCWPo No.12187o ofo 2006o titledo aso Sunilo Kumaro &Ors.o v.o Stateo ofo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -15-o o o o Haryana.Moreover,o theo privateo respondentso areo senioro too theo petitionersoandotherefore,otheiropromotionoisojustified.oLastly,osomeo ofotheoprivateorespondentsohaveoalreadyoretired,oandoitowouldobeo whollyounjustotoowithdrawotheobenefitsoalreadyograntedotoothem,o muchoprioroinotime.o OBSERVATIONS&oANALYSISo

17.oo o Havingoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoaftero perusingo theo recordo witho theiro ableo assistance,o theo followingo questionsoariseoforoadjudication:o

(i)l WhetherotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinIMEocase(supra)oisoipsoofactooapplicableotooStateo governmento employeeso ino theo absenceo ofo anyo statutoryo mandateoorospecificodirectionsobyotheoCourt?oo

(ii)l Whetherstatutoryo instructionso datedo 29.12.2004o (Annexureo P-1),o cano beo supersededo byo executiveo instructionsodatedo19.12.2023o(AnnexureoP-37),owithouto amendingotheoeligibilityocriteria?o

(iii)l Whetherotheobenefitsoarisingooutoofoexecutiveoinstructionso datedo 19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37)o cano beo conferredo retrospectively?o o l INTERPRETATIONo OFo THEo "IME'so caseo (supra)"o JUDGMENTo

18.o o TheoseminaloissueopresentedobeforeothisoCourtorevolveso aroundo interpretationo ofo theojudgmento renderedo byo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheIMEocaseo(supra),oandifoitocanobeoconstruedo asoanoimprimaturowithorespectotootheocorrectnessoofotheoimpugnedoMOHD YAKUB CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -16-o o o o decisionsotakenobyotheorespondent-Corporation.oItotranspiresothato theorespondent-Corporationohasograntedobenefitoofopromotionotoo theo privateo respondentso byo upsettingo theo long-standingo settledo seniorityoofotheopetitioners,oinoviewoofotheoIMEocase(supra),ofiveo yearso aftero itso pronouncement.o Tritely,o ao judgmento musto beo interpretedo ino theo contexto ofo theo factso ofo theo specifico caseo presentedobeforeotheoCourt,owithoutoreadingointooitomoreothanowhato iso expresslyo stated.o Ito iso neithero appropriateo noro permissibleo too isolateoaowordooroaosentenceofromoaojudgment,odetachedofromotheo contexto ofo theo issueo beingo addressed,o ando treato ito too beo theo completeo lawo ino itself.o Instead,o ao judgmento musto beo reado aso ao whole,oandoanyoobservationsomadeothereinoughtotoobeounderstoodo ino relationo too theo questionso thato wereo actuallyo undero consideration.Aotwo-JudgeobenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inoOrientaloInsuranceoCompanyoLimitedov.oRajkumaroandoOrso

(2007)o 12o SCCo 768,o speakingo througho Justiceo ArijitPasayat,o J,o madeotheofollowingoobservationsoinothisoregard:o "11.o Relianceo ono theo decisiono withouto lookingo intoo theo factualo backgroundo ofo theo caseo beforeo ito iso clearlyo impermissible.oAodecisionoisoaoprecedentoonoitsoownofacts.o Eachocaseopresentsoitsoownofeatures.oItoisonotoeverythingo saidobyoaoJudgeowhileogivingoaojudgmentothatoconstitutesoao precedent.oTheoonlyothingoinoaoJudge'sodecisionobindingoao partyoisotheoprincipleouponowhichotheocaseoisodecidedoando MOHD YAKUB forothisoreasonoitoisoimportantotooanalyseoaodecisionoando CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -17-o o o o isolateofromoitotheoratioodecidendi.Accordingotootheowell-settledotheoryoofoprecedents,oeveryodecisionocontainsothreeo basicopostulateso-o(i)ofindingsoofomaterialofacts,odirectoando inferential.oAnoinferentialofindingoofofactsoisotheoinferenceo whichotheoJudgeodrawsofromotheodirect,ooroperceptibleofacts;o

(ii)o statementso ofo theo principleso ofo lawo applicableo too theo legalo problemso disclosedo byo theo facts;o ando (iii)o judgmento basedoonotheocombinedoeffectoofotheoabove.oAodecisionoisoano authorityoforowhatoitoactuallyodecides.oWhatoisoofotheoessenceo inoaodecisionoisoitsoratiooandonotoeveryoobservationofoundo thereino noro whato logicallyo flowso fromo theo variouso observationsomadeoinotheojudgment.oTheoenunciationoofotheo reasonooroprincipleoonowhichoaoquestionobeforeoaoCourtohaso beenodecidedoisoaloneobindingoasoaoprecedent.o(SeeoStateoofo Orissao v.o SudhansuSekharMisrao ando Ors.,o (AIRo 1968o Supremeo Courto 647)o ando Uniono ofo Indiao ando Ors.o v.o DhanwantioDevioandoOrs.,o(1996(6)oSCCo44).oAocaseoisoao precedentoandobindingoforowhatoitoexplicitlyodecidesoandonoo more.oTheowordsousedobyoJudgesoinotheirojudgmentsoareo nototoobeoreadoasoifotheyoareowordsoinoActoofoParliament.oIno Quinnov.oLeathem,o(1901)oACo495o(H.L.),oEarloofoHalsburyo LCo observedo thato everyo judgmento musto beo reado aso applicableotootheoparticularofactsoprovedooroassumedotoobeo proved,osinceotheogeneralityoofotheoexpressionsowhichoareo foundothereoareonotointendedotoobeoexpositionoofotheowholeo lawobutogovernedoandoqualifiedobyotheoparticularofactsoofo theocaseoinowhichosuchoexpressionsoareofoundoandoaocaseoiso onlyoanoauthorityoforowhatoitoactuallyodecides.o

12.oCourtsoshouldonotoplaceorelianceoonodecisionsowithouto discussingoasotoohowotheofactualosituationofitsoinowithotheofacto situationo ofo theo decisiono ono whicho relianceo iso placed.o ObservationsoofoCourtsoareoneitherotoobeoreadoasoEuclid'so theoremso noro aso provisionso ofo theo statuteo ando thato tooo takenooutoofotheirocontext.oTheseoobservationsomustobeoreado inotheocontextoinowhichotheyoappearotoohaveobeenostated.o JudgmentsoofoCourtsoareonototoobeoconstruedoasostatutes.o MOHD YAKUB Toointerpretowords,ophrasesoandoprovisionsoofoaostatute,oito CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -18-o o o o mayo becomeo necessaryoforojudgeso too embarko intoo lengthyo discussionsobutotheodiscussionoisomeantotooexplainoandonototoo define.o Judgeso interpreto statutes,o theyo doo noto interpreto judgments.oTheyointerpretowordsoofostatutes;otheirowordsoareo nototoobeointerpretedoasostatutes.oInoLondonoGravingoDocko Co.o Ltd.o v.o Horton,o (1951o ACo 737o ato p.761),o Lordo Maco Dermotoobservedo:o "Theomatterocannot,oofocourse,obeosettledomerelyobyo treatingotheoipsissimavertraoofoWilles,oJoasothoughotheyo wereopartoofoanoActoofoParliamentoandoapplyingotheo rulesoofointerpretationoappropriateothereto.oThisoisonoto too detracto fromo theo greato weighto too beo giveno too theo languageo actuallyo usedo byo thato mosto distinguishedo judge."o

13.o Ino Homeo Officeo v.o Dorseto Yachto Co.,o (1970(2)o Allo Englando Reportero 294)o Lordo Reido said,o "Lordo Atkin'so speech.....isonototoobeotreatedoasoifoitowasoaostatuteodefinition.o Ito willo requireo qualificationo ino newo circumstances."o Megarry,oJoino(1971)1oWLRo1062oobservedo:o"Oneomustonot,o ofocourse,oconstrueoevenoaoreservedojudgmentoofoRusselloL.J.o asoifoitowereoanoActoofoParliament."oAnd,oinoHerringtonov.o BritishoRailwaysoBoard,o (1972(2)o WLRo 537)oLordoMorriso said:oo "Thereo iso alwayso perilo ino treatingo theo wordso ofo ao speechoorojudgmentoasothoughotheyoareowordsoinoao legislativeoenactment,oandoitoisotoobeorememberedothato judicialoutterancesomadeoinotheosettingoofotheofactsoofo aoparticularocase."o

14.oCircumstantialoflexibility,ooneo additionaloorodifferento factomayomakeoaoworldoofodifferenceobetweenoconclusionso inotwoocases.oDisposaloofocasesobyoblindlyoplacingorelianceo onoaodecisionoisonotoproper.oo

15.oTheofollowingowordsoofoLordoDenningoinotheomatteroofo applyingoprecedentsohaveobecomeolocusoclassicuso:o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -19-o o o o "Eacho caseo dependso ono itso owno factso ando ao closeo similarityobetweenooneocaseoandoanotheroisonotoenougho becauseoevenoaosingleosignificantodetailomayoalterotheo entireoaspect,oinodecidingosuchocases,ooneoshouldoavoido theotemptationotoodecideocaseso(asosaidobyoCordozo)obyo matchingotheocolouroofooneocaseoagainstotheocolouroofo another.oToodecideotherefore,oonowhichosideoofotheolineo aocaseofalls,otheobroadoresemblanceotooanotherocaseoiso notoatoallodecisive."o ***oo o o o ***oo o o o ***o "Precedentoshouldobeofollowedoonlyosoofaroasoitomarkso theopathoofojustice,obutoyouomustocutotheodeadowoodoando trimooffotheosideobranchesoelseoyouowillofindoyourselfo lostoinothicketsoandobranches.oMyopleaoisotookeepotheo patho too justiceo clearo ofo obstructionso whicho couldo impedeoit.""o(emphasisoadded)o

19.o o Further,oaothree-JudgeobenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courto ino Bharato Sancharo Nigamo Limitedo v.o GhanshyamDass,o

(2011)o4oSCCo374,ospeakingothroughoJusticeoA.K.oPatnaik,oopinedo asofollows:o "13.oTheoprincipleolaidodownoinoK.I.oShephardo(supra)othato itoisonotonecessaryoforoeveryopersonotooapproachotheocourto fororeliefoandoitoisotheodutyoofotheoauthorityotooextendotheo benefitoofoaoconcludedodecisionoinoallosimilarocasesowithouto drivingoeveryoaffectedopersonotoocourtotooseekoreliefowouldo applyoonlyoinotheofollowingocircumstances:o a)oWhereotheoorderoisomadeoinoaopetitionofiledoinoao representativeo capacityo ono behalfo ofo allo similarlyo situatedoemployees;o b)o Whereo theo reliefo grantedo byo theo courto iso ao declaratoryo reliefo whicho iso intendedo too applyo too allo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -20-o o o o employeeso ino ao particularo category,o irrespectiveo ofo whetherotheyoareopartiesotootheolitigationooronot;o c)oWhereoanoorderoororuleoofogeneraloapplicationotoo employeeso iso quashedo withouto anyo conditiono oro reservationo thato theo reliefo iso restrictedo too theo petitionersobeforeotheocourt;oando d)oWhereotheocourtoexpresslyodirectsothatotheoreliefo grantedoshouldo beo extendedo too thoseowhoo haveo noto approachedotheocourt.o Ono theo othero hand,o whereo onlyo theo affectedo partieso approachotheocourtoandoreliefoisogivenotoothoseoparties,otheo fence-sittersowhoodidonotoapproachotheocourtocannotoclaimo thatosuchoreliefoshouldohaveobeenoextendedotoothemotherebyo upsettingoorointerferingowithotheorightsowhichohadoaccruedo tooothers.oInoJagdishLaloandoothersov.oStateoofoHaryanaoando otherso 1998(1)o S.C.T.o 26o :o (1997)o 6o SCCo 538.,o theo appellantso whoo wereo generalo candidateso belatedlyo challengedotheopromotionoofoScheduledoCasteoandoScheduledo TribeocandidatesoonotheobasisoofotheodecisionsoinoAjitoSingho Janujaov.oStateoofoPunjabo1996(2)oS.C.T.o278o:o(1996)o2oSCCo

715.,o Uniono ofo Indiao v.o Virpalo Singho Chauhano 1995(4)o S.C.T.o695o:o(1995)o6oSCCo684.oandoR.K.oSabharwalov.oStateo ofoPunjabo1995(2)oS.C.T.o646o:o(1995)o2oSCCo745.oandothiso Courtorefusedotoograntotheoreliefosayingo:o "....thiso Courto haso repeatedlyo held,o theo delayo disentitlesotheopartyotootheodiscretionaryoreliefoundero Articleo226ooroArticleo32oofotheoConstitution.oItoisonoto necessaryotooreiterateoallotheocatenaoofoprecedentsoino thisobehalf.oSufficeoitotoostateothatotheoappellantsokepto sleepingooverotheirorightsoforolongoandoelectedotoowakeo upo wheno theyo hado theo impetuso fromo VirpalChauhano ando Ajito Singho ratios.o Buto VirpalChauhano ando Sabharwalocases,okeptoatorestotheopromotionoalreadyo madeobyothatodate,oandodeclaredothemoasovalid;otheyo wereo limitedo too theo questiono ofo futureo promotionso CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -21-o o o o givenobyoapplyingotheoruleooforeservationotooallotheo personsopriorotootheodateoofojudgmentoinoSabharwalo caseowhichorequiredotoobeoexaminedoinotheolightoofo theo lawo laido ino Sabharwalo case.o Thuso earliero promotionso cannoto beo reopened.o Onlyo thoseo caseso arisingoafterothatodateowouldobeoexaminedoinotheolighto ofo theo lawo laido downo ino Sabharwalo caseo ando VirpalChauhanocaseoandoequallyoAjitoSinghocase.oIfo theocandidateohasoalreadyobeenofurtheropromotedotoo theo highero echelonso ofo service,o hiso seniorityo iso noto openo too beo reviewed.Ino A.B.S.o KaramchariSangho caseoaoBenchoofotwooJudgesotoowhichotwooofous,oK.o RamaswamyoandoG.B.oPattanaik,oJJ.owereomembers,o hadoreiteratedotheoaboveoviewoandoitowasoalsooheldo thatoallotheoprioropromotionsoareonotoopenotoojudicialo review.oInoChanderoPalov.oStateoofoHaryanaoaoBencho ofotwooJudgesoconsistingoofoS.C.oAgrawaloandoG.T.o Nanavati,o JJ.o consideredo theo effecto ofo VirpalChauhan,o Ajito Singh,o Sabharwalo ando A.B.S.o KaramchariSanghocasesoandoheldothatotheoseniorityo ofothoseorespondentsowhoohadoalreadyoretiredoorohado beenopromotedotoohigheropostsocouldonotobeodisturbed.o Theo seniorityo ofo theo petitionero thereino ando theo respondentsowhoowereoholdingotheopostoinotheosameo levelooroinotheosameocadreowouldobeoadjustedokeepingo inoviewotheoratiooinoVirpalChauhanoandoAjitoSingh;o butopromotion,oifoany,ohadobeenogivenotooanyoofothemo duringotheopendencyoofothisowritopetitionowasodirectedo nototoobeodisturbed...."o(emphasisoadded)o o o Aso such,o witho respecto too theo presento case,o theo conclusionodrawnobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheIMEocaseo (supra)oughtonototoobeounderstoodoasoblanketopermissionoforoitso blindoandomechanicaloapplication,odevoidoofocontextoandonuance.o Aojudgmentoisonotoakinotooaouniversallyoapplicableoprincipleothat,oMOHD YAKUB CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -22-o o o o asoifofollowingotheosimplisticonotionoofo'whatoisogoodoforotheogooseo isogoodoforotheogander.'o

20.o o Ino ordero too ascertaino theo intentiono ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino IMEo case(supra),o ao contextualo studyo iso imperative.oTherefore,oaoreferenceomayobeomadeotootheonotificationo datedo06.12.2012(AnnexureoP-6)issuedobyotheoMinistryoofoHumano ResourceoDevelopmentothatogaveoriseotootheocontroversyotherein;o theosameoisoreproducedobelow:o "Ino modificationo ofo Ordero F.No.o 11-15/2011-ARo (TS.II)o datedo 10.07.2012o ando too facilitateo theo institutionso duringo transitionoperiod;ofollowingodecisionohasobeenotakenoInotheo Ministry:o

(i)o Aboveo ordero datedo 10.07.2012o regardingo caseso ofo recognitiono Ino perpetuityo foro equivalenceo ino Centralo Governmentojob,ostandsowithdrawn.o

(ii)o Allo thoseo studentso whoo areo enrolledo witho theo institutionso witho permanento recognitiono uptoo 31.05.2013o wouldo beo eligibleo foro considerationo ino accordanceo witho MHRDoofficeomemorandum/oorderoinoforceopertainingotoo theirocourseoforoequivalenceoinoCentraloGovernmentojobs.o However,otheseoconcernedoordersowilloceaseotoohaveoeffecto fromo01.06.2013oonwards.o

(iii)oAftero31.05.2013,obasedoonotheoreviewobyotheoregulatoro i.e.,oAICTE,oaodecisionoonocontinuationoofotheocertificationoofo equivalenceoofodegree/odiplomaoshallobeotakenobyostatutoryo regulator,o

(iv)oStatutoryoregulatorsoshouldoreviewotheofreshoproposals/o extensionoasoperotheirostatuteoandoregulations.o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -23-o o o o

2.o Ino case,o theo institutiono desireso too opto foro realigningo curriculumowithoNVEQF,oItoisoadvisedotoouseothisotransitiono periodouptoo30.05.2013oforonecessaryoactionoinothisoregard.o ThisoissuesowithotheoapprovaloofotheoCompetentoAuthority."o (emphasisosupplied)o

21.o o Thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredo opiniono thato theo Ministryo ofo Humano Resourceo Developmento grantedo recognitiono andoequivalenceotootheocertificatesoissuedobyorespondent-IMEovideo theonotificationodatedo06.12.2012(AnnexureoP-6),oexclusivelyoforo theo purposeso ofo employmento undero theo Centralo Government.Ino lightoofotheoaforesaidonotificationo(AnnexureoP-6),o aotwo-Judgeo bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino IMEo case(supra),o speakingo througho Justiceo U.U.o Lalit,o madeo theo followingo observations:o "40.oTheopointoinoquestionowasoagainodealtowithoinotheoOrdero datedo22.01.2018oinoparaso23oando24oandoitowasostressedo thatoconferraloofodegreesoinoEngineeringothroughodistanceo educationomodeowasoneveroapprovedoinoprincipleobyoAICTE.o Theo appellanto doeso noto eveno claimo too beo impartingo anyo educationo througho distanceo educationo modeo ando onlyo conductsobi-annualoexaminationoandoawardsocertificatesotoo thoseowhooqualifyosuchoexamination.oConsideredoinotheolighto ofo theo decisiono ofo thiso Courto ino Orissao Lifto Irrigationo Corporationocase,otheolearnedoAmicusoCuriaeoisorightoinohiso submissiono thato theo caseo ofo theo appellanto wouldo beo ono ao footingolowerothanotheocasesoofodeemedotoobeoUniversitiesoaso dealtowithoinothatodecision.o

41.oTheoconsistentostandoofotheoappellantohasobeenothatoitoiso MOHD YAKUB notocoveredounderoanyoofotheoActsoviz.otheoUGCoAct,oIndirao CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -24-o o o o GandhioNationaloOpenoUniversityoAct,o1985oandotheoAICTEo Act.o However,o sinceo ito offerso courseso oro programmeso ofo technicaloeducation,oasorightlyoheldobyotheoHighoCourt,otheo appellanto comeso withino theo definitiono ofo "technicalo institution"oasodefinedoinotheoAICTEoAct.oNeitherodoesotheo appellant,o ono itso owno granto Degreeso ino Engineeringo noro doeso it,o ino itso capacityo aso ano affiliatedo institutiono too ao recognizedoUniversity,oprepareostudentsoinocoursesoleadingo tooDegreesoinoEngineering.oThoughoitodoesonotoimpartoanyo instructionso eithero ino theoryo oro ino practical,o ito holdso ano examination,oonosatisfactoryoclearanceoofowhichoitoawardso CertificatesoofoMembershipotoocandidates.oTheoquestionoiso whethero sucho Certificateo could,o aso ao mattero ofo law,o beo recognisedo aso equivalento too ao Degreeo ino Mechanicalo EngineeringofromoaorecognisedoIndianoUniversity?oNothingo isoclearoasotoounderowhatostatutoryoregimeoorounderowhicho legalo provisiono cano sucho equivalenceo too theo Certificateo issuedo byo theo appellanto beo grantedo oro conferred.o Noo statutoryoprovisionohasobeenopressedointooserviceoororeliedo upono too suggesto thato giveno theo particularo circumstanceso and/or,oonosatisfactionoofocertainoparametersotheoappellanto wouldobeoentitledotooconferraloofosuchoequivalenceoorostatus.o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo

47.o Consequently,o neithero cano theo appellanto claim,o aso ao matterooforightotoobeoentitledotooconferoanyodegreeonorocano itoclaimothatoCertificateoawardedobyoitomustobeoreckonedotoo beoequivalentotooaoDegreeoinoMechanicaloEngineering.o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo

49.oHowever,otheofactoremainsothatotheoequivalenceotootheo Certificatesoawardedobyotheoappellantowasograntedobyotheo MHRDoinoconsultationowithoAICTEouptoo31.05.2013oasoiso evidentofromoNotificationodatedo06.12.2012oissuedobyotheo CentraloGovernmentoandoPublicoNoticeoissuedobyoAICTEo inoAugust,o2017.Theseocommunicationsoalsooindicateothato allo thoseo studentso whoo wereo enrolledo uptoo 31.05.2013o wouldo beo eligibleo foro considerationo ino accordanceo witho MHRDoofficeomemorandum/orderoinocourse.oThoughoweo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -25-o o o o haveolaidodownothatotheoCertificatesoissuedobyotheoappellanto onosuccessfulocompletionoofoitsobi-annualoexaminationotoo itsoMemberso cannoto beo consideredo too beo equivalento too ao Degree,o ano exceptiono needso too beo madeo ino favouro ofo studentsoenrolledoupotoo31.05.2013oandobenefitoinotermsoofo theo Notificationo datedo 06.12.2012o ando Publico Noticeo aso aforesaido oughto too beo extendedo too sucho candidates.o Theo candidatesohadooptedotooenrollothemselvesosoothatotheyocouldo appearo ato theo examinationso conductedo byo theo appellanto undero ao regimeo whicho waso puto ino placeo byo theo Centralo Governmento itselfo ando theo courseo contento aso wello aso theo curriculumo wereo reviewedo byo theo AICTE.o However,o theo aforementionedoNotificationoandoPublicoNoticeowereoclearo thato aftero 01.06.2013o theo concernedo orderso grantingo equivalenceowouldoceaseotoohaveoanyoeffect.o

50.o Ino theo circumstanceso weo doo makeo ano exceptiono ino favouro ofosucho candidateso enrolledo uptoo31.05.2013o ando declareothatotheoconclusionsodrawnoinotheopresentomattero willoapplyoaftero01.06.2013.oTheoCertificateoawardedobyotheo appellanto too sucho candidateso enrolledo uptoo 31.05.2013o shallobeoconsideredoequivalentotooaoDegreeoinoMechanicalo Engineeringo foro theo purposeo ofo employmento ino Centralo Government."o(emphasisadded)o

22.o o Palpably,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino IMEo caseo (supra)haso clarifiedo thatrespondent-IMEo doeso noto possesso anyo validoregulatoryomandateotooimpartotechnicaloeducation.oRather,o theo judgmento renderedo byo theo Divisiono bencho ofo thiso Courto ino Kartaro Singho v.o Uniono ofo India,o 2012(4)o SCTo 741haso beeno affirmedo whileo holdingo thato respondent-IMEo cannoto confero degreesoasoaomatterooforight,onorocanoitoclaimothatotheocertificationo grantedobyoitomustobeoreckonedotoobeoequivalentotooaoDegreeoino CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -26-o o o o MechanicaloEngineering.oFurther,otheoexceptionocreatedoinofavouro ofocentralogovernmentoemployees,owhoohaveoclaimedobenefitsoino serviceoonotheobasisoofocertificatesoawardedobyorespondent-IME,o byoprescribingoaocut-offodateoi.e.o31.05.2013,oisoprimarilyobasedo uponotheonotificationodatedo06.12.2012o(AnnexureoP-6)oissuedobyo theoMinistryoofoHumanoResourceoDevelopment.o

23.o o Furthero still,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto haso perceptiblyo observedo thato respondent-IMEo doeso noto claimo too provideo technicaleducationo througho distanceo learningo byo conductingoregularoclasses;orather,oitomerelyoconductsobi-annualo examinationsoandoissuesocertificatesotoothoseowhoopass.oAsosuch,o whenoviewedoinolightoofotheorulingoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ino theo Orissao Lift(supra),o respondent-IMEo standso ono ao significantlyo lowero footingo comparedo too theo deemed-to-beo universitiesoconsideredotherein.o

24.o o Whileo purportedlyo relyingo ono theo IMEo caseo (supra),theoChiefoSecretaryoofoGovernmentoofoHaryanaoissuedotheo impugnedo instructionso datedo 19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37),o wherebyo theo Diplomas/Degreeso awardedo byo professionalo bodies/institutionso dulyo recognisedo byo theo Ministryo foro Humano ResourceoDevelopmentouptoo31.05.2013owereodeclaredotoobeovalido CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -27-o o o o withorespectotootheostudentsoenrolledouptoo31.05.2013.oInoviewoofo theosaidoexecutiveoinstructions(AnnexureoP-37),otheorespondent-Corporationoorderedotheoreversionoofotheopetitionersotootheirofeedero posts,oasotheoprivateorespondents,oIMEodiplomaoholders,obecameo eligibleotooclaimotheopromotionotheyopreviouslyowereoignoredofor.o Aso such,o theo privateo respondentso wereo promotedo retrospectively,withoeffectofromotheoyearo2013oi.e.owhenotheyowereo supposedo too beo originallyo considered,o ando ino doingo so,o theyo attainedoseniorityooverotheopetitionersoo

25.o o ItoisoevidentothatotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtodidonoto intendotooequateotheocertificatesoissuedobyorespondent-IMEowitho degreeso oro diplomaso foro allo individualso ando ao limitedo oneo timeo exceptionowasocarvedooutoforocentralogovernmentoemployees,obyo settingoaocut-offodateoinotermsoofotheonotificationodatedo06.12.2012o (AnnexureoP-6).oItowasoneverointendedothatotheosameomayobeousedo asoaoprecedentotoocreateofurtheroexceptions.oAnyootheroelucidationo andoimportoisoclearlyoerroneousoasoratioodecidendioofoaojudgmento mustobeoculledooutofromoreadingoitoinoitsoentiretyoandonotofromoao partothereof.oTherefore,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredoopiniono thato theo Chiefo Secretaryo haso erredo ino issuingo impugnedo instructionso datedo 19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37),o aso anyo othero CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -28-o o o o interpretationo contraryo too theo oneo adoptedo ando intendedo byo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoIMEocase(supra),owouldofallofouloofo theolawolaidodownotherein.Further,otheopromotionograntedotootheo privateorespondentsoatoaobelatedostage,obyoundoingotheosameoforo theopetitioners,oamountsotooaoviolationoofotheospiritoandopurposeoofo theojudgmentorenderedoinoIMEocaseo(supra).oItoisoinconceivableo thatotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtointendedoforoitotoobeointerpretedoinoao mannero thato wouldo resulto ino strippingo theo petitionerso ofo theo benefitso legitimatelyo accruedo too themo ino termso ofo instructionso datedo29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1),asotheyopossessovalidothree-yearo regularo diplomaso ino engineering.o Thiso Courto cannoto allowo theo privateorespondentsotoostealoaomarchooverotheopetitionersoonotheo basiso ofo certificateso obtainedo fromo respondent-IME,o whicho haso consistentlyofailedotheojudicialoscrutinyoofoconstitutionalocourtsoino theocasesoofoKartaroSingho(supra),oOrissaoLifto(supra),oandoIMEo (supra).o

26.o o Further,otheostandoofotheoprivateorespondentsoisoself-contradictoryoasotheyohaveoclaimedothatoOrissaoLifto(supra)oando IMEo(supra)oareonotoapplicableotoodiplomasowhileoalsooseekingo benefitoofotheosaidojudgmentsobyoseekingoequivalenceowithoaothree-yearodegree,oinoorderotofulfilloessentialoqualificationoforopromotiono CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -29-o o o o inotermsoofoinstructionsodatedo29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1).oSucho anoapproachocannotobeopermittedotooaopartyotootheoproceedingsotoo approbateo ando reprobateo ando adopto twoo contraryo standso takeno beforeodifferentofora.o

27.oo o Theofulcrumoofotheoargumentoofotheolearnedocounseloforo theoprivateorespondentsorestsoonotheosemblanceoofoidenticalityoando similarlyo circumstancedo position,o inasmucho aso theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto haso clarifiedo ino Orissao Lifto (supra)o thato theo judgmentowouldonotobeoapplicableotoodiplomas,oandothatotheyofulfilo theo essentialo qualificationo aso seto outo ino instructionso datedo

29.12.2004o(AnnexureoP-1),ohavingoacquiredotheirodiplomasoprioro too31.05.2013oinotermsoofoIMEo(supra).oTheoargumentoadvancedo byolearnedocounseloforotheoprivateorespondentsothatotheirocaseoiso squarelyocoveredobyoOrissaoLift(supra)oandoIMEcase(supra)oiso erroneouso ando whollyo unacceptable.o Theo privateo respondentso cannoto beo allowedo too claimo ao vestedo righto ofo promotion,o purportedlyoarisingofromoanoallegedodefectoregardingovalidityoofo theiroeducationaloqualifications,oatotheocostoofotheopetitioners,owhoo wereo unjustlyo deprivedo ofo theiro meritedo benefit.o Further,o thereo musto beo certaintyo ex-posto litigationo ino lighto ofo establishedo precedentotooeliminateoambiguity.oByomisinterpretingotheoclearoando CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -30-o o o o unambiguouso ratioo decidendio ofo IMEo caseo (supra),o theo respondent-Corporationocannotobeoallowedotooundulyoexpandotheo scopeoandoimplicationsothereof.oThisoCourtomustonecessarilyorejecto theo rationaleo adoptedo byo theo respondent-Corporationo aso mechanicalo applicationo ofo theo saido judgmento too thiso particularo factualomatrix,othatotoooafteroaosignificantodelay,oisowhollyounjust.oo l PRECEDENCEo OFo STATUTORYo INSTRUCTIONSo OVERoEXECUTIVEoINSTRUCTIONSo

28.o o Ito musto beo notedo thato instructionso datedo 29.12.2004o (Annexureo P-1)o areo statutoryo ino natureo whileo theo impugnedo instructionsodatedo19.12.2023o(AnnexureoP-37),oareoexecutiveoino nature.oExecutiveooroadministrativeoinstructionsodoonotohaveotheo authorityotooamend,ooverride,oorosupplementostatutoryorules,onoro canoanyosuchoinstructionsobeoissuedoinoderogationoofotheostatutoryo framework.oThisoisoforotheoreasonothatoadministrativeodirections,o beingonon-statutoryoinocharacter,odoonotocarryotheoforceoofolaw.oOno theocontrary,ostatutoryoinstructions,oframedounderotheoauthorityoofo anoenablingostatute,ohaveotheobindingoforceoofolaw,oprovidedotheyo areoconsistentowithoandonotorepugnanto tootheoparentoAct.oThus,o whileostatutoryorulesooccupyotheofieldowithofullolegalosanctity,omereo executiveoinstructionsocannotooperateotoocurtail,omodify,ooroexpando CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -31-o o o o theiroscope.(ReferenceoinothisoregardocanobeomadeotooStateoofoU.P.o v.oBabuoRamoUpadhyaya,oAIRo1961oSupremeoCourto751;oB.N.o Nagarajano v.o Stateo ofo Karnataka,o AIRo 1979o Supremeo Courto 1676;o Stateo ofo Tamilo Naduo v.o M/s.o Hindo Stone,o AIRo 1981o SupremeoCourto711);ooP.D.oAggarwalov.oStateoofoU.P.,o(1987)3o SCCo 622o :o (AIRo 1987o Supremeo Courto 1676);oStateo ofo Maharashtrao v.o JagannathAchyutKarandikar,o AIRo 1989o SupremeoCourto1133;oStateoofoMadhyaoPradeshov.oG.S.oDall&o FlouroMills,oAIRo1991oSupremeoCourto772;oC.oRangaswamaeaho v.o Karnatakao Lokayukta,o 1998(3)o RCRo (Criminal)o 547o :o AIRo 1998oSupremeoCourto2496).o

29.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinIMEocaseo(supra)ohaso alsooemphasizedotheoimportanceoofotheofactothatotheopowerotoogranto equivalenceo musto beo exercisedo ino accordanceo witho theo relevanto statutoryo provisions.o Speakingo througho Justiceo U.U.o Lalit,o theo followingowasoheld:o "41.o Ino theo presento case,o theo communicationo datedo

26.05.1976o undero whicho theo Certificateo issuedo byo theo appellantowasorecognizedotoobeoequivalentotooaoDegreeoino Mechanicalo Engineeringo fromo ao recognizedo Indiano University,odoesonotoindicateoanyostatutoryoprovisionoundero whicho sucho equivalenceo couldo beo grantedo oro conferred.o Thisopointobecomesomoreocrucial,oasoafterotheoenactmentoofo AICTEoAct,otheoentiretyoofotheofieldoconcerningo"technicalo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -32-o o o o education"o iso kepto ino theo domaino ofo AICTEo byo theo Parliament.oSectiono10oofotheoAICTEoActoentitlesoAICTEonoto onlyo too layo downo normso ando standardso foro courses,o curriculumoandosuchootherofacetsoofo"technicaloeducation"o buto alsoo entitleso ito undero clauseo (l)o too adviseo theo Centralo Governmento ino respecto ofo granto ofo chartero too anyo professionalo bodyo oro institutiono ino theo fieldo ofo technicalo educationo conferringo powers,o rightso ando privilegeso etc.o Goingobyotheowidthoofotheopower,oafterotheoenactmentoofo AICTEoAct,oevenosuchoprivilegesocouldobeoconferredoonlyo afteroexpressoadviceoofoAICTEoandowithinotheoconfinesoofo variousostatutoryoprovisions."o(emphasisoadded)o

30.o o Accordingly,othisoCourtofindsomeritoinotheoargumentoofo theolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner(s)othatotheoRespondent-Stateo cannotograntoanyorecognitionooroequivalenceoonoitsoownowithouto theomandateoofotheoHaryanaoStateoBoardoofoTechnicaloEducationo Act,o2005o(hereinaftero'Actoofo2005').oTheoimpugnedoinstructionso datedo 19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37)o neithero referso too anyo recommendationobyotheoAcademicoCommitteeonorotooanyodecisiono ofo theo Haryanao Stateo Boardo ofo Technicalo Education.o Aso pero Sectiono 22o ofo theo Acto ofo 2005,o theo Academico Committeeo iso specificallyoempoweredotoomakeorecommendationsotootheoBoardo onomattersoofoequivalenceoofoqualifications.oItoisoonotheobasisoofo suchorecommendationsothatotheoBoardoofoTechnicaloEducationoiso requiredo too granto equivalence.o Therefore,o theo impugnedo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -33-o o o o notificationo iso ofo ao non-statutoryo natureo ando lackso anyo legalo backing.oo

31.o o Also,otheoChiefoSecretary,oGovernmentoofoHaryana,oiso noto theo competento authorityo too issueo anyo formo ofo validationo oro equivalenceoforoanyoDiploma/Degree/Certificate,oasothisofunctiono lieso solelyo withino theo domaino ofo theo Directorateo ofo Technicalo Education,o Haryana.o Theo granto ofo equivalenceo througho non-statutoryoinstructionsocannotooverrideotheoinstructionsoissuedodatedo

29.12.2004o (Annexureo P-1),o whicho wereo adoptedo pursuanto too ao decisionotakenobyotheoBoardoofoDirectorsoofotheoCorporationoundero theopoweroconferredobyoSectiono79(c)oofotheoElectricityo(Supply)o Act,o1948.o l RETROSPECTIVEoAPPLICATIONoANDoLEGISLATIVEo REPAIRo

32.o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Ashoko Kumaro v.o DepinderoSinghoDhesio(2019)o8oSCCo280ohasoclarifiedothatotheo intentionoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoneverobeenotooprovideo ao retrospectiveo benefito too individualso whoo haveo obtainedo theiro degreesoorodiplomasothroughotheoprocessoofodistanceoeducation.o TheoApexoCourtowhileotakingoaosympatheticoviewohasoonlyograntedo ao one-timeo exemptiono too theo individualso whoo wereo alreadyo employedoinotheoCentraloGovernmentotoonotobeorevertedoback.oTheo CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -34-o o o o judgementso cannoto beo misinterpretedo too granto retrospectiveo benefitsotoodistanceoeducationodiplomaoholders.o "14.oItowas,otherefore,oclearothatotheocandidatesowho,oono theo strengtho ofo sucho degreeso awardedo througho distanceo educationo mode,o hado attainedo ao particularo levelo ino theiro careeroorowereoenjoyingocertainobenefitsoasoonotheodateoofo theoJudgmento[OrissaoLiftoIrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabio SankarPatro,o (2018)o 1o SCCo 468]o ando ifo theyo passo theo examination,o thoseo benefitso wouldo stando restored.o Ifo theo candidatesocouldoclearotheoexaminationoinotheofirstoattempto itself,o thereo wouldo noto eveno beo anyo breako ino continuouso enjoymento ofo thoseo benefitso oro facilities.o Theo ideao was,o candidatesoshouldonotostandodeprivedoofotheostatusothatotheyo wereoenjoyingoasoonotheodayoofotheoJudgmento[OrissaoLifto IrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o(2018)o1oSCCo 468]oprovidedotheocandidatesocouldoproveotheiroworthoando ability.o

15.oButoif,otheocandidatesoconcernedohadonotoattainedoanyo particularo status,o aso ono theo dateo wheno theo Judgmento [OrissaoLiftoIrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o

(2018)o1oSCCo468]owasopassed,otheowidthoofotheodirectionso wasonototooconferoanyoadditionaloadvantageowhichowasonoto evenoenjoyedoasoonotheodate.oItowasonototheoideaotooholdotheo candidateso too beo entitledo too certaino additionalo benefitso whichotheocandidatesowere,oasoaomatteroofofact,onotoeveno enjoyingo ono theo dateo ofo theo judgmento [Orissao Lifto IrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o(2018)o1oSCCo 468]o .Ifo theo degreeso stoodo restoredo ino termso ofo theo directionso ino theo Judgmento [Orissao Lifto Irrigationo Corpn.Ltd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o(2018)o1oSCCo468]oando theo Ordero [Orissao Lifto Irrigationo Corpn.o Ltd.o v.o Rabio SankarPatro,o (2018)o 2o SCCo 298o :o (2018)o 1o SCCo (L&S)o 289]o,otheocandidatesowouldocertainlyobeoeligibleotoosucho entitlementsoasoareoavailableoinoaccordanceowitholaw,obuto "restoration"owouldoonlyobeoofothoseobenefits,owhichotheyoMOHD YAKUB CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -35-o o o o wereoenjoyingoasoonotheodateoofotheoJudgmento[OrissaoLifto IrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o(2018)o1oSCCo 468]o.oInoshort,otheointentowasotoorestoreostatusoquooanteo ando noto too confero anyo additionalo advantageo byo theo Judgmento [Orissao Lifto Irrigationo Corpn.o Ltd.o v.o Rabio SankarPatro,o (2018)o 1o SCCo 468]o ando theo Ordero [Orissao LiftoIrrigationoCorpn.oLtd.ov.oRabioSankarPatro,o(2018)o2o SCCo298o:o(2018)o1oSCCo(L&S)o289]."o(emphasisoadded)o

33.o o Itoisosettledolawothatowhatocannotobeodoneodirectlyoalsoo cannotobeodoneoindirectlyo(See:StateoofoTamiloNaduoandoOtherso v.oK.oShyamoSunderoandoOthers,o(2011)o8oSCCo737;oJagiroSingho v.oRanbiroSingh,o(1979)o1oSCCo560).oTherefore,othisoCourtoisoofo theo opiniono thato equivalenceo cano beo grantedo solelyo withino theo confinesoofotheostatutoryoprovisionsoofotheoActoofo2005.oSuchoano attemptoisonotopermissibleandocouldonotobeoachievedoonoaccountoofo theo technicalo oro legalo defecteveno througho legislativeo repairo byo retrospectiveoapplicationoasolaidodownoinotheojudgmentorenderedo byoaothree-JudgeobenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo ofoS.R.oBhagwatov.oStateoofoMysore,o(1995)o6oSCCo16.oSpeakingo throughoJusticeoS.B.oMajumdar,itowasoheldothatoaobindingojudicialo pronouncementocannotobeomadeoineffectiveobyoexerciseoofosucho legislativeopower.oTheorelevantopartoisoreproducedobelow:o "12.oItoisonowowellosettledobyoaocatenaoofodecisionsoofothiso Courtothatoaobindingojudicialopronouncementobetweenotheo partieso cannoto beo madeo ineffectiveo witho theo aido ofo anyo legislativeo powero byo enactingo ao provisiono whicho ino CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -36-o o o o substanceooverrulesosuchojudgmentoandoisonotoinotheorealmo ofo ao legislativeo enactmento whicho displaceso theo basiso oro foundationoofotheojudgmentoandouniformlyoappliesotooaoclasso ofopersonsoconcernedowithotheoentireosubjectosoughtotoobeo coveredobyosuchoanoenactmentohavingoretrospectiveoeffect.o Weomayoonlyoreferotootwooofotheseojudgments."o

34.o o Theo aforementionedo positiono ofo lawo haso alsoo beeno approvedobyoaoFulloBenchoofothisoCourtoinoKakaov.oHassanoBano,o 1998(1)oRCR(Criminal)o484.oSpeakingothroughoJusticeoSwatantero Kumar,otheofollowingowasoheld:o "28.oo …Thiso ruleo iso however,o subjecto too ao wello recognisedo principleo thato theo benefitso acquiredo undero theo existingorulesocannotobeotakenoawayobyoanoamendmentowitho retrospectiveoeffect,othatoisotoosay,othereoisonoopowerotoomakeo suchoaoruleounderotheoprovisootooArticleo309owhichoaffectsooro impairso vestedo rights.o Therefore,o unlesso ito iso specificallyo providedo ino theo rules,o theo employeeso whoo areo alreadyo promotedo beforeo theo amendmento ofo theo ruleso cannoto beo revertedoandotheiropromotionsocannotobeorecalled.oInoothero words,osuchorulesolayingodownoqualificationsoforopromotiono madeowithoretrospectiveoeffectomustonecessarilyosatisfyotheo testoofoArticleso14oando16(1)oofotheoconstitutiono:oStateoofo Mysoreov.oM.N.oKrishnaoMurty,o(1973)o2oSCRo575o:oAIRo 1973oSupremeoCourto1146,oB.S.oYadavov.oStateoofoPunjab,o

(1981)o1oSCRo1024o:oAIRo1981oSupremeoCourto561,oStateoofo Gujaratov.oRamanlalKeshavlalSoni,o(1983)o2oSCRo287o:oAIRo 1984o Supremeo Courto 161o ando KCo Arorao v.o Stateo ofo Haryana,o(1984)o3oSCRo623:o1984oLab.oICo1015."oo o l DELAYEDo DISTURBANCEo CAUSEDo TOo SETTLEDo SENIORITYo

35.o o Theo Higho Court,o wheno exercisingo itso powerso undero Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o haso theo authorityo tooMOHD YAKUB CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -37-o o o o examineo theo fullo factso ando circumstanceso ofo ao caseo ando issueo appropriateoordersotooensureocompleteoandosubstantialojusticeotoo theopartiesoinvolved.oThisoextraordinaryojurisdictionoisoexercisedoino accordanceowithotheoprinciplesoofoequity.oAofundamentalopurposeo ofoequityoisotooupholdohonestyoandofairoconduct.oTherefore,oifoao partyohasoobtainedoanounfairoadvantageopriorotooapproachingotheo HighoCourt,otheoCourtomayoconsiderosuchoadvantageoandorequireo theopartyotoorelinquishoitobeforeoanyoreliefoisogranted.oResultantly,o itohasotoobeoheldothatotheobenefitsogivenotootheoprivateorespondentso canobeowithdrawn.o

36.o o Inconvenienceoinotheoformoofofinancialooutlayoorotheo difficultyo ofo recastingo seniorityo holdso littleo weight,o particularlyo whenorectifyingoanoaccidentalodefectoservesotooupholdotheobroadero principlesoofojusticeoandomerit.oTheoissueoinvolvedoinotheopresento caseoisowell-settledoandocannotobeoallowedotooremainosubjectotoo uncertaintyo ex-ante,o especiallyo wheno noo alternative,o reasonableo viewoisotenable.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoUnionoofoIndiao ando anothero v.o Narendrao Singh,(2008)o 2o SCCo 750,o speakingo throughoJusticeoC.K.oThakker,oobservedoasofollows:o "28.oItoisotrueothatotheomistakeowasoofotheoDepartmentoando theo respondento waso promotedo thougho heo waso noto eligibleo andoqualified.oBut,oweocannotocountenanceotheosubmissiono CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -38-o o o o ofo theo respondento thato theo mistakeo cannoto beo corrected.o Mistakesoareomistakesoandotheyocanoalwaysobeocorrectedobyo followingo dueo processo ofo law.Ino Indiano Councilo ofo AgriculturaloResearcho&Anr.ov.oT.K.oSuryanarayan&Ors.,o 1997o(4)oSCTo156:o(1997)o6oSCCo766,oitowasoheldothatoifo erroneousopromotionoisogivenobyowronglyointerpretingotheo rules,otheoemployerocannotobeopreventedofromoapplyingotheo rulesorightlyoandoinocorrectingotheomistake.oItomayocauseo hardshipotootheoemployeesobutoaocourtoofolawocannotoignoreo StatutoryoRules."o

37.oo o Further,o ito iso settledo lawo thato petitionso disputingo theo long-standingoseniorityofiledoatoaobelatedostageoshouldobeorejectedo inasmucho aso theyo seeko too disturbo theo vestedo rightso ofo othero persons.o Relianceo cano beo placedo ono theo Judgementso ofo theo SupremeoCourtoinoMalcomoLawrenceoCeciloD'Souzaov.oUnionoofo Indiao ando Ors.,(1976)o 1o SCCo 599,o ando K.R.o Mudgalo v.o R.P.o Singh,o(1986)o4oSCCo531,oandB.S.oBajwaoandoAnr.ovs.oUnionoofo India,o(1998)o2oSCCo523.oTheoSupremeoCourtocautionedothatoino serviceo matters,o theo issueo ofo seniorityo shouldo notobeo re-openedo aftero ao reasonableo periodo haso passed,o aso doingo soo unsettleso ano establishedopositionowithoutoanyojustifiableocause.oInotheopresento case,otheorespondentsocouldohaveoraisedotheiroobjectionoforotheofirsto timeowhenotheoseniorityolistowasopreparedoandocirculated.oTheyo cannoto beo permittedo too disturbo theo settledo positiono ato sucho ao belatedostageoaftero11oyears.o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -39-o o o o CONCLUSIONo

38.oo o Ino viewo ofo theo foregoingo discussion,o theo questionso framedoaboveoareoansweredoinotheofollowingoterms:o

(i)o TheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ino IMEo case(supra)iso noto ipsoo factoo applicableo too Stateo governmento employeeso ino theo absenceo ofo anyo statutoryo mandateoorospecificodirectionsobyotheoCourt.oo

(ii)oTheostatutoryoinstructionsodatedo29.12.2004o(Annexureo P-1),ocannotobeosupersededobyoexecutiveoinstructionsodatedo

19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37),o withouto amendingo theo eligibilityocriteria.o

(iii)Theobenefitsoarisingooutoofoexecutiveoinstructionsodatedo

19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37)o cannoto beo conferred,o retrospectively.o

39.o o Accordingly,o allo theo captionedpetitionso areo allowed.o Theo impugnedo orderso i.e.officeo ordero No.66/EOM/G-129o datedo

23.02.2024o(AnnexureoP-35)oandoofficeoorderoNo.67/EOM/G-129o datedo23.02.2024o(AnnexureoP-36)oasowelloasoinstructionsodatedo

19.12.2023o (Annexureo P-37)o areo herebyo seto asideo ando theo respondentsoareodirectedotoorestoreoalloconsequentialobenefitsotoo theopetitioner(s).o CWP-8363-2024&oOTHERoCONNECTEDoCASESo o o o -40-o o o o

40.o o Ino theo interesto ofo justice,o equity,o ando fairo play,o ito iso furthero directedo thato theo seniorityo ofo theo petitioners,o someo ofo whomo wereo promotedo aso earlyo aso 30.01.2013,o shallo noto beo disturbedoatothisobelatedostage.oAccordingly,oitoisodirectedothatotheo privateo respondentso shallo beo placedo belowo theo lasto promotedo petitioneroorosimilarlyosituatedopromotees.oThisoCourtoisosatisfiedo thato theo decisiono ofo theo respondent-Corporationo too reverto theo petitionersotootheirofeederopostsoisopatentlyoirrational,ounjust,oando prejudicialotoothem.o

41.o o Inoorderotoodoocompleteojustice,oandoinocaseoofonon-availabilityoofotheopostsoonowhichoprivateorespondentsocouldohaveo beenopromoted,otheorespondentsomayocreateosupernumeraryopostso too accommodateo themo ono notionalo basiso withouto disturbingo theo settledoseniorityoofopetitionersowhoowereopromotedoearlieroinotime.o

42.o o Allotheopendingomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,o shallostandodisposedoof.oo

43.o o Aophotocopyoofothisoordero beoplacedoonotheofilesoofo otheroconnectedocases.o o o o o o o (HARPREEToSINGHoBRAR)o

09.09.2025o o o o o o ooJUDGEo yakubo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :Yes/Noo o o o Whetheroreportableo o o :oYes/Noo