Parveen Kumar v. State of Punjab and Others

o o 2023:PHHC:057753o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o oooo oooooooooooooooJUDGMENToRESERVEDoONoo ooooooo:o30.01.2023o oooooooooJUDGMENToPRONNOUNCEDoONoooooooooo:oo11.04.2023ooo o o o oooCWP-23267-2017o o o PARVEENoKUMARo o o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSooo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o oooCWP-14246-2018o o o GURVINDERoRATTANoo o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSooo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o *****o o Present:-oo Mr.oRajvinderoSinghoBains,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAmanoRajoBance,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-23267-2017.o o o o Ms.oSunaina,oAdvocateowitho o o Mr.oH.C.oArora,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-14246-2018.o o o o Mr.oGauravoGargoDhuriwala,oAddl.oA.G.oPunjab.o o o o Mr.oGurminderoSingh,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo o o o o Ms.oHarpriyaoKhanika,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.3oinoCWP-23267-2017oandoo o o fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-14246-2018.o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-2-o o o o o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o

1.o o Theoissuesothatoariseoforoconsiderationoinotheopresentobatchoofo writo petitiono relateo too theo powero ofo executiveo too relaxo theo ruleso ofo appointmentounderoextra-ordinary/exceptionalocircumstancesoandotheoscopeoo ofojudicialoreviewobyotheoHighoCourt.oo

2.o o Botho theseo writo petitionso areo beingo decidedo byo ao commono judgmentoasotheyochallengeotheoappointmentoofoprivateorespondent-Guriqbalo Singho sono ofo Tejo Parkasho Singho aso Deputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo ino Punjabo Police.o Theo firsto writo petitiono i.e.o CWP-23267-2017o raiseso ao challengeotootheoappointmentoonotheogroundsoofotheosameohavingobeenomadeo inoviolationoofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServicesoRules,o1959onotwithstandingothato theoprivateorespondentohadocrossedotheoeligibilityoageoandoalsooforotheoreasono thato theo appointmento beingo ao compassionateo appointmento iso invalido ando illegaloconsideringotheofinancialoandosocialostatusoofotheofamily.oTheosecondo writopetitionoi.e.oCWP-14246-2018oraisesoaochallengeotootheoappointmentoono theogroundothatotheoDegreeoofoBacheloroofoCommerceoheldobyotheoprivateo respondentoisonotorecognized.oo

3.oFACTSoINoBRIEFo-oCWP-23267-2017o:-o

3.1o o Theo petitionero claimso too beo ao membero ofo Khalrao Missiono Organization,oAmritsarowhichowasoformedoinotheoyearo1995oandoisoworkingo forotheowelfareoofotheovictimsoofoAnti-SikhoRiots.oItoisoallegedothatoaolargeo numbero ofo peopleo wereo killedo ino extrao judicialo encounterso byo theo policeo duringo regimeo ofo Ex-Chiefo Ministero Beanto Singho o ando o theo theno D.G.P.o K.P.S.o Gill.o Oneo Jaswanto Singho Khalrao hado collectedo theo datao fromo theo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-3-o o cremationo groundso ando foundo thato ao largeo numbero ofo unclaimedo &o unidentifiedo bodieso wereo crematedo byo theo Punjabo Police.o Theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoorderedoanoinquiryotoobeoconductedobyotheoCentralo BureauoofoInvestigationowhichoreportedothatoabouto2000ounclaimedobodieso hadobeenocrematedoduringotheosaidoperiod.oAnoinquiryowasothereafteroalsoo conductedo byo theo Nationalo Humano Rightso Commissiono ando outo ofo 2097o bodiesoshownoasounidentifiedoinotheopoliceoencounters,o1513obodiesowereo eventuallyoidentified.o

3.2oo o oTheo petitioner,o alongwitho hiso father,o twoo brotherso ando sistero wereo allegedlyo pickedo upo byo theo Deputyo Superintendento ofo Police,o Tarno Taran.oSisteroofotheopetitionerowasohoweveroreleasedoonotheointerventionoofo theolocalopeople.oAllootheromembersoofotheofamilyoofotheopetitionerowereo allegedlyogivenobeatingsobeforeoreleasingoalloexceptoGulshanoKumar.oHeowaso lasto seeno tillo 21.07.1993,o however,o aftero 22.07.1993,o theo fathero ofo theo petitionerowasonotoallowedotoomeetoGulshanoKumar.o

3.3o o oOno23.07.1993,ofamilyoofotheopetitionerocameotooknowoaboutotheo deathoofoGulshanoKumaroinoPoliceoencounteronearoPalasaur.oTheodeadobodyo was,o however,o noto giveno too theo familyo ando theo sameo waso crematedo aso unclaimed.o

3.4o o oItowasoallegedothatoGulshanoKumar-theodeceasedobrotheroofotheo petitionero hado noo connectiono witho militancyo ando waso killedo ino ao fakeo encounter.oItohasoalsoobeenoaverredothatotheorespondentoNo.3-GuriqbaloSingho isotheograndosonoofoSardaroBeantoSingh,oEx-ChiefoMinisteroofoPunjaboandoo youngerobrotheroofotheoMemberoofoParliamentoRavneetoBittuoandocousinoofo GurkiratoKohli-theoMLAofromoKhanna.oo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-4-o o

3.5o o Itoisosubmittedothatotheoproposalotooappointotheograndsonoofolateo BeantoSinghoi.e.otheoprivateorespondentoasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceo onocompassionateogroundsohasobeenoinitiatedo22oyearsoafterotheoassassinationo ofoformeroChiefoMinister.oItooisoaverredothatotheorespondentoNo.3-Guriqbalo Singho waso ineligibleo foro theo appointmento too theo posto ofo Deputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo ono theo dateo wheno hiso caseo waso initiatedo foro recruitmentoandothatotheofamilyodidonotosufferofromoanyohardshipoconsideringo theohigherosocial,ofinancialoandopoliticalostatusoofotheofamily.oItowasostatedoino theoapplicationosubmittedobyotheoGuriqbaloSinghothatosinceohisograndfathero waso killedo byo militantso foro hiso tiradeo againsto militancy,o heo shouldo beo recruitedo aso Deputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo undero theo policyo ofo theo Governmentotoogiveojobsotootheofamiliesoofothoseokilledoduringotheoeraoofo terrorism.o Theo appointmento ofo respondento No.3-Guriqbalo Singhohado beeno madeoinorelaxationoofoallorecruitmentonormsoandonotwithstandingotheolawolaido downo byo theo Supremeo Courto thato compassionateo appointmentso cannoto beo claimedo aso ao mattero ofo righto ando thato theo sameo waso permissibleo onlyo ino exceptionalo caseso ofo hardshipo ono accounto ofo theo deatho ofo theo soleo breado earner.ooTheoobjectoofocompassionateoappointmentoisotooenableotheofamilyotoo overcomeotheosuddenofinancialocrisisoandotooreliveotheofamilyoofoitsotrauma.oIto isoaverredothatoconsideringothatoaomemberoofotheofamilyoisoaoMemberoofo Parliament,otheootheromemberoisoaomemberoofoStateoLegislativeoAssembly,o oneodaughteroandosonoofotheoslainoChiefoMinisterohadoservedoasoMinistersoino GovernmentoofoPunjab,oitocouldonotobeosaidothatotheofamilyowasosufferingo fromoanyofinancialocrisisoonodeathoofoSardaroBeantoSingh.oMoreover,otheo applicationowasosubmittedoaftero22oyearsoofohisoassassination.oAsosuch,othereo wasonoopressingoneedooroexistentialoemergencyoforotheofamily.ooo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-5-o o

3.6o o Itohasoalsoobeenoaverredothatocompassionateoappointmentsocano onlyobeoofferedoinoGroupo'C'oando'D'oandoanyopostohigherothanothatoareonoto filledoupobyorecruitmentoonocompassionateobasis.oBesides,otheoupperoageolimito foroappointmentoasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoinoPunjaboPoliceoiso28o yearsowhileoageoofoGuriqbaloSingh,oasoono01.01.2017,owaso28oyearsoando07o months.o Anoobjectiono too hiso appointmento ono compassionateogroundso waso alsooraisedobyotheoFinanceoDepartment.oVariousootheroavermentsoallegingotheo purportedomisruleoduringotheothenoregimeohaveoalsoobeenomade,ohowever,otheo sameoareoirrelevantoforotheoadjudicationoofotheopresentocaseoandotheosameoareo accordinglyonotobeingoadvertedoto.oo

4.1o o ReplyobyowayoofoanoaffidavitoofoRajnishoKumaroSharma,oUndero SecretaryotooGovernmentoofoPunjab,oDepartmentoofoHomeoAffairso&oJusticeo wasofiledoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.1owhereoitowasostatedothatotheotheno ChiefoMinisteroplayedoaopivotaloroleoinobringingo"AnoEraoofoPeace"oinotheo Stateothroughohisocourageousoleadershipoduringotheospanoofothreeoyears,oheo remainedoasoChiefoMinisteroofotheoStateoofoPunjab.oHeosingleohandedlyostirredo peaceo too theo troubledo Stateo ando alsoo broughto ito backo ono theo patho ofo development.oHeoscarifiedohisolifeofororestoringopeaceoandoruleoofolawoinotheo Stateo ofo Punjabo ando ledo theo State'so fighto againsto terrorismo aso ao tirelesso crusaderoagainstocommunalismoandosocialoinjustice.o

4.2o o oItoisosubmittedothatotheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceoforwardedo theoproposalotootheoStateoGovernmentotoorecruitoprivateorespondent-Guriqbalo Singh,ograndsonoofotheoformeroChiefoMinisteroasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofo PoliceoinoPunjaboPoliceoconsideringoitoasoao"specialocase"oasovictimsofromo terrorism.oTheoproposalostatedothatotheomartyrolateoSardaroBeantoSingh,oEx-ChiefoMinisteroofoPunjaboscarifiedohisolifeofororestoringopeace,odemocracyoVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-6-o o andolawo&oorderoinotheoStateoofoPunjaboandothatoheowasoassassinatedobyotheo terroristsoono31.08.1995oatotheoPunjaboCiviloSecretariat.oDespiteoaopersonalo losso too theo familyo memberso ofo theo slaino leader,o theyo dido noto availo anyo GovernmentojobonotwithstandingotheoGovernmentoschemeoforoprovidingojobo andorehabilitationotootheofamiliesothatohadosufferedoviolenceoduringoterrorism.o

4.3o o oAostrongocaseowasorecommendedobyotheoDirectoroGeneraloofo Policeo foro recruitmento ofo Guriqbalo Singho aso Deputyo Superintendento ofo Police.oItowasoalsoostatedothatotheocandidateowasoveryoyoungoatotheotimeoofo assassinationoofotheoformeroChiefoMinisteroandohasobeenobroughtoupoundero threatsofromoterrorists.o

4.4o o ooItoisocontendedothatoinorecognitionoofotheoultimateosacrificeoofo hisograndfather,oheoshouldobeoappointedotootheopostoofoDeputyoSuperintendento ofo Policeo aso pero latesto governmento instructions.o Theo sameo waso thuso consideredotoobeoao"SpecialoCase"obyotheocompetentoauthority.oItoisoaverredo thatotheocaseodidonotofallounderotheoinstructionsoNo.11/105/98-4oPP-2/14420o datedo 21.11.2002o ando amendedo instructionso No.11/99/2002/4PP2/18086o datedo28.12.2005oissuedobyotheoDepartmentoofoPersonnel,oGovernmentoofo Punjabo aso ito waso noto beingo treatedo aso ao caseo ofo compassionateo appointment/financialohardshipoandowasoratheroproposedoasoanoappointmento madeoasoao"SpecialoCase"obyograntingohimorelaxationofromoRuleso6oando7oofo theoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959.oOneopostoofoDirectoRecruitmentoquotao ofoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceowasotakenooutoofotheopurviewoofoPunjabo PublicoServiceoCommissiono(PPSC)oandotheomatterowasorecommendedobyotheo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-7-o o

4.5o o Ito waso alsoo pointedo outo eveno ato earliero instances,o theo Governmento ofo Punjabo haso recruitedo DSPso byo takingo outo posto fromo theo purviewo ofo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.o Theo detailso thereofo areo extractedoasounder:o Sr.o NameoofotheoOfficeroo Reasonsoofoappointmento No.oo

1.o Sh.o Hanso Rajo Chadha,o PPS,o Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao NowoIPSo(Retd)o specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o dueo too deatho ofo hiso father.o Heo submittedo hisojoiningoreportoinothisoofficeoono

09.06.1972.o

2.o Sh.oArpitoShukla,oPPS,oNowo Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao IPSoo specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o dueo too deathoofohisofather.oSh.oP.S.oShukla,o IPS,oDIG.oHeosubmittedohisojoiningo reportoinothisoofficeoono08.04.1987.o

3.o Sh.o Paramrajo Singh,o PPS,o Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao NowoIPS.o specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o dueo too deatho ofo hiso fathero Sh.o Sukhdevo SinghoofoVillageoUmaranangal.oHeo submittedohisojoiningoreportoinothiso officeoono03.09.1987.o

4.o Sh.oHarcharanoSinghoBhullar,o Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o Heo PPS,onowoIPSo submittedohisojoiningoreportoinothiso officeoono19.8.1994.o

5.o Sh.oAlamoVijayoSingh,oPPS.oo Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o video No.8/35/2011-1H3/889o datedo

10.03.2011o dueo too deatho ofo hiso fatheroSh.oNarinderoPaloSingh,oIPS,o IGP.o Heo submittedo hiso joiningo reportoinothisoofficeoono16.04.2012.o

6.o Sh.oManinderoPaloSingh,oPPSo Heo waso recruitedo aso DSPo aso ao specialo caseo byo theo Govt.o video o.o 7/54/2015-2H3/2734,o datedo

09.08.2016,o dueo too deatho ofo hiso fathero Martyro Sh.o Baljito Singh,o Superintendento ofo Police.o Heo submittedohisojoiningoreportoinothiso officeoono12.08.2016.oo o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-8-o o

4.6o o Thatoafteroconsideringoallotheofactsoofotheocase,otheoCounciloofo Ministers,oaccordedoitsoapprovalotooappointoSh.oGuriqbaloSinghoasoDeputyo SuperintendentoofoPoliceoaso"SpecialoCase"oobyogivingorelaxationofromoRuleo 6oando7oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959oinotheoupperoageolimitoando asoao"SpecialoCase"oandoafterotakingooutooneopostofromodirectoquotaoofoDSPo fromo theo purviewo ofo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.o Ano ordero ofo appointmento waso thereaftero issuedo video lettero No.o 6/22/2017-2H3/3810,o datedo07.06.2017oandothatoheojoinedodutyoinotheoDepartmentoofoPoliceoono

08.06.2017oA.N.oo

4.7o o oItowasoalsooaverredothatotheopetitionerohasonoocauseoofoactionotoo invokeotheoextraoordinaryowritojurisdictionoofothisoCourtoandotheopetitionero hasonowhereoclaimedothatoheoisoentitledotoobeoappointedotootheosaidopostoando waso alsoo eligibleo ando ao proxyo litigationo haso beeno instituted.o Ito iso furthero averredothatotheothirdopartyolitigationoisonotomaintainableoinoserviceomatters.oo

5.1o o Separateoreplyohasobeenofiledobyotheoprivateorespondentowhereo locuso ofo theo petitionero too seeko settingo asideo theo appointmento ofo privateo respondentodespiteonotobeingoaggrievedooroaffectedobyotheoappointmentowaso questioned.oItowasoreiteratedothatotheoappointmentowasomadeoasoao"Specialo Case"oasoaomarkoofohonouroforotheosacrificeomadeobyotheograndfatheroofotheo privateorespondent.ooItowasopointedooutothatotheopetitionerodoesonotofallowithino theocategoryoofopersonoaggrievedoandoheoisoatobestoaomeddlesomeointerloper.o Filingoofotheopresentopetitionoisomerelyoanoactoofonuisanceoandoanoabuseoofotheo processoofolawowhichoisoresultingoinowastageoofopreciousojudicialotime.oTheo maintainabilityoofotheowritopetitionowasothusoobjected.o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-9-o o

5.2o o oItowasoalsoostatedothatowrongoandomisleadingofactsohaveobeeno given.o Theo respondento iso statedo too beo sono ofo Sh.o Tejo Prakash,o ao formero ministeroinotheoCabinetoandoRavneetoSinghoBittuoisoclaimedotoobeohisobrothero whereasotheosameoisofactuallyoincorrectosinceoheoisosonoofoSukhwantoSingh.o Theomis-statementoisodeliberateoandotooprejudiceotheoCourt.o

5.3o o Theoprivateorespondentoorohisofamilyoisonotoaorecipientoofoanyo politicalolargesseoorofavour.oTheoelectionoofotheootheromembersoofotheofamilyo asoMemberoofoParliamentoand/orotheoStateolegislatureoisonotoconfermentoofo anyofavouroorobenefitobyotheoState.ooTheomembersoofotheofamilyohavingobeeno electedoinoaodemocraticoprocessocannotobeoequatedoasohavingoreceivedoanyo benefitounderoanyoapplicableoStateopolicies.o

5.4o o oItowasofurtheropointedooutothatotheocaseohasobeenoportrayedobyo theo petitionero aso ifo ito iso ao compassionateo appointmento ando violateso theo instructions.o Sinceo theo appointmento ofo theo petitionero iso noto ino natureo ofo compassionateoappointment,ohence,otheosaidoinstructionsowereonotoapplicable.o TheopostoinoquestionowasotakenooutoofotheopurviewoofotheoPunjaboPublico Serviceo Commissiono byo theo Executiveo ando ao decisiono waso takeno byo theo Councilo ofo Ministers,o whicho ito waso empoweredo too doo undero theo specialo circumstancesoandonoticingotheosacrificesoforotheocauseoofotheoStateoandoino recognitionothereof,otheoappointmentohadobeenooffered.o

5.5o o oItoisostatedothatoDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceoohadoforwardedotheo letterotootheoAdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotootheoGovt.oofoPunjab,oDepartmento ofoHomeooAffairsoono12.05.2017owithorequestotooconsiderotheocaseoofotheo privateorespondentoforoappointmentoasoDSPobyowithdrawingooneopostofromo theopurviewoofoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionofromotheoDirectoQuota.oIto CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-10-o o isofurtherosubmittedothato29opostsoofotheoDSPowereolyingovacant.oItoisoaverredo thatodueoprocedureoforotakingooutopostofromotheopurviewoofoPunjaboPublico ServiceoCommissionoisolaidodownounderoparagrapho20oofotheoRegulationsoando InstructionsogoverningotheoworkingoofoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommission.o Theosameoisoextractedoasounder:o PART-III-Bo (Procedureoforoexclusionoofoposts/servicesofromotheopurviewoofo theoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommission)o

20.oForoexclusionoofoposts/servicesoandootheromattersofromotheo purviewo ofo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission,o theo followingoprocedureoisotoobeofollowed:-o

(1)oIndividualoproposalsoforotakingooutopostsofromotheopurviewo ofotheoCommissionowouldobeoprocessedobyotheoAdministrativeo Departmentso concerned.o Aftero theo Departmento hado takeno ao tentativeodecisionotootakeooutocertainopostsofromotheopurviewoofo theo Commission,o theo Departmento wouldo obtaino theo views/commentsoofotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionobyo makingoselfocontainedoreferenceotootheoCommission.o

(ii)oOnoreceiptoofotheocomments/viewsoofotheoCommission,otheo matterowouldofurtherobeoexaminedobyotheoDepartmentoconcernedo keepingoinoviewotheocomments/viewsosooreceivedoandotheoadviceo ofotheoDepartmentoofoPersonneloandoAdministrativeoReforms.oIfo theoDepartmentocomesotoodefiniteoconclusionothatotheopostsoino questionomustobeotakenooutoofotheopurviewoofotheoCommission,o theo Departmento wouldo takeo theo mattero too theo Councilo ofo Ministerso incorporatingo theo adviceo ofo theo Departmento ofo Personnelo ando Administrativeo Reformso ino theo Memorandumo placedobeforeotheoCounciloofoMinisters.o

(iii)o Aftero theo proposalo ofo theo Administrativeo Departmento iso approvedo byo theo Councilo ofo Ministers,o necessaryo actiono too CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-11-o o amendo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commissiono (Limitationo ofo Functions)o Regulations,o 1955o wouldo beo takeno byo theo DepartmentoofoPersonneloandoAdministrativeoReforms.o

5.6o o Itoisoaverredothatoinoconsonanceowithotheorequirementoprescribedo inotheoprocedureoforoexclusionoofopostofromotheopurviewoofoPunjaboPublico ServiceoCommission,oaocommunicationowasosentobyotheoDepartmentoofoHomeo Affairs,o Justiceo &o Jails,o Govt.o ofo Punjabo o too theo Secretaryo ofo PPSCo ono

22.05.2017o requestingo theo PPSCo too takeo outo oneo posto ofo DSPo fromo theo purviewoofooPPSCowhichowasorepliedobyotheoPPSCoono24.05.2017ointimatingo thatoonotheobasisoofotheoproposalosubmittedotootheoCommission,oitohasobeeno decidedotootakeooutooneopostoofoDSPofromoitsopurviewoandothatotheosameomayo beoviewedoasoaoOneoTimeoMeasure.oInofurtheranceothereto,oaoMemorandumo wasocirculatedobeforeotheoCounciloofoMinistersotoodeliberateoonotheoissueoofo grantingo appointmento alongwitho theo Punjabo Policeo Serviceo Rules,o 1959o includingorelaxationoofoRuleo7.oTheosaidomemorandumooalsoolistedooutodetailso ofootherosimilarlyosituatedoofficers,owhoohadobeenoofferedoappointmentotootheo postoofoDSPooasoao"SpecialoCase"oandoasoaoOneoTimeoMeasure.ooTheoopiniono ofotheoFinanceoDepartmentowasoalsooreceivedoono28.05.2017owhereinoitowaso statedothatoasoperopolicyothenoinoexistence,ocompassionateoappointmentocouldo onlyobeograntedotoonextoofokinoandoasotheoprivateorespondentowasonotodirectlyo dependento ono lateo Beanto Singh,o sucho relaxationo wouldo createo futureo precedent.oAnoobjectionowasoalsooraisedothatotheoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaohaso barredocompassionateoappointmentsoonopostohigherothanoGroupo'C'opost.oIto wasorecommendedoinotheoMemorandumothatotheoobjectionoofotheoFinanceo Departmento areo noto applicableo sinceo theo proposalo dido noto envisageo appointmentoofotheoprivateorespondentoonocompassionateogroundsoandotheo VISHAL SHARsMaAmeowasorecommendedoao"SpecialoCase".o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-12-o o

5.7o o oTheoCounciloofoMinistersotookoupotheomatteroinoitsomeetingoono

30.05.2017oalongwithotheocommentsoreceivedofromotheoDepartmentoofoHomeo Affairs,oJusticeo&oJails;oPPSCo&oFinanceoandoapprovalowasograntedotooaffordo relaxationofromoRuleo6oando7oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959otoo appointotheoprivateorespondent.oTheoappointmentoletterowasothereafteroissuedo ono07.06.2017oandoheosubmittedohisojoiningoreportoandohasobeenoofficiatingo sinceothen.ooReferenceowasoalsoomadeotooearlieroinstancesoofospecialocaseo appointmentso madeo byo theo Governmento ofo Punjabo byo theo Councilo ofo Ministersoalreadyoextractedoabove.oAllootheroobjectionsoraisedoinotheopetitiono wereodeniedoasobeingopoliticallyomotivated,ofalseoandofrivolous.ooItoisoalsoo averredothatootherothanotheorequirementoofoage,otheorespondentofulfilledoallo othero eligibilityo requirementso ando thato heo hado obtainedo hiso Degreeo ofo GraduationofromooPeriyaroUniversityoinoSecondoClassoinotheoexaminationoo periodoofoDecember-January-2012.oo

6.o o AnoamendedoreplyowasothereafterofiledobyotheoGovt.oofoPunjab,o DepartmentoofoHomeoAffairsoinowhichoadditionaloobjectionsoasoraisedoinotheo replyofiledobyotheoprivateorespondentowereoalsootaken.oItoisoalsooaverredoinotheo amendedoreplyothatoitoisowithinotheopowersoconferredouponotheoCounciloofo Ministerso undero theo provisionso ofo Ruleso ofo Businesso 1992/Allocationo Businesso Rules,o 2005o too takeo outo theo posto ofo DSPo fromo theo purviewo ofo PunjaboPublicoServiceoCommission.o

7.o o oNoo rejoinder/replicationo haso beeno filedo byo theo petitionero too controvertotheoreply/amendedoreplyobyorespondentoNo.1oand/orotheowritteno statementofiledoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.3.oTheofactualoclaimsoraisedobyo theorespondentsohaveothusoremainedouncontroverted.oo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-13-o o o8.oFACTSoINoBRIEFo-oCWP-14246-2018o:-oo

8.1o o Theo petitionero haso raisedo ao challengeo too theo appointmento ofo GuriqbaloSingho(respondentoNo.5oherein),otootheopostoofoDSPoonotheogroundo thato heo dido noto possesso theo prescribedo qualification.o Theo petitionero iso aoo Vocationalo Mastero (Computero Science)o ino Governmento Senioro Secondaryo Schoolo (Boys)o Sangruro ono contractualo basis.o Heo haso allegedo thato theo appointmentoofotheoprivateorespondentohasobeenomadeodespiteotheofactothato theosaidorespondentohadoacquiredotheoBacheloroofoCommerceoDegreeofromo PeriyaroUniversityothroughotheoDistanceoEducationomode.oTheosaidodegreeo referso too theo Examinationo Centreo Codeo aso "1385"o whicho iso theo codeo foro "M.S.oInstitute,oNewoDelhi"owhereasotheosaidorespondentohadoappearedoforo examinationothroughoDistanceoEducationo mode.ooItoisoaverredothatoasoperoo Ruleo7,oaopersonoisorequiredotoobeoaograduateofromoaorecognizedoUniversityo ando possesso knowledgeo ofo Punjabio uptoo Matriculationo oro itso equivalento standardoandothatoaolargeonumberoofopeopleoareonotobeingogivenoappointmentso tooanyopublicopostowhereotheyoobtainedotheirodegreesofromotheoUniversitieso fallingo outsideo theo territoryo ofo Stateo ofo Punjabo ando througho Distanceo Educationo mode.o Relianceo waso placedo ono writteno statemento filedo ino theo matteroofo"DharminderoPauloversusoStateoofoPunjaboandoothers"obearingo CWPo-19045oofo2014.oItowasothusoallegedothatowhileotheodegreeoacquiredo throughoDistanceoEducationomodeobyopeopleoinoseatoofopowerowereobeingo accepted,otheosimilarodegreesoofootherocitizensowereonotobeingorecognized.oo

8.2o o Noticeoofomotionoinotheoaboveosaidowritopetitionowasoissuedoono

30.05.2018oandotheosameowasoorderedotoobeoreadoalongwithoCWP-23267oofo 2017oandonooformaloreplyobyotheoStateotootheoavermentsocontainedoinotheowrito petitionohasobeenofiled,ohowever,owrittenostatementoonobehalfooforespondentoVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-14-o o No.5o haso beeno filedo whereino aparto fromo theo objectionso ino relationso too maintainabilityoofopetition,oitowasosubmittedothatotheoprivateorespondentowaso awardedo theo degreeo ofo Bacheloro ofo Commerceo fromo Periyaro University,o Tamilo Naduo whicho iso ao recognizedo Universityo ando constitutedo undero theo statute.oTheodegreeograntedobyotheoUniversityoviaoDistanceoEducationoModeo areodulyorecognized.oItowasoaverredothatotheorelianceoplacedoonotheoreplyofiledo inoCWP-19045oofo2014otitledo"DharminderoPauloversusoStateoofoPunjabo andoothers"owasomisplacedosinceoreferenceowasomadeotootheoUGCoguidelineso datedo23.08.2013owhereinotheoterritorialojurisdictionooofoaoStateoUniversityo hadobeenoconfinedotootheoboundariesoofotheoStateowhereinoitoisosituated.oItoiso averredothatotheoDegreeoofoBacheloroofoCommerceohadobeenograntedotoohimo byotheoPeriyaroUniversityoinotheoyearo2012oi.e.oprioroinotimeotootheoissuanceoofo guidelineso byo theo UGCo datedo 23.08.2013.o Hence,o ato theo timeo wheno respondentoNo.5oobtainedohisodegree,otheoaboveoUGCoguidelinesowereonotoino force.o Theo aboveo guidelines/instructionso issuedo byo theo UGCo cannoto beo enforcedoretrospectivelyotooinvalidateotheodegreesoawardedotootheostudentso priorotooissuanceoofotheosaidoguidelines.o

8.3o o ooItowasoalsooaverredothatotheoStateoGovernmentohasonotoissuedo anyofinaloinstructionsooroguidelinesotillodateoregardingotheoissueooforecognitiono grantedotooUniversitiesoandotootheodegreesoofferedobyothemothroughoDistanceo EducationoMode.oAowritopetitionoraisingotheoaboveoissueoandobearingoCWP-21991oofo2014owasoorderedotoobeolistedoafterodecisionoinoLPAoNo.o1215oofo 2015owhichostandsoadmitted.oAsosuch,othereoisonooadjudicationoonotheoissueo thatotheodegreesoobtainedothroughoDistanceoEducationoModeoareonototoobeo recognizedobyotheoStateoGovernment.oInotheoabsenceoofoanyofinalodecision,o theodegreeoawardedotootheopetitionerocannotobeoheldotoobeoinvalid.o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-15-o o

8.4o o oItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheopetitionerohimselfohasoobtainedohiso degreeofromoKamrajoUniversity,oMaduraioandocontinuesotoobeoemployedobyo theo Governmento onocontractualobasiso whicho showsothatotheo degreeso fromo outsideotheoStateoareobeingoaccepted.oTheopetitionerothusohasonoogrievanceooro occasionotoochallengeovalidityoofodegreeoawardedobyoaoUniversityooutsideo Punjab.o Ito iso averredo thato theo presento petitiono iso maliciouso ando thato theo petitionerowasoneveroanoapplicantotootheopostoofoDeputyoSuperintendentoofo Policeoandohasoalsoonotosoughtoanyosuchoappointment.oHeoisothusonotoaopartyo interestedooropartyoaggrievedoandohenceohasonoolocusotooraiseoaochallengeotoo theoappointmentoofotheorespondentoNo.5.oo

8.5o o oIto iso alsoo averredo thato theo authenticityo ofo theo degreeo ofo theo respondento No.5o waso nevero undero challengeo whereaso theo degreeo ofo theo petitionerowasounderoscanneroonoaccountoofodisputeoquaorecognitionoofotheo Kamrajo University,o Madurai.o Theo Stateo Governmento constitutedo ao CommitteeounderotheoChairmanshipoofotheoChiefoSecretary,oGovt.oofoPunjabo toodeliberateoonotheoissuesoandothatoevenothoughotheocaseoofotheorespondentoiso notosimilarotoothatoofotheopetitioner,ohowever,oasoandowhenotheoCommitteeo takesoupotheoissueooforecognitionoofotheouniversitiesoandodegrees,otheocaseoofo theorespondentoNo.5owouldoalsoobeoscrutinized.oHowever,otillothen,othereocano beonooquestionoonotheolegalityoandovalidityoofotheodegreeopossessedobyotheo respondentoNo.5.ooo

8.6o o Evenothough,otheoaboveosaidostatementohadobeenofiledoinotheoyearo 2019,ohowever,onoorejoinder/replicationocontrovertingotheoavermentsoraisedo thereinohasobeenofiled.oHence,otheofactualoaspectsoraisedobyorespondentohaveo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-16-o o

9.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitioners,owhileo reiteratingotheirosubmissionsonoticedoaboveohaveoarguedothatotheoappointmento ofotheorespondentoasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoinoPunjaboPoliceoiso clearlyo ano illegalityo ando ino grosso violationo ofo theo serviceo rules.o Ito waso vehementlyo arguedo thato aso pero theo Punjabo Serviceo Rules,o 1959o thereo iso procedureoforodirectoappointmentowhichoisobyomeansootherothanobyomeansoofo promotionofromoInspector.oAppointmentsoareotoobeomadeotootheoserviceobyo theoGovernmentoasoperomodeooforecruitmentoprescribedothereunderoasopero whicho recommendationso areo too beo madeo byo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.ooTheoprocedureooforecruitmentosetooutoinotheoPunjaboPoliceo ServicesoRules,o1959oandoreliedouponobyotheocounseloforotheopetitionersoreado thus:-oo "6.o Methodo ofo recruitmento (1)o Recruitmento too theo Serviceo shallobeomade.o o1.o oEightyoperocentobyopromotionofromotheorankoofoInspector,o andotwentyoperocentobyodirectoappointment:o Providedo thato onlyo thoseo inspectorso willo beo eligibleo foro promotionowho-o

(a)kinotheocaseoofoInspectorso(bothopromotedofromosubordinateo rankoandodirectlyorecruited)ohaveogotosixoyearsocontinuouso service:o(officiatingoasowelloasosubstantive)oinotheorankoofo Inspector;ando

(b)koino caseo theyo areo Prosecutingo Inspectors,o haveo goto eighto years'ocontinuousoserviceo(bothoofficiatingoandosubstantive)o inotheorankoofoProsecutingoInspector.o

(2)oo Appointmentso byo promotiono shallo beo madeo byo theo GovernmentofromoInspectorsobroughtoonolisto'G'owhichowillobeoao listo ofo officerso consideredo fito foro promotiono too theo ranko ofo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-17-o o DeputyoSuperintendentoofopolice,opreparedobyoGovernmentoino consultationo witho theo Commission.o Theo nameso ino thiso listo preparedoatooneotimeoshallobeoarrangedoaccordingotootheirointero seoseniority.oThisolistowillobeomaintainedoinotwooparts;oPart-Io(foro officersofromotheoExecutiveoline)oandoPart-IIo(foroofficersofromo theoprosecutionoline).o

3.oDirectoappointmentotootheoServiceoshallobeomadeoonotheoresulto ofoaocompetitiveoexaminationoconductedobyotheocommission.oTheo syllabusoandorulesorelatingotooexaminationowillobeoframedobyotheo GovernmentoinoconsultationowithoCommission.oTheoexaminationo willo includeo ao vivao voce.o Onlyo thoseo candidateso willo beo interviewedoforotheovivaovoceotestowhooobtainonotolessothanotheo minimumo qualifyingo markso fixedo byo theo Commissiono ono theo writtenoexamination.oTheoInspectoroGeneraloofoPolice,oPunjab,o willo beo presento ato theo interviewo ando willo beo entitledo too puto questionso too theo candidateso ando too expresso hiso viewso too theo Commission.o Ao candidate'so positiono shallo beo determinedo byo addingotheomarksoobtainedobyohimoinotheowrittenoexaminationo andovivaovoceotest.o Providedothatootherothingsobeingoequal,opreferenceowillobeogiveno too ao candidateo whoo haso workedo foro theo causeo ofo nationalo independenceo oro haso renderedo someo outstandingo socialo oro publicoservice.o Substitutedobyo3o(i)o"oDirectoappointmentotootheoserviceoshallobeo madeoonotheoresultoofoaocompetitiveoexaminationoconductedobyo theoCommission.oAopreliminaryocompetitiveoexaminationoforotheo postoofoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoshallobeoconductedobyo theoCommission,otheoregulationsoandototalomarksoofowhichohaveo beenospecifiedoinoAppendixoCotootheseorules.oTheocandidatesowhoo qualifyotheosaidopreliminaryocompetitiveoexamination,oshallobeo allowedo too competeo ino theo maino competitiveo examination.o Candidateso equalo too thirteeno timeso ofo theo totalo numberso ofo vacanciesoshallobeoconsideredotoohaveoqualifiedoforotheomaino CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-18-o o competitiveo examinationo ino accordanceo witho merito ofo theo preliminaryocompetitiveoexamination.oTheoregulationsoofomaino competitiveoexaminationohaveobeenospecifiedoinoAppendixo'D'otoo theseorules.o

(ii)o Theo candidateso whoo qualifyo theo maino competitiveo examinationoandoobtainonotolessothanotheominimumoqualifyingo marksofixedobyotheoCommissionoshallobeoputotoophysicalotestso andoonlyothoseocandidatesowhooqualifyotheophysicalotestoshallobeo allowedo too competeo ino theo viva-voceo testo whicho shallo beo conductedobyotheocommission.o

(iii)oAnoofficeroofotheorankoofoInspectoroGeneraloofoPoliceoshallo beopresentoinotheoviva-voceoandoshallobeoentitledotooputoquestionso tootheocandidatesoandotooexpressohisoviewsotootheoCommission.oAo candidate'sopositionoshallobeodeterminedobyoaddingotheomarkso obtainedobyohimoinotheowrittenoexaminationoandoinoviva-voceo test"o Amendedo video Governmento ofo Punjab,o Departmento ofo Homeo Affairso ando Justiceo (Home-Io Branch)o notificationo No.o G.S.R.o63/Const./Art.309/Amd./99oDatedo5thoAugust,o1999.o

7.o Qualifications.-o (I)o Noo persono shallo beo recruitedo too theo serviceobyodirectoappointmentounlesso

(i)o heo iso noto lesso thano twentyo oneo yearso ando noto moreo thano twentyofiveoyearsoofoageoonotheofirstoofoFebruaryoofotheoyearoino whichoappointmentoisotoobeomade;.o Substitutedobyo7o(i)o"oheoisonotolessothanotwentyooneoyearsoandonoo moreothanotwentyoeightoyearsoofoageoonotheofirstodayoofoJanuaryo ofo theo yearo ino whicho theo vacancieso areo advertisedo byo theo Commission"o Amendedo video Governmento ofo Punjab,o Departmento ofo Homeo Affairso ando Justiceo (Home-Io Branch)o notificationoNo.oG.S.R.o63/Const./Art.o309/Amd./99oDatedo5tho August,o1999.o

(ii)oheoproducesoaocertificateoofophysicalofitnessoasoprescribedobyo ruleo3.1ofotheoPunjaboCiviloServicesoRules,oVolumeoI,oPartoI.oVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-19-o o

(iii)o heo haso ao minimumo heighto ofo 5'-o 7"o ando normalo chesto measurementoofo33"owithoexpansionoofo1-1/2.o Substitutedobyo7o(iii-a)o"oInotheocaseoofofemaleocandidate,otheo heightoshallobeo5'-3"oando(iii)oinotheofirstoproviso,oforotheowordo "thirtyoyears",otheowordo"orelaxoableobyotheofiveoyears"shallobeo substituted"oAmendedovideoGovernmentoofoPunjab,oDepartmento ofoHomeoAffairsoandoJusticeo(Home-IoBranch)onotificationoNo.o G.S.R.o63/Const./Art.o309/Amd./99oDatedo5thoAugust,o1999.o

(iv)oheoisoaograduateoofoaorecognizedoUniversityoandopossesseso knowledgeoofobothoHindioandoPunjabioupotootheoMatriculationooro itsoequivalentostandard;o Providedothatotheoupperoageolimitoprescribedoinosub-clauseo(i)o shallobeothirtyoyearsoinotheocaseoofoScheduledoCastes,oScheduledo TribesoandoBackwardoClasses.o Providedofurtherothatotheophysicalostandardoprescribedoinosub-clauseo(ii)oshallonotobeorelaxedowithoutospecialosanctionoofotheo Government.o

(2)oNoomaleocandidateowhoohasomoreothanooneowifeolivingoando noofemaleocandidateowhoohasomarriedoaopersonohavingoalreadyo aowifeolivingoshallobeoeligibleoforoappointmentotootheoservice:o Providedo thato thiso disqualificationo shallo noto beo applicableo ino casesowhereoitowasoincurredobeforeotheo8thoSeptember,o1954,o andotheorecruitmentoisotoomadeobyopromotion.o

(3)o (i)o Theo Governmento shallo notifyo too theo Commissiono theo numberoofovacanciesotoobeofilledobyodirectoappointmentoduringo theoyear,oandotheocommissionowilloproceedotoogivenopublicityotoo theo proposedo appointmentso ando inviteo applications.o Ifo applicationso areo invitedo beforeo theo resultso ofo theo Universityo Examinationsohaveobeenonotified;ocandidatesoappearing,oorowhoo haveo appearedo ino theo Bacheloro ofo Artso oro equivalento examination,owillobeoallowedotoosubmitoprovisionoapplications.o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-20-o o

(ii)oTheoapplicationsoreceivedowillobeoreferredoforoscrutinyotootheo Inspectoro Generalo ofo Police,o Punjab,o whoo mayo makeo sucho enquiriesoasoheomayothinkofitoandoshallothereafteroreturnoallotheo applicationowithohisoremarks,oifoany,otootheoCommission.o

(iii)oTheoCommissionowilloscrutinizeoalloapplicationsoreceivedo andoadmitotootheoexaminationomentionedoinosub-ruleo(3)ooforuleo 6o allo thoseo candidateso whoo areo foundo too beo eligibleo ino accordance,owithothoseorules.o

(iv)o Successo ino theo examinationo willo confero noo righto ono anyo candidateotooappointment,ounlessoGovernmentoisosatisfiedoaftero suchoenquiryoasobeoconsideredonecessary,othatotheocandidateoiso suitableoinoallorespectsoforoappointmentotootheoService.o Xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo Powerotoorelaxo

14.oGeneralopowerotoorelaxorules.-oWhereotheoGovernmentoisoofo theoopinionothatoitoisonecessaryoofoexpedientosootoodo,oitomay,obyo order,ofororeasonsotoobeorecodedoinowriting,orelaxation"oofotheo provisionsoofotheseorulesowithorespectotooanyoclassoofocategoryoofo persons.oo o

10.o o Byoreferringotootheoaforesaidoprovisions,oitoisocontendedothatotheo methodooforecruitmentoasocontainedoinotheoRulesoofo1959oprovidesothatotheo Directo appointmento too theo serviceo haso too beo madeo ono theo outcomeo ofo competitiveoexaminationoconductedobyotheoCommissionowhichoalsooincludeso VivaoVoice.oAominimumoqualifyingomarksoisorequiredotoobeoobtainedobyoao Candidateobeforeoheoisoshortolistedoforotheoviva-voice.oItoisofurtherosubmittedo thatotheomaximumoageolimitoprescribedoinotheoRulesoofo1959oiso28oyearsoasoono st1 odayoofoJanuaryoofotheoyearoinowhichotheovacanciesoareoadvertisedobyotheo Commission.oHeofurtheroarguesothatotheorelaxationounderoRuleo14oofo1959o canoonlyobeomadeowithorespectotooanyoclassoorocategoryoofopersonsoandothatoVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-21-o o theoprivateorespondentoNo.5oisonotoaoclassoorocategoryoofopersons.oNoosucho powerooforelaxationounderoRuleo14oofo1959ocanobeoexercisedoinorespectoofoano individualo whoo iso noto ao class.o Thus,o theo relaxationo aso extendedo byo theo CounciloofoMinistersowasonotoinoconsonanceowithotheoRulesoofo1959oando hence,o sufferedo fromo ano illegality.o o Ito iso thuso furthero submittedo thato theo respondento No.5o belongso too ano influentialo politicalo familyo ando haso goodo financialocapacityoandosocialostatus.oTheyoareonotounderofinancialoduressoando theoDepartmentoofoFinanceoalsooraisedoanoobjectionotootheoappointmentoofo respondentoNo.5odirectlyotootheopostoofoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoando byo specificallyo pointingo outo thato ao compassionateo appointmento cannoto beo madeotoopostootherothanooGroupo'C'ooroGroupo'D'.oItowasoalsooarguedothatotheo respondentoNo.5odoesonotofallowithinotheodefinitionoofoaodependentoofolateo ChiefoMinisteroBeantoSinghoasodefinedounderotheopolicies.oHeoisoaograndsono andohenceonotocoveredounderoanyoofotheorehabilitation/resettlementopolicieso extendedotooterrorismoaffectedofamilies.oHeoalsooreferredotootheodocumento (Annexureo P-4)o too contendo thato theo respondento No.5o iso statedo too haveo undergoneohisopilototrainingocourseofromoUSowhichoshowsothatotheofamilyo wasofinanciallyowellooff.oRelianceowasoalsooplacedoonotheojudgmentoinotheo matteroofo"UnionoofoIndiao(UOI)oandoanotheroversusoShashankoGoswamio ando another"o reportedo aso AIRo o 2012o SCo 2294o o too contendo thato compassionateoappointmentocannotobeoclaimedoasoaomatterooforightosinceoitoiso notoaosourceoofoemploymentoandocanobeoresortedotooonlyoinotermsoofoscheme.o Theorelevantoextractoofotheojudgmentoaboveoreliedobyotheopetitioneroreadso thus:-o o "9.o Thereo cano beo noo quarrelo too theo settledo legalo propositionothatotheoclaimoforoappointmentoonocompassionateo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-22-o o groundo iso basedo ono theo premiseso thato theo applicanto waso dependento ono theo deceasedo employee.o Strictly,o sucho ao claimo cannotobeoupheldoonotheotouchstoneoofoArticleo14ooro16oofotheo Constitutiono ofo India.o However,o sucho claimo iso consideredo aso reasonableo ando permissibleo ono theo basiso ofo suddeno crisiso occurringoinotheofamilyoofosuchoemployeeowhoohasoservedotheo Stateoandodiesowhileoinoservice.oAppointmentoonocompassionateo groundocannotobeoclaimedoasoaomatterooforight.oAsoaoruleopublico serviceo appointmento shouldo beo madeo strictlyo ono theo basiso ofo openoinvitationoofoapplicationsoandomerit.oTheoappointmentoono compassionateogroundoisonotoanotherosourceooforecruitmentobuto merelyoanoexceptionotootheoaforesaidorequirementotakingointoo considerationo theo facto ofo theo deatho ofo theo employeeo whileo ino serviceoleavingohisofamilyowithoutoanyomeansoofolivelihood.oIno suchocasesotheoobjectoisotooenableotheofamilyotoogetooverosuddeno financialocrisisoandonototooconferoaostatusoonotheofamily.oThus,o applicantocannotoclaimoappointmentoinoaoparticularoclass/groupo ofo post.o Appointmentso ono compassionateo groundo haveo too beo madeo ino accordanceo witho theo rules,o Regulationso oro administrativeo instructionso takingo intoo considerationo theo financialoconditionoofotheofamilyoofotheodeceased."o o11.o o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"StateoofoGujaratoandoothersoversusoArvindo KumaroT.Tiwarioandoanother"ooreportedoasoAIRoo2012oSCo3281otoocontendo thatorelaxationoofoeligibilityocriteriaoisonotowithinotheopoweroofotheoCourtoando claimo ofo compassionateo appointmento haso too beo consideredo strictlyo ino accordanceowithotheorules.ooTheoparagraphsoreliedouponobyotheocounseloforotheo petitioneroareoextractedoasounder:oo "8.o Theo courtsoandotribunalo doo noto haveo theopowerotoo issueodirectionotoomakeoappointmentobyowayoofograntingo relaxationo ofo eligibilityo oro ino contraventiono thereof.o Ino StateoofoMadhyaoPradeshoandoAnotheroVs.oDharamoBir,,oVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-23-o o thisoCourtowhileodealingowithoaosimilaroissueorejectedotheo pleaoofohumanitarianogroundsoandoheldoasounder:o Theocourtsoasoalsootheotribunalohaveonoopowerotoooverrideo theo mandatoryo provisionso ofo theo Ruleso ono sympathetico considerationothatoao person,othoughonoto possessingo theo essentialoeducationaloqualifications,oshouldobeoallowedotoo continueo ono theo posto merelyo ono theo basiso ofo hiso experience.oSuchoanoorderowouldoamountotooalteringooro amendingo theo statutoryo provisionso madeo byo theo GovernmentounderoArticleo309oofotheoConstitution.o

9.o Fixingo eligibilityo foro ao particularo posto oro eveno foro admissionotooaocourseofallsowithinotheoexclusiveodomainoofo theolegislature/executiveoandocannotobeotheosubjectomattero ofo judicialo review,o unlesso foundo too beo arbitrary,o unreasonableoorohasobeenofixedowithoutokeepingoinomindo theonatureoofoservice,oforowhichoappointmentsoareotoobeo made,oorohasonoorationalonexusowithotheoobject(s)osoughto too beo achievedo byo theo statute.o Sucho eligibilityo cano beo changedoevenoforotheopurposeoofopromotion,ounilaterallyo andotheopersonoseekingosuchopromotionocannotoraiseotheo grievanceothatoheoshouldobeogovernedoonlyobyotheoruleso existing,o wheno heo joinedo service.o Ino theo mattero ofo appointments,o theo authorityo concernedo haso unfetteredo powersosoofaroasotheoproceduraloaspectsoareoconcerned,o butoitomustomeetotheorequirementoofoeligibilityoetc.oTheo courto shouldo therefore,o refraino fromo interfering,o unlesso theo appointmentso soo made,o oro theo rejectiono ofo ao candidatureoisofoundotoohaveobeenodoneoatotheocostoofo'fairo play',o 'goodo conscious'o ando 'equity'.o (Vide:o Stateo ofo Jammuo&oKashmiroVs.oShivoRamoSharmaoandoOthers,oando PraveenoSinghov.oStateoofoPunjaboandoOrs.o(2000)o8oSCCo 436).o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-24-o o

10.oInoStateoofoOrissaoandoAnotheroVs.oMamataoMohanty,o thiso Courto haso heldo thato anyo appointmento madeo ino contraventionoofotheostatutoryorequirementoi.e.oeligibility,o cannotobeoapprovedoandoonceoanoappointmentoisobadoatoitso inception,o theo sameo cannoto beo preserved,o oro protected,o merelyobecauseoaopersonohasobeenoemployedoforoaolongo time.o

11.o Ao persono whoo doeso noto possesso theo requisiteo qualificationo cannotoeveno applyofororecruitmento forotheo reasono thato hiso appointmento wouldo beo contraryo too theo statutoryorulesois,oandowouldotherefore,obeovoidoinolaw."o

12.oo o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"RajeshoAwasthioversusoNandoLaloJaiswalo andoothers"oreportedoasoAIRo2013oSCo78.oItoisocontendedothatoaowritoofoQuoo Warrantoowouldobeocompetentowhenoanoappointmentoisomadeocontraryotootheo statutoryoprovisions.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadsothus:o o "16.o Ao writo ofo quoo warrantoo willo lieo wheno theo appointmentoisomadeocontraryotootheostatutoryoprovisions.o thiso Courto ino Theo Moro Moderno Cooperativeo Transporto SocietyoLtd.oVs.oFinancialoCommissioneroandoSecretaryotoo Govt.o Haryanao ando Another,o heldo thato ao writo ofo quoo warrantoocanobeoissuedowhenoappointmentoisocontraryotoo theostatutoryoprovisions.oInoB.oSrinivasaoReddyo(supra),o thiso Courto haso reiteratedo theo legalo positiono thato theo jurisdictiono ofo theo Higho Courto too issueo ao writo ofo quoo warrantooisolimitedotoooneowhichocanoonlyobeoissuedoifotheo appointmentoisocontraryotootheostatutoryorules.oTheosaido positionohasobeenoreiteratedobyothisoCourtoinoHarioBanso Lalo (supra)o whereino thiso Courto haso heldo thato foro theo issuanceoofowritoofoquoowarranto,otheoHighoCourtohasotoo satisfyothatotheoappointmentoisocontraryotootheostatutoryo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-25-o o Xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

26.oBeforeoIoproceedotoodealowithotheojustifiabilityoofotheo orderopassedobyotheoHighoCourt,oitoisothoughtoappositeotoo referotoocertainoauthoritiesothatofundamentallyodealowitho theoconceptoofowritoofoquoowarranto.oInoB.R.oKapurov.o StateoofoTamiloNaduoandoAnr.oAIRo2001oSCo3435,oinotheo concurringoopinionoBrijeshoKumar,oJ.,owhileodealingowitho theoconceptoofowritoofoquoowarranto,ohasoreferredotooao passageo fromo Wordso ando Phraseso Permanento Edition,o Volumeo35,oatopageo647,owhichoisoreproducedobelow:o Theo writo ofo "quoo warranto"o iso noto ao substituteo foro mandamuso oro injunctiono noro foro ano appealo oro writo ofo error,o ando iso noto too beo usedo too prevento ano impropero exerciseoofopowerolawfullyopossessed,oandoitsopurposeoiso solelyo too prevento ano officero oro Corpn.o oro personso purportingotooactoasosuchofromousurpingoaopowerowhicho theyodoonotohave.oStateoexoinf.oMc.oKittrickov.oMurphyo148o SWo2do527,o529,o530,o347oMo.o484.o o o o o o o ooooooooo(Emphasisosupplied)o Informationo ino natureo ofo "quoo warranto"o doeso noto commandoperformanceoofoofficialofunctionsobyoanyoofficero toowhomoitomayorun,osinceoitoisonotodirectedotooofficeroaso such,obutotoopersonoholdingoofficeooroexercisingofranchise,o andonotoforopurposeoofodictatingooroprescribingoofficialo duties,o buto onlyo too ascertaino whethero heo iso rightfullyo entitledo too exerciseo functionso claimed.o Stateo Ex.o Inf.o Walshov.oThactcher,o102oSWo2do937,o938,o340oMo.o865.o o o o o o o ooooooooo(Emphasisosupplied)o

13.o o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheomattero"StateoofoPunjaboversusoSaliloSabhlokoando Others"oreportedoaso(2013)o5oSCCo1otoocontendothatowhereotheoappointmento CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-26-o o challengedo ono theo groundso ofo theo sameo beingo influencedo byo politicso ando extraneousoconsiderations,oitocannotobeoheldothatosuchowritopetitionoisoojustoao serviceomatteroinowhichoonlyoanoaggrievedopartyohasotheolocusotooinitiateoao legaloactionoinoaoCourtoofoLaw.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheojudgementoiso extractedoasounder:o Conclusion:oo

142.oTheoappointmentoofotheoChairpersonoofotheoPunjabo Publico Serviceo Commissiono iso ano appointmento too ao constitutionalopositionoandoisonotoao"serviceomatter".oAo PILo challengingo sucho ano appointmento is,o therefore,o maintainableo botho foro theo issuanceo ofo ao writo ofo quoo warrantooandoforoaowritoofodeclaration,oasotheocaseomayo be.o

143.o oInoaocaseoforotheoissuanceoofoaowritoofodeclaration,o exerciseo ofo theo powero ofo judicialo reviewo iso presentlyo limitedo too examiningo theo deliberativeo processo foro theo appointmento noto meetingo theo constitutional,o functionalo ando institutionalo requirementso ofo theo institutiono whoseo integrityoandocommitmentoneedsotoobeomaintainedoorotheo appointmento foro theseo reasonso noto beingo ino publico interest.o

144.oTheocircumstancesoofothisocaseoleaveonooroomoforo doubtothatotheonotificationodatedo7thoJulyo2011oappointingo Mr.oHarishoRaioDhandaowasodeservedlyoquashedobyotheo HighoCourtosinceothereowasonoodeliberativeoprocessowortho theonameoinomakingotheoappointmentoandoalsoosinceotheo constitutional,o functionalo ando institutionalo requirementso ofotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionowereonotomet.o

145.oInotheoviewothatoIohaveotaken,othereoisoaoneedoforoao wordoofocautionotootheoHighoCourts.oThereoisoaolikelihoodo ofocomparableochallengesobeingomadeobyotrigger-happyo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-27-o o litigantsotooappointmentsomadeotooconstitutionalopositionso whereonooeligibilityocriterionooroprocedureohasobeenolaido down.o Theo Higho Courtso willo doo wello too beo extremelyo circumspecto ino eveno entertainingo sucho petitions.o Ito iso necessaryotookeepoinomindothatosufficientoelboworoomomusto beo giveno too theo Executiveo too makeo constitutionalo appointmentsoasolongoasotheoconstitutional,ofunctionaloando institutionalorequirementsoareometoandotheoappointmentso areoinoconformityowithotheoindicatorsogivenobyothisoCourto fromotimeotootime.o

146.o Giveno theo experienceo ino theo makingo ofo sucho appointments,o thereo iso noo doubto thato untilo theo Stateo Legislatureo enactso ano appropriateo law,o theo Stateo ofo Punjabo musto stepo ino ando takeo urgento stepso too frameo ao memorandumoofoprocedureoandoadministrativeoguidelineso forotheoselectionoandoappointmentoofotheoChairpersonoando membersoofotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommission,osoo thato theo possibilityo ofo arbitraryo appointmentso iso eliminated."o

14.o o Whileocontrovertingotheosubmissionsoadvancedobyotheocounselo forotheopetitioner,olearnedoCounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheoStateoofoPunjabo contendsothatotheofoundationoofotheoobjectionsoraisedobyotheopetitioneroisothato theorespondentoNo.5owasonotoinoneedoofoaocompassionateoappointmentoando thatoheodidonotofulfillotheorequirementsoofotheoschemeoforobeingoeligibleoforoo compassionateoappointmentoandothatocompassionateoappointmentsocouldoonlyo beomadeotoopostoinoGroupo'C'ooroGroupo'D'oinolightoofotheojudgmentoofo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oareonotobeoapplicableotootheofactsoofotheopresentocaseo sinceoitonotoaocaseoofocompassionateoappointmentoandoisoratheroaocaseoofo specialorecruitment.oHeofurtheroarguesothatotheoappointmentooforespondento No.5ohadobeenomadeobyoCounciloofoMinistersoasoperoprocedureoknownotoolawo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-28-o o aftero takingo theo posto outo ofo theo purviewo ofo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.o o Accordingly,o theo ruleso ofo recruitmento aso appliedo too ao recruitmentomadeobyotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionocannotobeoreliedo uponotooexamineotheolegalityoofoappointmentoofotheorespondentoNo.5.oHeo furthero submitso thato Councilo ofo Ministerso hado exercisedo itso powerso ando relaxedotheoageocriteria.oItoisoalsooaverredothatotheorespondentoNo.5ofulfilledo allootheroeligibilityoconditionsoandothatoaodecisionotoorecruitorespondentoNo.5o aso Deputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo hado beeno takeno byo theo Councilo ofo MinistersouponobeingomootedobyotheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceoandoaftero takingo intoo considerationo theo previouso instanceso ando byo followingo dueo processoofolaw.oo

15.o o Senioro Counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.5o haso reiteratedotheoargumentsonoticedoaboveoandohasosubmittedoinoadditionothatotheo RulesoofoBusinessoofotheoGovt.oofoPunjaboasonotifiedobyotheoDepartmentoofo GeneraloAdministrationoono25.02.1992oempowerotheoCounciloofoMinistersotoo grantorelaxationoofotheoRules.oSuchopowerowasoexercisedobyotheoCounciloofo Ministersoandothereohasobeenonooconcealmentoofoanoinformationooroerroroino exerciseothereof.ooHeofurtherosubmitsothatotheopostoinoquestionohadobeenotakeno outofromotheopurviewoofotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionoandoitsoprioro approvalohadoalsoobeenoobtainedobeforeotakingotheopostooutoofotheopurview.oo TheoCounciloofoMinistersothereafterotookoaoconsciousodecisionoconsideringo theo sacrificeo madeo byo Sardaro Beanto Singh,o formero Chiefo Ministero ando grandfathero ofo theo respondento No.5.o Heo argueso thato theo procedureo aso providedo undero lawo haso beeno dulyo followedo ando theo policyo relatingo too compassionateo appointmento cannoto beo reado intoo specialo recruitmento aso ito wouldo amounto too assessingo theo appointmento undero ao policyo thato dido noto CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-29-o o governosuchoappointment.oHeoalsooarguedothatotheopoweroofoJudicialoreviewo ofotheoHighoCourtodoesonotoextentotoosubstitutingoitsoopinionoforotheoopiniono ofo theo Councilo ofo Ministerso ando ifo theo procedureo laido ino lawo haso beeno followed,oaodecisionotakenobyotheocompetentoauthorityocannotobeoheldotoobeo badomerelyobecauseotheoconstitutionaloCourtodoesonotoagreeotootheoprioritieso ofotheoexecutiveogovernment.oHeosubmitsothatotheopoweroofojudicialoreviewoiso limitedoonlyotootheoextentoofoproceduraloreviewoandonotoaosubstantiveoreviewo intoosufficiencyoofotheoreasonsothatomayohaveoweighedowithotheocompetento authorityowhileotakingoaodecision.oHeosubmitsothatotheoGovt.oofoPunjabohado beenomakingoaospecialorecruitmentsoinotheopostoasowelloinotheosameomannero ando thato sucho appointmentso haveo beeno upheldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court.oItoisocontendedothatoanoappointmentootherothanobyomeansoofopromotiono and/orotransfer/deputationohasotoobeoconstruedoasoaodirectoappointment.oHeo placesorelianceoonotheojudgmentoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo "ArunoKumaroandoothersoversusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers"oreportedoaso

(2007)o5oSCCo580.oTheoaforesaidocaseorelatesotooabsorptionoofooneoMs.oAmrito Brar,o ano Assistanto Commandanto ino CRPFo aso Deputyo Superintendento ofo PoliceoinoPunjaboPoliceoalongwithoallobenefitsoincludingopayoandoseniorityo w.e.f.o 09.06.1989o wheno sheo waso appointedo aso Assistanto Commandanto ino CRPF.oTheoappellantsowhoowereoOfficersoofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoraisedo ao challengeo too hero absorptiono ando granto ofo benefitso includingo payo ando seniorityoonotheogroundothatotheosameowereocontraryotootheoprovisionoofotheo Punjabo Policeo Rules,o 1959.o Theo writo petitiono filedo byo theo petitionero waso dismissedobyotheoHighoCourt.oTheomatterowasothereafterochallengedobeforeo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadso thus:o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-30-o o "7.oAtotheooutset,oweomayostateothatotheocountryoowesoitso gratitudeotootheobraveoofficer,oShrioAvinderoSinghoBrar,o IPS,owhoowasokilledoatotheohandsoofotheoterrorists.oTheo aboveo factso showo thato Mso Amrito Braro waso appointedo rightlyo ono compassionateo groundso aso ano Assistanto Commandanto ino CRPFo ono 9-6-1989.o Theo Stateo Governmentowasorightoinoinitiallyoappointingoheroasoano AssistantoCommandantoinoCRPF,osinceoino1989oterrorismo wasoatoitsopeakoinotheoStateoandothatoheropostingoasoano Assistanto Commandanto waso relativelyo safero thano hero postingoinoPunjaboPolice.oSheowasotheoonlyochildoofohero oldoparents.oSheohadotoobe,otherefore,oprotected.oHowever,o thato couldo noto makeo hero appointmento ao compassionateo appointment.oItowasoanoexceptionaloappointment.oThereo cannoto beo ao secondo opiniono ono thiso count.o Aftero theo situationo improved,o sheo waso takeno ono deputationo ino Punjabo Police.o Thiso waso ino 1993.o Weo doo noto findo anyo infirmityoinotheoactionoofotheoStateoGovernmentounderotheo aboveocircumstancesoinoappointingoMsoAmritoBraroasoao deputationistoevenoinoPunjaboPoliceoService.oWeomakeoito clearo thato theo Punjabo Policeo Serviceo Rulesoprovideoforo twoosourcesooforecruitment.oOneoisobyodirectorecruitment,o anotheroisobyowayoofopromotion.oAlthough,otheosaido1959o Ruleso doo noto provideo foro sucho appointmento aso ao deputationisto ino theo normalo cadre,o theo Government,o ino exceptionalocases,ocanoappointodeputationistsoinoPunjabo PoliceoService.oThisoisooneosuchocase.oWeodoonotofindoanyo infirmityo ino theo actiono ofo theo Stateo Governmento ino appointingoMsoAmritoBraroasoaodeputationistoinoPunjabo PoliceoService.oSheoisoentitledotoothoseobenefitsounderotheo aboveocircumstances.oFurther,oasostatedoabove,oMsoAmrito BrarostoodoabsorbedoinoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoasoDeputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo ono 11-o 9-1998.o Eveno hero absorptiono haso beeno madeo ono givingo relaxation,o aso CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-31-o o indicatedoabove.oThisowasobyowayoofoone-timeoexerciseoino ano exceptionalo case.o Theo onlyo dispute,o therefore,o iso whetheroMsoAmritoBrarowasoentitledotoooneomoreobenefito ofoseniorityowithoeffectofromo9-6-1989."o

16.o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto upheldo theo appointmento ofo Ms.o AmritoBrar,oasoanoexceptionaloappointmentoandotheoissueowasoallowedoonlyotoo theo extento ofo theo benefito ofo seniority.o Heo alsoo madeo ao referenceo too theo judgmento ofo Divisiono ofo thiso Courto ino theo mattero ofo "Mohindero Singho ChahaloandoothersoversusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers"oreportedoaso2006o(6)o SLRo683.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoisoextractedoasounder:o

8.o Theo pointedo issues,o ono theo basiso ofo whicho theo absorptiono ofo respondento No.o 4o intoo theo Stateo Policeo Serviceoisosoughtotoobeochallenged,oisobasedoonotheo1959o Rules.oLeamedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasoinvitedoouro attentionotooRuleo2o(1)othereof,owhereinotheotermo"service"o haso beeno defined,o ando too Ruleo 2(b),o whereino theo termo "directoappointment"ohasobeenodefined.oRuleso2(f)oando(b)o are,o beingo extractedo hereunder,o foro facilityo ofooooooooooooooo reference.o:-o "2.oDefinitions.oInotheseorules,ounlessothereoisoanythingo repugnantoinotheosubjectoorocontext,-o o o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

(b)o "directo appointment"o meanso ano appointmento madeo otherwiseothanobyotheopromotionoofoanoInspector,o o o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

(f)o"Service"omeansotheoPunjaboPoliceoService.oo OuroattentionohasoalsoobeenoinvitedotooRuleo6oofotheo1959o Rules,o whicho layso downo theo sourceso ofo recruitment,o aso CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-32-o o alsootheoratiooofoappointmentsofromotheodifferentosourceso oforecruitment.oRuleo6oisobeingoreproducedohereundero:-o "6.o Methodo ofo recruitment.-o (1)o Recruitmento too theo o Serviceoshallobeomade-o

(i)o Eightyo pero cento byo promotiono fromo theo ranko ofo Inspectoroandotwentyoperocentobyodirectoappointment:o ProvidedothatoonlyothoseoInspectorsowillobeoeligibleoforo promotionowho-oo

(a)o ino theo caseo ofo Inspectorso (botho promotedo fromo subordinateo ranko ando directlyo recruited)o haveo goto sixo yearso continuouso serviceo (officiatingo aso wello aso substantive)oinotheorankoofoInspector;oando

(b)o ino caseo theyo areo Prosecutingo Inspectors,o haveo goto eighto years'o continuouso serviceo (botho officiatingo ando substantive)oinotheorankoofoProsecutingoInspector.o o(2)o Appointmentso byo promotiono shallo beo madeo byo theo Governmento fromo Inspectorso broughto ono listo 'G'o whicho willobeoaolistoofoofficersoconsideredofitoforopromotionotootheo ranko ofo Deputyo Superintendento ofo Police,o preparedo byo Governmento ino consultationo witho theo Commission.o Theo namesoinothisolistopreparedoatooneotimeoshallobeoarrangedo accordingo too theiro intero seo seniority.o Thiso listo willo beo maintainedoinotwoo parts;o Part;o Io (foroofficersofromo theo Executiveo line)o ando Parto IIo (foro officerso fromo theo Prosecutionoline).o

(3)oDirectoappointmentotootheoServiceoshallobeomadeoono theoresultoofoaocompetitiveoexaminationoconductedobyotheo Commission.o Theo syllabuso ando ruleso relatingo too theo examinationo willo beo framedo byo theo Governmento ino consultationowithotheoCommission.oTheoexaminationowillo includeoaovivaovoceotest.oOnlyothoseocandidatesowillobeo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-33-o o interviewedoforotheovivaovoceotestowhooobtainonotolessothano theominimumoqualifyingomarksofixedobyotheoCommissiono ino theo writteno examination.o Theo Inspector-Generalo ofo Police,oPunjabowillobeopresentoatotheointerviewoandowillobeo entitledotooputoquestionsotootheocandidateoandotooexpresso hisoviewsotootheoCommission.oAocandidate'sopositionoshallo beodeterminedobyoaddingotheomarksoobtainedobyohimoino theowrittenoexaminationoandoinovivaovoceotest.o o Providedothatootherothingsobeingoequal,opreferenceo willo beo giveno too ao candidateo whoo hado workedo foro theo causeo ofo nationalo independenceo oro haso renderedo someo outstandingosocialooropublicoservice."oo o Collectively,oonotheobasisoofoRuleso2(b)oando(f)oando Ruleo6oofotheo1959oRules,oitoisotheovehementocontentionoofo learnedo counselo foro theo petitioners,o thato theo Ruleso envisageo noo othero sourceo ofo appointment,o besideso appointmentobyowayoofopromotionoandobywayoofodirecto recruitment.o Ito is,o therefore,o theo contentiono ofo learnedo counseloforotheopetitioners,othatoappointmentobyowayoofo transferoorobyowayoofoabsorptionooforespondentoNo.o4ointoo theo Stateo Policeo Service,o againsto theo ranko ofo Deputyo Superintendento ofo Police,o iso noto permissibleo undero theo 1959oRules.o

9.o Weo haveo perusedo Ruleo 6o (i)o ofo theo 1959o Rules,o emphaticallyobroughto tooouronotice.o Ito is,o however,o noto possibleoforousotooacceptotheofirstocontentionoofolearnedo counseloforotheopetitioner.oAlthough,oRuleo6o(1)oenvisageso appointmento too 80%o ofo theo cadreo postso ofo Deputyo SuperintendentoofoPoliceobyowayoofopromotionofromotheo rankoofoInspectors,oandotootheoremainingo20%oofotheocadreo postsobyowayoofodirectorecruitment,oandonoootherosourceoofo recruitmentohasobeenoprescribed,oyetotheoissueocanvassedo byotheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersocanoeasilyobeo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-34-o o resolvedoonotheobasisoofoRuleo2o(b)oofotheo1959oRules,o whereinodirectoappointmentohasobeenodefinedotoomeano"ano appointmentomadeootherwiseothanobyopromotionoofoanyo Inspector".o Hado theo ruleo makingo authorityo decidedo too limitotheoambitoandoscopeoofoappointmentobyowayoofodirecto recruitmentotooitsonormalotraditionalomeaning,oitowouldo noto haveo extendedo theo meaningo ofo theo termo "directo appointment"oinotheodefinitionoclauseothroughoRuleo2(b)oofo theo 1959o Rules.o Theo instanto submissiono ofo theo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso misseso theo realo issue.o Theo appointmentooforespondentoNo.o4ohasobeenomadeobyotheo relaxationoofotheo1959oRules.oTheoeffortoonotheopartoofotheo petitionerso too traceo theo sourceo ofo recruitmento ofo respondeat.oNo.o4otooaospecificoruleounderotheo1959oRuleso is,o therefore,o clearlyo misdirected.o Ruleo 14o ofo theo 1959o RulesoauthorisesotheoStateoGovernmentotoo"....relaxoanyoofo theoprovisionsoofotheseorules.....".oTheoStateoGovernmento admittedlyoappointedorespondentoNo.o4otootheoStateoPoliceo Service,obyoexercisingoitsojurisdictionounderoRuleo14oofotheo 1969o Rules,o weo therefore,o findo noo merito ino theo instanto submission."o

17.o o Ao referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo constitutionalo Bencho judgmentoinotheomatteroofo"JasbhaioMotibhaioDesaioversusoRoshanoKumaro HajioBashiroAhmedoandoothers"oreportedoaso(1976)o1oSCCo671ovideodealingo withotheoscopeoofoWritoofoCertiorarioandotheonecessityoofopersonobeingoano "aggrievedoperson".oItowasothusoarguedothatolocusostandiohasotooapplyoforotheo WritoofoCertiorarioandothatopersonsoaggrievedohaveotoobeodistinguishedofromoao meddlesomeointerloperoandothatoanyosuchoattemptooughtonototoobeopromotedo byotheoCourt.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheojudgmentoreadsothus:o o "34.o Thiso Courto haso laido downo ino ao numbero ofo decisionsothatoinoorderotoohaveotheolocusostandiotooinvokeo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-35-o o theo extraordinaryo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 226,o ano applicantoshouldoordinarilyobeooneowhoohasoaopersonalooro individualorightoinotheosubject-matteroofotheoapplication,o thoughoinotheocaseoofosomeoofotheowritsolikeohabeasocorpuso oroquoowarrantoothisoruleoisorelaxedooromodified.oInoothero words,oasoaogeneralorule,oinfringementoofosomeolegalorighto oro prejudiceo too someo legalo interesto inheringo ino theo petitioneroisonecessaryotoogiveohimoaolocusostandioinotheo matter.o (seeo Stateo ofo Orissao v.o Madano Gopalo Rungta";o Calcuttao Gaso Co.o v.o Stateo ofo W.o B";o Ramo Umeshwario Suthooo v.o Member,oBoardoofo Revenue,o Orissa";o Gaddeo Venkateswarao Raoo v.o Governmento ofo A.o P.;o Stateo ofo Orissaov.oRajasaheboChandanmall";oDr.oSatyanarayanao Sinhaov.oM/s.oS.oLalo&oCo.).o

35.oTheoexpressiono"ordinarily"oindicatesothatothisoisonotoao cast-ironorule.oItoisoflexibleoenoughotootakeoinothoseocaseso whereotheoapplicantohasobeenoprejudiciallyoaffectedobyoano actooroomissionoofoanoauthority,oevenothoughoheohasonoo proprietaryo oro evenoao fiduciaryo interesto ino theo subject-o matter.oThatoapart,oinoexceptionalocasesoevenoaostrangero oro ao persono whoo waso noto ao partyo too theo proceedingso beforeotheoauthority,obutohasoaosub-ostantialoandogenuineo interestoinotheosubject-matteroofotheoproceedingsowillobeo coveredo byo thiso rule.o Theo principleso enunciatedo ino theo Englishocasesonoticedoabove,oareonotoinconsistentowithoit.o

36.oInotheoUnitedoStatesoofoAmerica,oalso,otheolawoonotheo pointoisosubstantiallyotheosame.o NoomatterohowoseriouslyoinfringementoofotheoConstitutiono mayobeocalledointooquestion,osaidoJusticeoFrankfurteroino Colemano v.o Miller'o thiso iso noto theo tribunalo foro itso challengeo excepto byo thoseo whoo haveo someo specialisto interestoofotheiroownotoovindicateoapartofromoaopoliticalo concernowhichobelongsotooaoToohaveoao"standingotoosue",o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-36-o o whicho meanso locuso standio too asko foro reliefo ino ao courto independentlyo ofo ao statutoryo remedy,o theo plaintiffo musto showothatoheoisoinjured,othatois,osubjectedotooorothreatenedo witho ao legalo wrong.o Courtso cano interveneo onlyo whereo legalo rightso areo invaded."o "Legalo wrongo requireso ao judiciallyo enforceableo righto ando theo touchstoneo too judiciabilityo iso injuryo too ao legallyo protectedo right.o Ao nominalo oro ao highlyo speculativeo adverseo affecto ono theo interesto oro righto ofo ao persono haso beeno heldo too beo insufficientotoogiveohimotheo"standingotoosue"oforojudicialo reviewo ofo adminiso trativeo action.o Againo theo "adverseo affect"orequisiteoforo"standingotoosue"omustobeoano"illegalo effect".oThus,oinotheoundermentionedocases,oitowasoheldo thatoinjuryoresultingofromolawfulocompetitiononotobeingoao legalo wrong,o cannoto furnisho ao "standingo too sue"o foro judicialorelief."o

37.oItowillobeoseenothatoinotheocontextoofolocusostandiotoo applyoforoaowritoofocertiorari,oanoapplicantomayoordinarilyo falloinoanyoofotheseocate-ogories:o(i)o'personoaggrieved';o

(ii)o'stranger';o(iii)obusybodyooromeddle-osomeointerloper.o Personso ino theo lasto categoryo areo easilyo distinguishableo fromothoseocomingounderotheofirstotwoocategories.oSucho personsointerfereoinothingsowhichodoonotoconcernothem.o Theyomasqueradeoasocrusa-odersoforojustice.oTheyopretendo tooactoinotheonameoofoproobonoopublico,othoughotheyohaveo noointerestoofotheopublicooroevenoofotheiroownotooprotect.o Theyoindulgeoinotheopastimeoofomeddlingowithotheojudicialo processo eithero byo forceo ofo habito oro fromo impropero motives.o Often,o theyo areo actuatedo byo ao desireo too wino notorietyoorocheapopopularity;owhileotheoulteriorointentoofo someoapplicantsoinothisocategory,omayobeonoomoreothano spokingo theo wheelso ofo administration.o Theo Higho Courto shouldo doo wello too rejecto theo applicationso ofo sucho CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-37-o o

38.o Theo distinctiono betweeno theo firsto ando secondo categoriesoofoappli-cants,othoughoreal,oisonotoalwaysowell-demarcated.o Theo firsto categoryo has,o aso ito were,o twoo concentricozones;oaosolidocentralozoneoofocertainty,oandoao greyo outero circleo ofo lesseningo certaintyo ino ao slidingo centrifugaloscale,owithoanooutermostonebulousofringeoofo uncertainty.oApplicantsofallingowithinotheocentralozoneoareo thoseo whoseo legalo rightso haveo beeno infringed.o Sucho applicantsoundoubtedlyostandoinotheocategoryoofopersonso aggrieved'.o Ino theo greyo outero circleo theo boundso whicho separateo theo firsto categoryo fromo theo second,o intermix,o interfuseo ando overlapo increasinglyo ino ao centrifugalo direction.o Allo personso ino thiso outero zoneo mayo noto beo "personsoaggrieved".o

45.o Havingo seenothato theo appellantohaso noo standingo too complainoofoinjury,oactualooropotential,otooanyostatutoryo rightoorointerest,oweopassoonotooconsiderowhetheroanyoofo hisorightsoorointerests,orecognisedobyotheogeneralolawohaso beenoinfringedoasoaoresultoofotheograntoofono-objectiono certificateotootheorespondents?oHere,oagain,otheoanswero mustobeoinotheonegative."o o

18.o o Whileoplacingorelianceoonotheoaforesaidoextract,oitoisocontendedo thatotheopetitionersoinoanyoofotheowritopetitionsohaveonotobeenoableotooreflecto infringementoofoanyolegalorightoorosufferingofromoanyolegalowrongooroinjury.o Inotheoabsenceoofoanyolegalointerestohavingobeenoeffectedoprejudiciallyobyotheo actooroomissionoofotheoauthority,otheopetitionersodoonotofalloinotheodefinitionoofo personsoaggrieved.oHeosubmitsothatofactsoofotheopresentocaseoclearlyoshowso thatotheopetitioneromasqueradesoasocrusaderoofojusticeoandopretendsotooactoino publico interesto byo highlightingo theo allegedo excesseso ando raisingo issueso pertainingo too fakeo encountero whicho haveo noo concerno witho theo issueo ofo VISHAL SHARaMpApointmentoofoprivateorespondent.oo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-38-o o

19.o o Heofurtheroreferredotootheojudgmentoinotheomatteroofo"Sandeepo KumaroSharmaoverusoStateoofoPunjaboandoothers"oreportedoaso(1997)o10o SCCo298otoocontendothatotheoprovisionsopermittingorelaxationohaveotoobeo givenoaopragmaticoconstructionosooasotooachieveoeffectiveoimplementationoofo theopolicyoofotheoGovernment.oWhenotheoconsiderationowasotoogiveorelaxationo asoaorecognitionotooscarifiesoofotheopeopleowhoohaveosufferedoduringoterrorismo butostillofacedoterrorismoboldly,orelaxationoforotheosaidoreasonoisopermissible.o Ito waso furthero arguedo thato eveno thougho theo statutoryo provisiono permitso relaxationo foro anyo classo oro categoryo ofo persons,o however,o eveno ao singleo persono cano beo coveredo byo sucho expression.o Heo submitso thato eveno ino theo aforesaido case,o theo relaxationo ofo physicalo standardso waso grantedo ino ano individualocaseoandothatotheosameowasoupheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.o Theorelevantoextractoofotheoaforesaidojudgmentoreadothus:o o 7.oBeforeoweoproceedotooconsiderotheomeritsoofotheocase,o weomayopointooutothatononeoofotheopartiesobeforeousodisputedo aboutotheoworthinessoinoformulatingoaopolicyobyotheoGovernmento ofoPunjaboforoshowingorecognitionotootheoservicesorenderedobyo thoseo policeo personnelo whoo bravelyo facedo theo dastardlyo actso unleashedobyotheoterrorists.oIfoso,othereoisonothingoimproperoino givingo specialo considerationo too theo kitho ando kino ofo sucho policemeno ando thoseo whoo sufferedo ono accounto ofo terrorists'o activities.oWeomayoalsoopointooutothatobeforeotheoHighoCourto neitherotheoGovernmentonorotheothirdorespondentodisputedotheo factualo positiono thato Satisho Kumaro Sharma,o (appellant'so brother)ohadorenderedoefficientoandousefuloserviceoasoaopoliceo officeroinotacklingoterrorists'omenace.o(Ofocourse,oaofaintoattempto wasomadeobyotheothirdorespondentobeforeousotoodisputeothatofact,o butoasoheodidonotoraiseoanyodisputeoonothatoaspectobeforeotheo Higho Court,o weo areo noto inclinedo too countenanceo theo saido contentiononow.)o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-39-o o Xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

9.oRuleo14ocontainsotheogeneralopoweroofoGovernmentotoorelaxo theorules.oItoreadsothus:o o"14.o Generalo powero too relaxo rules-Whereo theo Governmento iso ofo theo opiniono thato ito iso necessaryo oro expedientosootoodo,oitomayobyoorder,ofororeasonsotoobeo recordedoinowritingorelaxoanyoofotheoprovisionsoofotheseo rulesowithorespectotooanyoclassoorocategoryoofopersons."o

10.oItoisoclearothatowhileoRuleo14opermitsorelaxationoforoaoclasso oroaocategoryoofopersons,oRuleo7opreservesotheoGovernment'so powerotoorelaxotheophysicalostandardoinoindividualocases.oInotheo presento caseo Ruleo 7o iso theo appropriateo ruleo ando ito waso noto necessaryotooembarkoonoRuleo14oatoall.oButoweohaveonoticedothato theo Deputyo Secretaryo ofo Homeo (Governmento ofo Punjab)o whoo hadoswornotootheocounter-affidavitobeforeotheoHighoCourtoforotheo StateoGovernmentohasosoughtotoojustifyotheorelaxationomadeobyo theoGovernmentobyoconfiningotooRuleo14oofotheoServiceoRuleso alone.oWhyodidoheoadoptosuchoaostandowhenothereoisoaospecifico ruleowhichoempoweredotheoGovernmentotoogiveorelaxationoofotheo physicalo standard,o iso somethingo weo cannoto understando oro appreciate.o Whyo shouldo theo deponento haveo bypassedo Ruleo 7o whichoisosooexplicitoinotheocontext?oAnywayosinceotheoappellanto hasoreferredotooRuleo7oasotheorelevantoruleoweoareonotodisposedo tooconsiderotheoamplitudeoofoRuleo14oinotheocase.oCo

11.oTheoHighoCourtoseemsotoohaveotakenotheoviewothatotheoonlyoo beneficiaryo ofo theo aforesaido relaxationo iso theo appellanto ando henceo consideredo ito ano acto ofo favouritismo showno too him.o Accordingo too theo learnedo Judgeso "theo so-calledo policyo waso formulatedoafterotheoresultoofotheowrittenotestowasoannouncedo withotheosoleoobjectoofosecuringoselectionoandoappointmentoofotheo aforesaidocandidateobecauseowithoutoclearingotheostandardoofo physicalo fitnesso heo couldo noto haveo beeno interviewedo byo theo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-40-o o Commission.oThis,oinoouroopinion,oisonothingobutoanoactoofosheero favouritism".o

12.o Theo appellanto cannoto beo blamedo foro beingo theo onlyo candidateo availableo atopresento seekingo relaxationo ofo physicalo standards.oTheosameobenefitocouldoalsoohaveoenuredotooanyoneo elseosituatedoinotheosameopositionoasotheoappellantohadothereo beeno any.o Policyo wiseo ito iso noto possibleo too thinko thato theo appellantowouldohaveobeenotheoonlyokithoandokinoofothoseowhooo sufferedoonoaccountoofotheoactivitiesoofotheoterroristsoinoPunjabo oro thoseo whoo facedo terrorismo bravely.o Perhaps,o ino thiso particularo selectiono theo appellanto happenedo too beo theo onlyo beneficiaryoofotheopolicy.oNorocanoweofindoanyomalaofidesomerelyo becauseo theo Governmento evolvedo theo policyo ono theo occasiono whenotheoappellantoapproachedofororelaxationoofotheostandard.o Theo occasiono wouldo haveo providedo too theo Governmento ano opportunityo too recapitulateo theo eventso ando thuso too remindo themselveso ofo theo plighto ofo thoseo familieso whicho sufferedo traumaticoexperiencesowhenotheirokithoandokinowereorelentlesslyo involvedo ino continuedo operationso fightingo theo terroristso whoo wereopossessedowithohighlyolethaloweaponsoandousingohideoutso toostrikeoblitzoagainstoinnocentopeopleoasowelloasotheopoliceoforceo intermittently.oAoGovernmentomayohaveotooactoonosomeooccasiono forochalkingooutoaoparticularopolicy.oIfoanyoparticularooccasiono hasoalertedotheoGovernmentotootheonecessityoforotakingoaopolicyo decisiono ito iso hardlyo sufficiento too attributeo malao fideo oro favouritismotootheoGovernment."o

20.o o Relianceo waso alsoo placedo ono theo constitutionalo Bencho ofo theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo mattero ofo "Raio Sahibo Ramo JawayaoKapuro&oothersoversusoTheoStateoofoPunjab"oreportedoasoAIRo1955o SCo549otoocontendothatoArticleo162oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaodoesonoto containo anyo definitiono aso too whato theo executiveo functiono iso ando whato activitiesowouldolegitimatelyocomeowithinoitsoscope.oTheolanguageoofoArticleo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-41-o o 162oindicatesothatotheopoweroofotheoStateoexecutiveoextendsotoomatteroupono whichotheoStateoLegislatureoisocompetentotoolegislateoandoareonotoconfinedo onlyo too matterso upono whicho legislationo haso beeno passedo already.o Theo executiveo powerso connoteso theo residueo ofo governmentalo functionso thato remainoafterotheoindividualolegislativeofunctionsoareotakenoaway.oTheorelevanto extractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadsothus:oo o "7.o Articleo 73o ofo theo Constitutiono relateso too theo executiveo powerso ofo theo Uniono ofo India,o whileo theo correspondingo provisiono ino regardo too theo executiveo powerso ofo ao Stateo iso concernedo ino Articleo 162:o Theo provisiono ofo theseo articleso areo analogouso too thoseo ofo sectionso8oando45o(2)orespectivelyoofotheoGovernmentoofo IndiaoAct,o1935oandolayodownotheoruleoofodistributionoofo executiveo powerso betweeno theo Uniono ando theo States,o followingotheosameoanalogyoasoitoprovidedoinoregardotoo theo distributiono ofo legislativeo powerso betweeno themo Articleo162.owithowhichoweoareodirectlyoconcernedoinothiso case,olaysodowno "Subjecto too theo provisionso ofo thiso Constitutiono theo executiveo powero ofo ao Stateo shallo extendo too theo matterso witho respecto too whicho theo Legislatureo ofo theo Stateo haso powerotoomakeolaws:oo Providedo thato ino anyo mattero witho respecto too whicho theo Legislatureo ofo ao Stateo ando Parliamento haveo powero too makeo laws.o theo executiveo powero ofo theo Stateo shallo beo subjectoto,oandolimitedobyotheoexecutiveopoweroexpresslyo conferredo byo thiso Constitutiono oro byo anyo lawo madeo byo ParliamentouponotheoUnionooroauthoritiesothereof.o ThusounderothisoarticleotheoexecutiveoauthorityoofotheoStateo isoexclusiveoinorespectotoomattersoenumeratedoinoListoIIoofo Seventho Schedule.o Theo authorityo alsoo extendso too theo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-42-o o Concurrento Listo exceptoaso providedo ino theo Constitutiono itselfooroinoanyolawopassedobyotheoParliament.oSimilarly.o Articleo 73o provideso thato theo executiveo powerso ofo theo Unionoshalloextendotoomattersowithorespectotoowhichotheo Parliamentohasopowerotoomakeolawsoandotootheoexerciseoofo suchorights,oauthorityoandojurisdictionoasoareoexercisableo byotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaobyovirtueoofoanyotreatyooroanyo agreement.oTheoprovisooengrantedoonoclauseo(1)ofurthero laysodownothatoalthoughowithoregardotootheomatteroinotheo concurrentoListotheoexecutiveoauthorityoshallobeoordinarilyo leftotootheoStateoitowouldobeoopenotootheoParliamentotoo provideothatoinoexceptionalocasesotheoexecutiveopoweroofo theoUnionoshalloextendotootheseomattersoalso.o oNeitheroofotheseoarticlesocontainoanyodefinitionoasotoowhato theo executiveo functiono iso ando whato activitieso wouldo legitimatelyocomeowithinoitsoscope.oTheyoareoconcernedo primarilyo witho theo distributiono ofo theo executiveo powero betweenotheounionoonotheooneohandoandotheoStatesoonotheo other.oTheyodoonotomean,oasoMr.oPathakoseemotoosuggest,o thato ito iso onlyo wheno theo Parliamento oro theo Stateo Legislatureohasolegislatedoonocertainoitemsoappertainingo too theiro respectiveo lists,o thato theo Uniono oro theo Stateo executive,oasotheocaseomayobe,ocanoproceedotoofunctionoino respectotoothem.o Onotheootherohand,otheolanguageoofoArticleo162oclearlyo indicatesothatotheopowersoofotheoStateoexecutiveodooextendo toomattersouponowhichotheoStateoLegislatureoisocompetentoo toolegislateoandoareonotoconfinedotoomattersooverowhicho legislationohasobeenopassedoalready.oTheosameoprincipleo underliesoArticleo73oofotheoConstitution.oTheseoprovisionso ofotheoConstitutionothereforeodoonotolendoanyosupportotoo Mr.oPathak'socontention.o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-43-o o

12.o Ito mayo noto beo possibleo too frameo ano exhaustiveo definitionoofowhatoexecutiveofunctionomeansoandoimplies.o Ordinarilyotheoexecutiveopoweroconnotesotheoresidueoofo governmentalofunctionsothatoremainoafterolegislativeoando judicialofunctionsoareotakenoaway.oo Theo Indiano Constitutiono haso noto indeedo recognisedo theo doctrineoofoseparationoifopowersoinotheoabsoluteoagilityo butotheofunctionsoofotheodifferentopartsoorobranchesoofotheo Governmento haveo beeno sufficientlyo differentiatedo ando consequentlyo ito cano veryo wello beo saido thato ouro Constitutiono doeso noto contemplateo assumption,o byo oneo organooropartoofotheoState,oofofunctionsothatoessentiallyo belongotooanother.oTheoexecutiveoindeedocanoexerciseotheo powersoofodepartmentaloorosubordinateolegislationowheno suchopowersoareodelegatedotooitobyotheolegislature:o Ito cano also,o wheno soo empowered,o exerciseo judicialo functionso ino ao limitedo way.o Theo executiveo Government,o however,o cano nevero goo againsto theo provisionso ofo theo Constitutiono oro ofo anyo law.o Thiso iso clearo fromo theo provisionsoofoArticleo154oofotheoConstitutionobut,oasoweo haveoalreadyostated,oitodoesonotofollowofromothisothatoino orderotooenableotheoexecutiveotoofunctionothereomustobeoao lawo alreadyo ino existenceo ando thato theo powerso ofo theo executiveoareolimitedomerelyotootheocarryingooutoofotheseo laws.o

13.oTheolimitsowithinowhichotheoexecutiveoGovernmentocano functionounderotheoIndianoConstitutionocanobeoascertainedo withoutomuchodifficultyobyoreferenceotootheoformoofotheo executiveo whicho ouro Constitutiono haso seto up.o Ouro Constitution,othoughofederaloinoitsostructure.oisomodelledo onotheoBritishoParliamentaryosystemowhereotheoexecutiveo iso deemedo too haveo theo primaryo responsibilityo foro theo formulationoofogovernmentalopolicyoandoitsotransmissiono CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-44-o o intoolawothoughotheoconditionoprecedentotootheoexerciseoofo thiso responsibilityo iso itso retainingo confidenceo ofo theo legislativeo brancho ofo theo State.o Theo executiveo functiono comprisesobothotheodeterminationoofotheopolicyoasowelloaso carryingo ito intoo execution.o Thiso evidentlyo includeso theo initiationo ofo legislation,o theo maintenanceo ofo order,o theo promotionoofosocialoandoeconomicowelfare,otheodirectiono ofoforeignopolicy,oinofactotheocarryingoonoorosupervisionoofo theogeneraloadministrationoofotheoStateo

14.o Ino India,o aso ino England,o theo executiveo haso too acto subjectotootheocontroloofotheolegislatureobutoinowhatowayoiso thisocontroloexcisedobyotheolegislature?oUnderoArticleo53o

(1)oofoouroConstitution,otheoexecutiveopoweroofotheoUniono isovestedoinotheoPresidentobutounderoArticleo75othereoisotoo beoaocounciloofoMinistersowithotheoPrimeoMinisteroatotheo headotooaidoandoadviseotheoPresidentoinotheoexerciseoofohiso functions.oTheoPresidentohasothusobeenomadeoaoformalooro constitutionaloheadoofotheoexecutiveoandotheorealoexecutiveo powersoareovestedoinotheoMinistersoorotheoCabinet.o TheosameoprovisionsoobtainoinoregardotootheoGovernmento ofoStates;otheoGovernoroorotheoRajpramukh,oasotheocaseo mayobe,ooccupiesotheopositionoofotheoheadoofotheoexecutiveo inotheoStateobutoitoisovirtuallyotheocounciloofoMinistersoino eachoStateothatocarriesoonotheoexecutiveoGovernment,oino theo Indiano Constitution,o therefore,o weo haveo theo sameo systemoofoparliamentaryoexecutiveoasoinoEnglandoandotheo counciloofoMinistersoconsisting,oasoitodoes,oofotheomemberso ofotheolegislatureois,olikeotheoBritishoCabinet,o"aohypheno whichojoins,oaobuckleowhichofastensotheolegislativeopartoofo theoStateotootheoexecutiveopart."oTheoCabinetoenjoyingoaso itodoesoaomajorityoinotheolegislatureoconcentratesoinoitselfo theo virtualo controlo ofo botho legislativeo ando executiveo functionsoandoasotheoMinistersoconstitutingotheoCabinetoono VISHAL SHARMA presumablyo agreedo ono fundamentalso ando acto ono theo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-45-o o principleoofocollectiveoresponsibility,otheomostoimportanto questionsoofopolicyoareoalloformulatedobyothem."o

21.o o ItowasocontendedothatotheoactionoofotheoCounciloofoMinistersoiso withino theo confineso ofo itso powerso ando onceo theo executiveo followedo theo procedureo providedo ino law,o theo Higho Courto wouldonot,o ino exerciseo ofo itso poweroofojudicialoreviewosubstitutesotheodecisionoofotheoStateoGovernment.oooo

22.oo o Whileorefutingotheochallengeoraisedoinotheosecondowritopetition,o heohasoreiteratedotheosubmissionsonoticedoandocontendedothatotheovalidityoofo theodegreeoawardedotootheorespondentoNo.5oisonotoinodisputeoandothatotheo UGCoguidelinesoofo2013ocannotobeomadeoapplicableoretrospectivelyotootheo degreeowhichowasoissuedoinotheoyearo2012.oHence,otheolegalityoandovalidityoofo theoaforesaidodegreeocannotobeotestedoonotheoparametersoofotheoguidelineso issuedo byo theo UGCo latero ino pointo ofo time.o Heo furthero submitso thato theo respondent-StateoofoPunjabohadoconstitutedoaoCommitteeotoolookointootheo validityo ofo theo degreeso grantedo byo sucho Universitieso througho Distanceo EducationoModeoandonoorecommendationohasobeenomadeobyotheoCommitteeo too disregardo sucho degrees.o Heo furthero submitso thato theo mattero iso pendingo beforeotheoHighoCourtoasoregardsotootheolegalityoandovalidityoofotheodegreeso acquiredo througho Distanceo Educationo Modeo fromo sucho Universitieso foro adjudicationobeforeothisoCourtoandothatotheopetitionerohimselfohasosecuredo appointmentso ono theo basiso ofo degreeso obtainedo byo himo througho Distanceo EducationoMode.ooHence,oheocanohaveonoogrievanceoagainstotheoawardoofo degreeotootheopetitioneroand/oroitsolegalityoandovalidity.oHeofurtheroaversothato theoGovernmentoofoPunjabohasonowhereodisputedoorodeniedotheolegalityoando validityo ofo theo degreeo ofo theo petitionero ando thereforeo thereo cano beo noo presumptionoagainstotheoacademicoqualificationoheldobyotheopetitioner.oo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-46-o o

23.o o Itowasofurtheroarguedothatoevenothoughotheopetitionerocontendso thatodegreesofromooutsideotheoStateowereonotobeingorecognized,ohowever,oheo failedotoopointooutoanyosimilarities.oBesides,oinotheoabsenceoofoanyodecisionotoo establisho thato degreeo ofo theo respondento waso invalid,o non-acceptanceo ofo degreeoofoanyootheropersonocannotobeoheldoagainstotheoprivateorespondent.oo

24.o o Io haveo heardo theo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwitho theoinstantopetition.oo

25.o o Theo undisputedo factso thato emergeo fromo theo sequenceo noticedo aboveoareothatotheogrand-fatheroofotheoprivateorespondent,owhoowasotheoChiefo MinisteroofotheoStateoofoPunjab,owasokilledoinoactoofoterrorismoinotheoyearo 1995.oTheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPolice,oPunjaborecommendedotheocaseoofotheo PrivateoRespondentoforobeingoappointedoasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPolice,o asoao'SpecialoCase',oinotributeotootheoeffortsoundertakenobyotheoformeroChiefo MinisterotoobringobackonormalcyoinotheoStateoofoPunjab,oevenoatotheocostoofo givingoupohisolifeoforotheosaidocause.oTheoaforesaidorecommendationowaso madeo aso ao 'Specialo Case'o ando aftero noticingo thato ito waso noto undero theo instructionsoapplicableotootheocompassionateoappointments.oHence,otheocaseo wasoprocessedoasoao''SpecialoCase'obyograntingorelaxationoofoRuleso6o&o7oofo theoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959.oOneopostoofoDeputyoSuperintendento ofoPoliceoofodirectorecruitmentowasothusorecommendedotoobeotakenooutoofotheo purviewo ofo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.o Theo decisiono ino thiso regardowasorequiredotoobeotakenobyotheoCounciloofoMinisters.oItoisoalsoonoto disputedothatotheocaseoofotheoprivateorespondentowasonotoanoisolatedoinstanceo ofosuchoexceptionaloappointmentoandothatoconsideringotheocircumstancesoino theo Stateo ofo Punjab,o numerouso othero personso haveo alsoo beeno offeredoVISHAL SHARMA CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-47-o o appointmento ino ao similaro manner.o Theo aboveo proposalo ofo theo Directoro GeneraloofoPoliceowasoacceptedobyotheoCounciloofoMinistersotootreatotheocaseo ofoprivateorespondentoasoao'specialocase'obyoextendingorelaxationoofoRuleso6o &o7oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959oagainstotheoupperoageolimitoando byo takingotheosaido postoouto ofo theo purviewo ofo theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.oTheomatterowasothereafteroreferredotootheoPunjaboPublicoServiceo Commissiono foro takingo theopostooutoofoitsopurviewoono22.05.2017o whicho approvedotheoproposalovideocommunicationodatedo24.05.2017oandoconveyingo itsodecisionotooallowoGovernmentotootakeooneopostoofoDSPooutoofoitsopurviewo asoaoone-timeomeasure.oItowasoalsoodulyonoticedothato29opostsoofotheoDeputyo Superintendento ofo Policeo wereo lyingo vacanto ato theo timeo wheno recommendationoquaotheoprivateorespondentowasomade.oTheomemorandumo alongwithotheocommunications/permissionsofromotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceo Commissiono waso thereaftero circulatedo witho theo Councilo ofo Ministerso foro deliberationoandotootakeodecisionoonotheoissueoofograntingoappointmentotootheo privateorespondentobyorelaxationoofoRulesoofo1959.oo

26.o o Theo objectionso raisedo byo theo Financeo Departmento raisedo ano objectionothatotheocompassionateoappointmentowasobeingomadeoinoviolationo ofo theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ando thato theo privateo respondentowasonotonextoofokinoofolateoEx-ChiefoMinisteroBeantoSinghowaso alsooconsideredobyoCounciloofoMinistersoandoitoisonoticedothatotheoproposaloino questionowasonotoprocessedoasoaocaseoofocompassionateoappointment,ohence,o theo policyo parameterso governingo compassionateo appointmento wereo noto applicable.o Finally,o theo Councilo ofo Ministerso grantedo approvalo too affordo relaxationofromoRuleso6o&o7oofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959oinoitso meetingoheldoono30.05.2017oandoaoletteroofoappointmentowasothereafteroissuedo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-48-o o ono 17.06.2017.o Theo privateo respondento thereaftero submittedo hiso joiningo reportoandohasobeenoworkingowithotheoPunjaboPoliceosinceothen.oo

27.o o Theoprimaryoquestionowhichothusoarisesoforoconsiderationoisoino relationotootheoexecutiveopowersoofotheoStateoandotheoscopeoofojudicialoreviewo whenosuchopoweroisoexercised.oo

28.o o Articleo162oofotheoConstitutionoisoextractedoasounder:-o Articleo162:oExtentoofoexecutiveopoweroofoState:- SubjectotootheoprovisionsoofothisoConstitution,otheo executiveo powero ofo ao Stateo shallo extendo too theo mattersowithorespectotoowhichotheoLegislatureoofotheo Stateohasopowerotoomakeolaws.o o Providedothatoinoanyomatterowithorespectotoo whicho theo Legislatureo ofo ao Stateo ando Parliamento haveopowerotoomakeolaws,otheoexecutiveopoweroofo theo Stateo shallobeosubjectoto,o ando limitedoby,otheo executiveo powero expresslyo conferredo byo theo Constitutiono oro byo anyo lawo madeo byo Parliamento uponotheoUnionooroauthoritiesothereof.oo o

29.o o TheoConstitutionoofoIndiaodoesonotoprovideoanyodefinitionoasotoo whatoanoexecutiveofunctionoisoando whato activitieso wouldolegitimatelyo fallo withinoitsoscopeoandoambit.oTheopowersoofoexecutiveoareohenceotootheoextento ofo theo powero ofo legislatureo too makeo laws.o Exerciseo ofo theo powero undero Articleo162oisohoweveronotodependentouponotheoexistenceoofoaolegislationobyo theoStateoonotheosubject.oTheosaidopowerocanobeoexercisedoevenoinotheoevento whereotheolegislatureohasotheopowerobutomayooromayonotohaveolegislatedoanyo ActooroRuleoinoregardothereto.ooThereoisothusonooimpedimentoonotheopoweroofo theoexecutiveotooactomerelyoonoanoabsenceoofolegislationoonoanoissue.oItocannoto implyo thato theo powerso ofo theo executiveo shallo beo confinedo foro wanto ofo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-49-o o legislation.oHowever,owhenothereoisoaostatutoryoRuleooroanoActoonotheosubjecto matter,otheoexecutiveomustoordinarilyoabideobyothatostatueoandoitocannot,oino exerciseoofoitsoexecutiveopowersounderoArticleo162oofotheoConstitutionoofo IndiaoignoreooroactocontraryotoosuchoRuleooroAct.oAnyosuchotransgressionomayo beoliableotoobeosetoasideobyotheocompetentoCourtoasoultraovires.oTheoexecutiveo powero iso thuso co-extensiveo witho theo legislativeo powerso ofo theo Stateo LegislatureoandoconfinedobyotheoprovisootootheoArticleoitself.oSoolongoasotheo StateodoesonotogooagainstotheoprovisionsoofotheoConstitutionooroofoanyolaw,otheo widthoandoamplitudeoofoitsoexecutiveopowersocannotobeocircumscribed.oo

30.o o oItohadobeenoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo "SwaranoLataoversusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothersoreportedoaso1979o(3)oSCCo 165othatotheoexecutiveoisonotopreventedofromomakingoappointmentsoundero Articleo162oevenothoughonoorulesomayohaveobeenoframedounderoArticleo309.o Theorelevantoparagraphoreadsoasounder:o "43.oItoisonotoobligatoryounderotheoprovisootooArticleo309otoo makeo ruleso ofo recruitmento etc.o beforeo ao serviceo cano beo constituted,ooroaopostocreatedoorofilled.oTheoStateoGovernmento haso executiveo powero ino relationo too allo matterso ino respecto too whichotheoLegislatureoofotheoStateohasopowerotoomakeolaws.oIto followsofromothisothatotheoStateoGovernmentowillohaveoexecutiveo powersoinorespectoofoListoII,oEntryo41oofotheoSeventhoSchedule:o 'StateoPublicoServices':oB.oN.oNagarajanov.oStateoofoMysore.o ThereoisonothingoinotheotermsoofoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutiono whichoabridgesotheopoweroofotheoExecutiveotooactounderoArticleo 162oofotheoConstitutionowithoutoaolaw.oTheosameoviewohasobeeno takenobyothisoCourtoinoT.oCajeeov.oU.oJormanikoSiemoandoSanto Ramo Sharmao v.o Stateo ofo Rajasthan".o Theo sameo principleo underlieso Articleo 73o ofo theo Constitutiono ino relationo too theo executiveopoweroofotheoUnion."o o o o o o o o o ooooooooo(Emphasisosupplied)oo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-50-o o o

31.o o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoinotheomatteroofo"Dr.o Ambesho Kumaro versuso Principalo LLRM,o Medicalo College,o Meeruto ando otherso reportedo aso AIRo 1987o SCo 400o thato theo Stateo Governmento iso competento ino exerciseo ofo itso powero undero Articleo 162o too passo ano ordero relatingotootheoeligibilityoandoqualificationoforotheocandidatesotoobeoconsideredo onomeritsoforoadmissionotootheopostocreatedoforomedicalocollegesoinotheoStateo providedoandodoesonotoencroachooroinfringeouponotheopowersoofotheoCentralo Governmentoasowelloasoinotheoparliament.oTheorelevantoparagraphoofotheosaido judgmentoreadsoasounder:o "19.o Theo Stateo Governmento cano ino exerciseo ofo itso executiveo powero makeo ano ordero relatingo too matterso referredo too ino entryo 25o ofo theo Concurrento Listo ino theo absenceoofoanyolawomadeobyotheoStateolegislature.oTheo impugnedoorderomadeobyotheoStateoGovernmentopursuanto too itso executiveo powerso layingo downo theo eligibilityo qualificationo foro theo candidateso too beo consideredo ono meritso foro admissiono too theo post-graduateo courseso ino MedicaloCollegesoinotheoState,oisovalidoandoitocannotobeo assailedoonotheogroundothatoitoisobeyondotheocompetenceo ofotheoStateoGovernmentotoomakeosuchoorderoprovidedoito doeso noto encroacho upono oro infringeo theo powero ofo theo CentraloGovernmentoasowelloasotheoParlia-omentoprovidedo inoentryo66oofoListo1.oEntryo66oofoListoIoisoinotheofollowingo terms:o Co-ordinationo ando determinationo ofo standardso ino institutionso foro highero educationo oro researcho ando scientificoandotechnicaloinstitutions."o o

32.o o oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtofurtheroheldoinotheomatteroofo"B.N.o NagrajanoversusoStateoofoMysore"oinoCiviloAppealoNo.o430otoo461oofo1964o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-51-o o decidedoono01.03.1966othatotheoexecutiveocanomakeoappointmentsoandolayo downoconditionoofoserviceoevenowithoutoframingostatutoryorules.oTheopowero oforegularizationoofoappointmentoisothusoaptlyoexercisedounderoArticleo162oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia.oTheorelevantoparagraphoofotheosaidojudgmentoiso readsoasounder:o "5.oItowouldobeoconvenientotoodealowithothisoargumentoato thisostage.oMr.oNambiarocontendsothatotheowordso"shallobeo asosetoforthoinotheorulesooforecruitmentoofosuchoserviceo speciallyomadeoinothatobehalf"oclearlyoshowothatotillotheo rulesoareomadeoinothatobehalfonoorecruitmentocanobeomadeo tooanyoservice.oWeoareounableotooacceptothisocontention.o FirstoitoisonotoobligatoryounderoprovisootooArticleo309otoo makeorulesooforecruitment,oetc.,obeforeoaoserviceocanobeo constitutedooroaopostocreatedoorofilled.oThisoisonototoosayo thato ito iso noto desirableo thato ordinarilyo ruleso shouldo beo madeo ono allo matterso whicho areo susceptibleo ofo beingo embodiedoino rules.oSecondlyo theoStateoGovernmentohaso executiveopower,oinorelationotooallomattersowithorespectotoo whicho theo Legislatureo ofotheo Stateo haso power,o too makeo laws.oItofollowsofromothisothatotheoStateoGovernmentowillo haveoexecutiveopoweroinorespectoofoListoII,oEntryo41,oStateo Publico Services.o Ito waso settledo byo thiso Courto ino Ramo JawayaoKapurov.oStateoofoPunjab,o1955-2oSCRo225,othato itoisonotonecessaryothatothereomustobeoaolawoalreadyoino existenceobeforeotheoexecutiveoisoenabledotoofunctionoando thatotheopowersoofotheoexecutiveoareolimitedomerelyotootheo carryingooutoofotheseolaws.oWeoseeonothingoinotheotermsoofo Articleo309oofotheoConstitutionowhichoabridgesotheopowero ofo theo executiveo too acto undero Articleo 162o ofo theo Constitutiono withouto ao law.o Ito iso hardlyo necessaryo too mentionothatoifothereoisoaostatutoryoruleooroanoactoonotheo matter,otheoexecutiveomustoabideobyothatoactoororuleoandoito cannotoinoexerciseoofotheoexecutiveopowerounderoArticleo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-52-o o 162oofotheoConstitutionoignoreooroactocontraryotoothatoruleo oroact."o o o o o o ooooooooo(EmphasisoSupplied)o o

33.o o Further,oArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaogovernsoserviceo whichoreadsothus;o Articleo309:-oRecruitmentoandoconditionsoofoserviceoofopersonso servingotheoUnionooroaoStateo o oSubjectotootheoprovisionsoofothisoConstitution,oActso ofo theo appropriateo Legislatureo mayo regulateo theo recruitment,o ando conditionso ofo serviceo ofo personso appointed,otoopublicoservicesoandopostsoinoconnectionowitho theoaffairsoofotheoUnionooroofoanyoState:oProvidedothatoito shallobeocompetentoforotheoPresidentoorosuchopersonoasoheo mayodirectoinotheocaseoofoservicesoandopostsoinoconnectiono withotheoaffairsoofotheoUnion,oandoforotheoGovernoroofoao Stateo oro sucho persono aso heo mayo directo ino theo caseo ofo servicesoandopostsoinoconnectionowithotheoaffairsoofotheo State,otoomakeorulesoregulatingotheorecruitment,oandotheo conditionso ofo serviceo ofo personso appointed,o too sucho servicesoandopostsountiloprovisionoinothatobehalfoisomadeo byoorounderoanoActoofotheoappropriateoLegislatureoundero thiso article,o ando anyo ruleso soo madeo shallo haveo effecto subjectotootheoprovisionsoofoanyosuchoAct.o o

34.o o Ito iso apparento fromo perusalo ofo theo aboveo thato theo powero conferredounderoArticleo309oisosubjectotootheoprovisionsoofotheoConstitutiono andoActsoofoStateolegislature,ohence,oArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionobeingo subjectotootheootheroprovisionsoofoconstitutionocannotoover-rideoArticleo162o whichoisofaromoreowideoinoitsoamplitudeoandoapplication.oTheolegitimacyoando constitutionalityoofoanoactocarriedooutounderoArticleo162oofotheoConstitutiono CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-53-o o ofoIndiaocannotoalwaysobeotestedoonotheoanviloofoArticleo309oorotheoRuleso framedothereounder.oo

35.o o Ino theo aforesaido background,o theo appointmento ofo theo privateo respondentoasoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoisobeingoassessedoandoasotoo whetherotheodecisionocanobeointerferedowithinojudicialoreview.oItowasoheldobyo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"StateoofoU.P.oversusoMaharajao DharmanderoParsadoSingh"oreportedoasoAIRo1989oSCo997oothatotheopowero ofojudicialoreviewoisodirectedonotoagainstotheocorrectnessoofotheodecisionobuto againstotheocorrectnessoofodecisionomakingoprocess.oTheorelevantoextractoofo theosaidojudgmentoisoreadsoasounder:o "28.oo o Itodoesonotooftenohappensothatowhatoappearsotoobeoao judicialo reviewo foro breacho ofo naturalo justiceo is,o ino reality,o ao reviewoforoabuseoofodiscretion.oItoisotrueothatoamongstotheomanyo groundsoputoforwardoinotheoshowocauseonoticeodatedo19-1-1986,o quiteoaofewooverlapoeachootheroandoareodistinguishableofromo thoseourgedoforotheocancellationoofotheoleaseoitself.oSomeoofotheo groundsomight,operhaps,obeosomewhatopremature.oSomeoofothemo evenoifotrueoareosootrivialothatonooauthorityocouldoreasonablyobeo expectedotoocancelotheopermissionoonothatobasis.oForoinstanceo theogroundothatotheopermissionowasoappliedoforoandograntedoino theonameoofooneoonlyoofotheotwoolesseesowouldobeooneosuch.o o However,o Judicialo reviewo undero Articleo 226o cannoto beo convertedointooappeal.oJudicialoreviewoisodirected,onotoagainsto theodecision,obutoisoconfinedotootheoexaminationoofotheodecision-makingoprocess.oInoChiefoConstableoofotheoNorthoWalesoPoliceo v.oEvans,o1982(1)oW.L.R.o1155orefersotootheomerits-olegalityo distinctionoinojudicialoreview.oLordoHailshamosaid:o "Theo purposeo ofo judicialo reviewo iso too ensureo thato theo individualoreceivesofairotreatment,oandonototooensureothato theoauthority,oafteroaccordingofairotreatment,oreachesoonoao matterowhichoitoisoauthorisedobyolawotoodecideoforoitselfoao CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-54-o o conclusionowhichoisocorrectoinotheoeyesoofotheoCourt."o LordoBrightmanoobserved:o "...Judicialoreview,oasotheowordsoimply,oisonotoanoappealo fromoaodecision,obutoaoreviewoofotheomanneroinowhichotheo decisionowasomade.."o Andoheldothatoitowouldobeoanoerrorotoothinko "...thato theo Courto sitso ino judgmento noto onlyo ono theo correctnessoofotheodecision-makingoprocessobutoalsooono theocorrectnessoofotheodecisionoitself."o o o Wheno theo issueo raisedo ino judicialo reviewo iso whethero ao decisiono iso vitiatedo byo takingo intoo accounto irrelevant,o oro neglectingo too takeo intoo accounto ofo relevant.o factorso oro iso soo manifestlyounreasonableothatonooreasonableoauthority,oentrustedo withotheopoweroinoquestionocouldoreasonablyohaveomadeosuchoao decision,o theo judicialo reviewo ofo theo decision-makingo processo includesoexamination,oasoaomatteroofolaw,oofotheorelevanceoofotheo factors.oInotheopresentocase,oitois,ohowever,onotonecessaryotoogoo intootheomeritsoandorelevanceoofotheogroundsohavingoregardotoo theoviewoweoproposeotootakeoonotheopointoononaturalojustice.o o Ito would,o however,o beo appropriateo foro theo statutoryo authority,oifoitoproposesotooinitiateoactionoafresh,otooclassifyotheo groundsopointingooutowhichogrounds,oinoitsoopinion,osupportotheo allegationoofofraudooromisrepresentationoandowhich,oinoitsoviewo constituteosubsequentoviolationsoofotheotermsoandoconditionsoofo theo grant.o Theo groundso musto beo specifico soo aso too affordo theo Lesseesoanoeffectiveoopportunityoofoshowingocause.oo o

36.o o Theo threeo headso oro theo groundso ono whicho ano administrativeo actiono iso subjecto too controlo regulationo areo irregularity,o irrationalityo ando proceduralo improprietyo aso laido downo ino theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo mattero ofo o "Uniono ofo Indiao versuso Flighto Cadeto AshishoRai"oreportedoaso2006o(2)oSCCo364.oTheorelevantoparagraphoofotheo VISHAL SHARaMfAoresaidojudgmentoreadsoasounder:o CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-55-o o "6.o Thereo shouldo beo judicialo restrainto whileo makingo judicialo reviewo ino administrativeo matters.o Whereo irrelevanto aspectso haveo beeno eschewedo fromo considerationoandonoorelevantoaspectohasobeenoignoredo andotheoadministrativeodecisionsohaveonexusowithotheofactso onorecord,othereoisonooscopeoforointerference.oTheodutyoofo theo Courto iso (a)o too confineo itselfo too theo questiono ofo legality:o (b)o too decideo whethero theo decisiono makingo authorityoexceededoitsopowers;o(c)ocommittedoanoerroroofo law;o(d)ocommittedobreachoofotheorulesoofonaturalojustice;o ando(e)oreachedoaodecisionowhichonooreasonableoTribunalo wouldo haveo reached;o oro (f)o abusedo itso powers.o Administrativeo actiono iso subjecto too controlo byo judicialo reviewoinotheofollowingomanner:o

(i)o Illegality:o Thiso meanso theo decision-makero musto understandocorrectlyotheolawothatoregulatesohisodecision-makingopoweroandomustogiveoeffectotooit.o o

(ii)oIrrationality,onamely,oWednesburyounreasonableness.o o

(iii)oProceduraloimpropriety."o o

37.o o oAo constitutionalo Courto iso expectedo too beo generallyo slowo too interfereo ino theo matterso relatingo too administrativeo functionso unlesso sucho decisionsoareotakenoviolatingotheoprinciplesoofocautionoenumeratedoabove.oo Characterizingoaodecisionoaso"irrational",otheoCourtoisorequiredotoomateriallyoo holdo thato theo decisiono iso "soo outrageous"o aso ito totallyo defieso objectiveo standards.o Whileo interpretingo theo powero ofo judicialo reviewo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtowentooutotooholdothatowhereotheoactionoonopartoofotheoStateoiso notowhollyowithoutojurisdiction,oitodoesonotorequireointerferenceobyotheoHigho Courto ino exerciseo ofo itso powero ofo judicialo review.o Sucho inferenceo witho administrativeomattersoshallobeodoneoonlyoifotheoorderopassedoisoinoviolationo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-56-o o ofofundamentalorightsoorobasicoprinciplesoofojusticeoandofairoplayoorosuffero fromo anyo patento oro flagranto error.o Ao mereo divisiono oro conflicto ino theoo standards,owhenoanoactoisootherwiseoinoconformityowithotheopowersoexercisedo andoisosupportedobyosomeoreasoningoandologicowhichocannotobeoheldotoobeo outrageous,o wouldo noto beo ordinarilyo interferedo witho ono accounto ofoooooooooooooooooooooooo insufficiencyooforeasonsoand/orothatotheoreasonsotootheocontraryooutweighotheo reasonsogivenoforoexecutionoofosuchoact.oItoisoinotheoaboveobackdropoofotheo powersovestedowithotheoexecutiveoviz-a-viz,otheolimitationsoimposedoundero Articleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaothatotheoappointmentomadeobyotheo respondent-StateoofoPunjaboisobeingoexamined.oo

38.o o Theo Ruleso ofo theo Businesso ofo theo Governmento ofo Punjabo ino exerciseo ofo powero undero Articleo 166o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao wereo notifiedo ono 25.02.1992.o Theo appointmento too theo gazettedo posto ino theo governmento serviceo iso too beo doneo througho theo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.o Aso pero theo authoritativeo pronouncementso ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo mattero ofo "Ashoko Kumaro Uppalo versuso Stateo ofo Jammuo&oKashmir"oreportedoaso1998o(4)oSCCo179oitohasobeenoheldothatotheo GovernmentocanorelaxotheorulesoofoRecruitmentotooremoveohardshipoinoanyo particularocaseooroclassoofocases.oTheoconstitutionalityoofoanyoactionoisonototoo beoseenomerelyoonotheogroundothatotheoCourtoconsidersoitounreasonableobuto theotestotoodetermineotheosameoisowhetheroitoisowithinotheocompetenceoofotheo authoritiesoconcernedotoocarryooutosuchoaction.oTheorelevantoparagraphoiso readsoasounder:o "26.oPowerotoorelaxotheoRecruitmentoRulesooroanyoothero RuleomadeobyotheoboStateoGovernment,ounderoArticleo309o ofotheoConstitutionoofowhichotheocorrespondingoprovisiono isocontainedoinoSectiono124oofotheoConstitutionoofoJammuo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-57-o o andoKashmir,oisoconferredouponotheoGovernmentotoomeeto anyoemergentosituationowhereoinjusticeomightohaveobeeno causedo oro iso likelyo too beo causedo too anyo individualo employeeooroclassoofoemployeesoorowhereotheoworkingoofo theoRuleomightohaveobecomeoimpossible.oUnderoserviceo jurisprudenceo aso alsoo theo Administrativeo Law,o sucho ao powerohaso necessarilyo too beo concededotoo theo employero particularlyo theo Stateo Governmento oro theo Centralo Governmento whoo haveo too dealo witho hundredso ofo employeesoworkingounderothemoinodifferentodepartmentso includingotheoCentraloorotheoStateoSecretariat.o

27.o Ino Stateo ofo Maharashtrao v.o Jagannatho Achyuto Karandikaroitowasoheldoasounder:o(SCCop.o398,oparao12)o "Theopowerotoorelaxotheoconditionsoofotheorulesotoo avoidoundueohardshipoinoanyocaseooroclassoofocaseso cannoto nowo beo gainsaid.o Ito wouldo be,o therefore,o futileoforotheorespondentsotoomakeoanyogrievance."o

28.oInoJ.C.oYadavov.oStateoofoHaryana,oitowasoheldoaso under:o(SCCopp.o194-95,oparao6)oo "TheorelaxationoofotheoRulesomayobeotootheoextento theoStateoGovernmentomayoconsideronecessaryoforo dealingo witho ao particularo situationo ino ao justo ando equitableo manner.o Theo scopeo ofo Ruleo iso wideo enoughotooconferopoweroonotheoStateoGovernmentotoo relaxo theo requiremento ofo Ruleso ino respecto ofo ano individualooro classoofoindividualsotoo theo extentoito mayoconsideronecessaryoforodealingowithotheocaseoino ao justo ando equitableo manner.o Theo powero ofo relaxationoisogenerallyocontainedoinotheoRulesowitho ao viewo too mitigateo undueo hardshipo oro too meeto ao particularosituation.oManyoaotimeostrictoapplicationo ofo serviceo ruleso createo ao situationo whereo ao particularo individualo oro ao seto ofo individualso mayo sufferoundueohardshipoandofurtherothereomayobeoao CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-58-o o situationowhereorequisiteoqualifiedopersonsomayonoto beoavailableoforoappointmentotootheoservice.oInosucho ao situationo theo Governmento haso powero too relaxo RequirementoofoRules.oTheoStateoGovernmentomayo ino exerciseo ofo itso powerso issueo ao generalo ordero relaxingoanyoparticularoruleowithoaoviewotooavailo theo serviceso ofo requisiteo officers.o Theo relaxationo evenoifograntedoinoaogeneralomannerowouldoensureo tootheobenefitoofoindividualoofficers."o

29.o Thiso decisiono waso followedo ino Sandeepo Kumaro Sharmaov.oStateoofoaoPunjaboinowhichoHon'bleoPunchhi,o J.o(asoHisoLordshipothenowas),oobservedoasounder:o(SCCo p.o304,oparao14)o "Theopowerooforelaxationoevenoifogenerallyoincludedo inotheoserviceorulesocouldoeitherobeoforotheopurposeo ofo mitigatingo hardshipso oro too meeto specialo ando deservingosituations.oSuchoruleomustobeoconstruedo liberally.o accordingo too theo learnedo Judges.o Ofo courseoarbitraryo exerciseoofo sucho powero musto beo guardedo against.o Buto ao narrowo constructiono iso likelyotoodenyobenefitotootheoreallyodeservingocases.o Weotoooareoofotheoviewothatotheoruleooforelaxationo mustogetoaopragmaticoconstructionosooasotooachieveo effectiveo implementationo ofo ao goodo policyo ofo theo Government."o

30.oInoviewoofotheoabove,otheoGovernmentocanoexerciseotheo powerotoocorelaxotheoRulesoinoallothoseocasesoinowhicho hardshipoisocausedoinotheoimplementationoofothoseoRuleso toomeetoaoparticularosituationoorowhereoinjusticeohasobeeno causedo too eithero individualo employeeo oro classo ofo employees.o Ofo course,o thiso powero cannoto beo exercisedo capriciouslyo oro arbitrarilyo too giveo undueo advantageo oro favourotooanoindividualoemployee".o o

39.o o However,oatotheosameotimeoitoisoalsoobeenoheldothatotheoRuleso CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-59-o o onceoframedomustobeostrictlyofollowed.oItowasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoinotheomatteroofo"A.K.oBhatnagaroandoothersoversusoUnionoofoIndia"o andoothers"oreportedoaso1991o(1)oSCCo544othatotheogovernmentoshouldobeo refrainedofromoactingoinoaomanneronotocontemplatedobyotheiroownoRules.o Eveno thougho theo authoritieso areo boundo too followo theo ruleo aso notified,o however,owhereoaopoweroofodiscretionohasobeenoconferredouponotheoauthorityo ando ito iso authorizedo too relaxo theo Ruleo undero propero circumstances.o Theo relevantoparagraphoisoreadsoasounder:o "13.oOnomoreothanooneooccasionothisoCourtohasoindicatedo tootheoUnionoandotheoStateoGovernmentsothatoonceotheyo frameorules,otheiroactionoinorespectoofomattersocoveredobyo rulesoshouldobeoregulatedobyothorules.oTheorulesoframedoino exerciseoofopowersoconferredounderotheoprovisootooArticleo 309oofotheoConstitutionoareosolemnorulesohavingobindingo effect.oActingoinoaomannerocontraryotootheorulesodoesonoto createoproblemoandodislocation.oVeryooftenoGovernmento themselvesogetotrappedoonoaccountoofotheiroownomistakeso oroactionsoinoexcessoofowhatoisoprovidedoinotheorules.oWeo takeoseriousoviewoofotheseolapsesoandohopeoandotrustothato theo Governmento botho ato theo Centreo ando ino theo Stateso wouldotakeonoteoofothisopositionoandorefrainofromoactingoino ao mannero noto contemplatedo byo theiro owno rules.o Thereo shallobeonooorderoasotoocosts"o o

40.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoinotheomatteroofo"A.oJanardano versusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers"oreportedoaso1983o(3)oSCCo601othatotheo Courtocannotointerfereoinoexerciseoofosuchodiscretionotoorelaxounlessosucho relaxationoisoperpetuatedobyomalaofideoorowhereoitoexceedsotheoquota.oTheo relevantoparagraphoofotheosaidojudgmentoisoreadsoasounder:o o "20.o Ifo Ruleo 3o providedo methodso ofo recruitmento CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-60-o o indicatingotheosourcesofromowhichorecruitmentocouldobeo madeo ando ifo ruleo conferso discretiono ono Governmento too makeo recruitmento fromo eithero sourceo becauseo Ruleo 4o opensowithoaolimitation,onamely,othatoitoisosubjectotooRuleo

3.oNowoifoasoheldoinoBachanoSingh'socaseo'1949oRules'o whileo prescribingo theo quotao conferredo powero ono theo UnionoGovernmentotoomakeorecruitmentoinorelaxationoofo theorules,oitoisoimplicitoinothisopowerotoomakeorecruitmento ino relaxationo ofo theo quotao ruleo ando ito iso admittedo thato becauseoofotheoemergencyoandobecauseoofotheoexigencieso ofo service,o recruitmento waso madeo ino relaxationo ofo theo rules.oNow,owhereotheoruleoprovidesofororecruitmentofromo twoosourcesoandosimulatenouslyoprescribesoquota,ounlesso thereoisopowerotoorelaxotheoruleoasohasobeenoheldoinoao catenaoofodecisions.oo Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxo o o20.o Inoreachingothisoconclusion,otheoCourtoheldothatotheo absenceoofoarbitraryo poweroisotheo firsto essentialoofo theo ruleoofolawouponowhichoourowholeoconstitutionalosystemoiso based.oTheoCourtoobservedothatoinoaosystem,ogovernedobyo ruleo ofo lawo discretion,o wheno conferredo upono executiveo authorities,o musto beo confinedo withino clearlyo definedo limits.oThisoviewowasotoosomeoextentoreaffirmedoinoB.S.o Guptaov.oUnionoofoIndia,o1975oSuppoSCRo491oandoB.S.o Guptaov.oUnionoofoIndia,o(1975)o1oSCRo104.oButothiso resulto willo noto followo whereo eveno thougho theo ruleso prescribeosourcesooforecruitment,omethodsooforecruitmento andoquota,oifotheoveryorulesosimultaneouslyoconferopowero onotheoGovernmentotoomakeorecruitmentoinorelaxationoofo theorules,ounlessomalaofidesoareoallegedoandoattributed.o WhereorulesothusoconferoaodiscretionoonotheoGovernmento toorelaxotheorulesotoomeetowithotheoexigenciesoofoservice.o anyorecruitmentomadeoinorelaxationoofotheorulesowouldonoto beo invalid.o Thiso iso noo moreo reso integrao ino viewo ofo theo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-61-o o decisiono ofo thiso Courto ino N.K.o Chauhano v.o Stateo ofo Gujarat,o(1977)o1oSCRo1037.o o

41.o o Ito waso alsoo heldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto thato ito waso competentoforotheogovernment,oinoitsodiscretionotoolayodownoqualificationso suchoasoacademicoqualifications,oageoetc.oforotheoappointmentotootheoposto serviceoandotoorelaxosuchorulesoinoaoparticularocase,oprovidedotheorulesoconfero sucho powero ofo relaxationo foro theo governmento aso pero itso authoritativeo pronouncementoinotheojudgmentoofo"G.S.oLambaoandootheroversusoUnionoofo Indiaoandoothers"oreportedoaso1985o(2)oSCCo604,otoomeetotheoexceptionalo circumstancesoofoparticularocase.oWhenosuchorulesodoonotocontraveneoanyo constitutionaloprovisionoorotheorelaxationoisonotovitiatedobyomalaofideoinotheo absenceoofoanyosuchopowerooforelaxation,otheoGovernmentocannotolowerotheo qualification.oTheopositionoinolawoisothusowellosettled.oTheogovernmentoiso competentotoocarryooutoanyosuchoactowhichofallsowithinoitsolegislativeodomain.o Theoappointmentotoopublicopostoareotoobeocarriedooutoordinarilyoasoperotheo statutoryorulesounlessowhereoforovalidoandobonaofideoreasons,otheopoweroofo relaxationoisoexercisedobyotheoGovernment.oOnceosuchoaopowerooforelaxationo iso exercisedo ino conformityo witho theo applicableo Ruleso ando foro bonao fideo considerations,otheopoweroofojudicialoreviewoofotheoHighoCourtoisoconfinedotoo aoproceduraloreviewoandonotoaosubstantiveoreview.oHighoCourtowouldonoto determineotheopriorityoforotheoexecutiveoandotheosameohasotoobeoordinarilyolefto tootheirodiscretionoandoreason.oTheoCourt,oinoexerciseoofoitsopoweroofojudicialo reviewo wouldo noto interfereo witho theo exerciseo ofo discretiono oro o powero ofo relaxationoexercisedobyotheocompetentoauthorityomerelyobecauseooitoholdsoao viewodifferentofromotheoviewoadoptedobyotheocompetentoauthorityoexercisingo theodiscretionosoolongoasoexerciseoofosuchoaodiscretionoisonototheoprejudiceoofo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-62-o o rightoofoanyopersonoinoservice.ooo

42.o o TheoprovisionsoofotheoPunjaboPoliceoServiceoRules,o1959ohaveotoo beo examinedo ino theo saido backdrop.o Ruleo 14o ofo theo Ruleso empowerso theo GovernmentotoorelaxotheoprovisionoofotheoRuleowithorespectotooanyoclassooro categoryoofopersons.oHence,otheopoweroofoRelaxationoisodulyovested.oItowasoino exerciseo ofo theo aforesaido powero ofo relaxationo thato Ruleso governingo theoo recruitmentohadobeenorelaxed.oo

43.o o Counseloforotheopetitionerohadochallengedotheoappointmentoono theogroundoofotheosameobeingoinoconflictowithotheoRulesoandomadeoreferenceo tooRuleso6o&o7.oTheoaforesaidorulesohavingohoweverobeenorelaxedobyotheo Government,o legitimacyo ofo theo appointmento cannotobeo testedo onotheosaido parameters.oTheooprocedureooforecruitmentoprovidedounderorecruitmentoRuleso cannotobeoinvokedotooimpugnotheoappointment.oItoisoundisputedothatoRuleso haveo ao powero too relaxo ando thato theo saido powero haso beeno invoked.o Theo relaxationoisowithorespectotootheoageoandomethodooforecruitmentoandonototheo academicoeligibilityoorootherophysicalostandards.oEvenothough,otheopetitionero inotheosecondowritopetitionochallengesotheoqualificationoheldobyotheoprivateo respondent,o however,o heo haso placedo relianceo ono theo notificationo ofo UGCo whichoisoissuedoafterotheoacquisitionoofoqualificationobyotheorespondent.ooTheo saidonotificationoisoalsoonotoapplicableoretrospectivelyonorosoopleadedobyotheo petitioner.o Thereo iso noo othero materialo availableo ono recordo ono theo basiso whereofotheodegreeoheldobyotheoprivateorespondentoisobeingoimpugned.oInotheo absenceoofoanyomaterialotoodemonstrateothatotheodegreeoofograduationoreliedo uponobyotheorespondentoisoinvalid.oThisoCourtocannotopresumeoexistenceoofo suchofactoandoannulotheoappointment.oo

44.o o Theo nexto questiono whicho comeso upo foro considerationo ofo thiso CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-63-o o Courto iso aso too whethero theo relaxationo couldo beo extendedo too ao classo oro ao categoryo ofo personso ando aso too whethero ano individualo cano beo ao classo oro categoryooronot.oo

45.o o Ao'category'o mayohaveodifferentoconnotationsoinotermsoofoitso understanding.oHowever,oitoisoordinarilyounderstoodoforodivisionoofothingsoono theo basiso ofo someo intelligibleo differentiao and/oro anyo othero modeo ofo indentifyingodistinctogroups.oInotheopresentocircumstances,otheorelaxationohaso beenoextendedotootheoprivateorespondentoasoaotributeotootheosacrificeomadeobyo hiso ancestorso i.e.o hiso grandfather.o Sucho stando aloneo exceptionalo circumstancesocannotobeotestedoagainstoordinaryoaostraightojacketoformulaoofo 'category'.oSinceosuchocircumstancesoareorareoandotheoStateoacknowledgeso suchoisolatedoactsoofosacrificeowhileoextendingotheohonorsotootheosuccessors,o theoordinaryounderstandingoofocategoryocannotobeoappliedotoosuchoexceptionalo circumstances.o Theo individualo mayo thuso ino sucho rareo caseso constituteo ao categoryo untoo himself.o Sucho exceptionalo circumstanceso areo rarityo untoo themselveso ando haveo noo parallel.o Consequently,o theo definingo lineo ofo theo individualoandotheocategoryomayobluroandomerge.oHence,otheoordinaryotestsoofo aocategoryotoohaveomoreothanooneopersonowouldonotoapplyotootheopresento circumstances.oAssumingoforotheosakeoofoargumentothatoallosimilarlyoplacedo qualifiedo familyo memberso ofo theo lateo Chiefo Ministero wouldo fallo ino theo class/categoryotooclaimoappointmentoasoDSP,ohowever,orightotoochallengeotheo appointmentoinosuchoeventualityowouldobeotootheootheropersonsoofotheofamilyo whoometotheosameoyardstick.oTheochallengeotooanoexclusiveorelaxationocano thuso beo raisedo onlyo byo similarlyo placedo persono whoo mayo allegeo discrimination.oNoosuchochallengeohasobeenobroughtobeforeothisoCourtoando theopetitionersodoonotoclaimooroevenoseekotheoappointment.ooTheosameothuso CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-64-o o leadsotootheonextoquestionoi.e.otheoissueoasotoowhetherotheodecisionoofotheo GovernmentoofoPunjabotoorelaxotheoapplicabilityoofotheoRulesoandotoooffero appointmentotootheoprivateorespondentoonotheopostoofoDeputyoSuperintendento ofoPoliceogivenotheospecialocircumstancesooisocorrectooronot.ooItoisosignificanto toopointooutothatoaoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoLPAoNo.07oofo2007o decidedoono21.07.2009otitledo"Sh.oRajivoPrasharoversusoSh.oNareshoDubeyo ando others"o waso examiningo theo issueo whethero theo appointmento ofo theo appellantsothereino(OldoWardsoofoTerroristoVictims)ootootheopostoinoPunjabo Civilo Serviceso (Executiveo Branch)o wereovalidooronot.o Theiroappointmentso wereochallengedobyotheopersonsofallingoinoGeneraloCategoryoonotheogroundo thatohadotheoappellantsothereinonotobeenoappointed,otheovacanciesowouldohaveo beenoavailableoinotheoGeneraloCategoryoagainstowhichotheowritopetitionerso couldo haveo madeo ao claim.o Theo Stateo justifiedo itso standobyo givingo similaro detailsoofotheoprocedureofollowedoandotheopermissionohavingobeenotakenofromo theoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommissionoandotheopostsobeingoheldooutoofotheo purviewoofotheoPunjaboPublicoServiceoCommission.oTheoquestionothatoaroseo forodeterminationoisoasotoowhetherotheoStateowasocompetentotootakeotheopostso ofo PCSo (Executiveo Branch)o outo ofo theo purviewo ofo theo Commissiono ando therebyoaffectingoquotaoofodirectorecruitmentsoandothatoifothereowasoindeedo sucho ao power,o whethero theo sameo hado beeno exercisedo ino accordanceo witho Rules.oTheoDivisionoBenchonoticedotheodecisionotakenobyotheoCounciloofo Ministerso ino itso meetingo quao offeringo appointmentso too appellantso ino theo abovesaidoappealoandothatoevenothoughotheoappointmentsohaveoanoelementoofo compassionoonoaccountoofotheocircumstancesoofotheocandidates,oyet,otheyoareo notoconsideredoasocompassionateoappointments.oTheoappellantsothereinowereo victimsoofoanoextra-ordinaryosituationoandothatoinoexerciseoofoitsoexecutiveo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-65-o o power,oitowasoopenoforotheoStateotootakeoaodecisionoevenowithoutoanyoRuleooro policyowheneveroanoextra-ordinaryosituationosoowarrants.oTheoactionoofotheo StateoGovernmentoinodrawingotheopostofromotheopurviewoofotheoPunjaboPublico Serviceo Commissiono ando foro consideringo theo appellantso thereino foro appointmentotootheosaidopostowasoaffirmedoandotheofindingsorecordingsobyotheo SingleoJudgeowasosetoaside.oItowasoalsoonoticedothatoGovernmentoofoPunjabo hadointroducedoaopolicyodatedo11.11.1993oforogivingoappointmentsotootheo wardso ofo classo oneo officerso dyingo ono accounto ofo terroristo violenceo ono ao priorityo basiso too Classo IIIo ando Classo IVo postso oro eveno too highero posto ono accountoofotheirohigheroqualificationoandoalsooprescribedothatopostoofoClassoIo oro Classo IIo mayo beo takeno outo ofo theo purviewo ofo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission.oNoticingothatotheocategoryoofopersonsowhoohaveobeenogiveno appointmento too Classo Io posto areo indeedoano outcomeo ofo ano extrao ordinaryo situationoandothatotheyoshouldobeotreatedoasoaoseparateoclass.oRightoofoequalityo wasoheldotoobeonotoaomatteroofomereosemanticsoandobutoofosubstance.oTheosaido righto couldo noto acto aso ao prohibitiono againsto makingo ofo reasonableo classificationotooadvanceoanyovalidoobject.o

46.o o oEvenothough,oallopublicoappointmentsoareorequiredotoobeogiveno strictlyoasoperorulesobyogivingoanoopportunityotooallocandidatesotoocompeteo alike,ohowever,otheosameoisotooprohibitoagainstoanoexceptionobeingomadeoinoano extra-ordinaryo situation.o Theo objecto beingo noto merelyo too rehabilitateo theo wardsoofovictimsoofoviolenceobutoalsootoocreateoconfidenceoinotheoservicesoando tooboostotheiromoraleoagainstobeingointimidatedobyoterroristoactsoinotheiroroleo asofunctionariesoofotheoState.oSuchoaosituationocouldonotobeoequatedotooao normalosituationoandonoootheropersonowhoowasonotosimilarlyoplacedoasowardso ofovictimsocouldoclaimoequalorightoandotoobeogivenotheosameobenefitoandoofo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-66-o o beingo giveno ao specialo treatment.o Theo ruleo ofo makingo appointmento excepto withouto competitiveo selectiono thuso couldo noto beo pressedo intoo serviceo too negateotheorightoofotheoStateotoomakeoaopolicyoorotoogiveoappointmentsoinosucho anoextra-ordinaryosituation.ooTheosameoaspectohadoalsoobeenorecognizedobyo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo mattero ofo "Sandeepo Kumaro Sharmao (Supra)oheldothatothereowasonothingoimproperoinogivingospecialoconsiderationo tootheokithoandokinoofotheopolicemenoandothoseowhoosufferedoonoaccountoofo terroristo activities.o Theo questiono hado ariseno ino theo contexto ofo powero ofo relaxationo undero Ruleo 14o ofo theo Punjabo Policeo Rules,o 1959.o Ito waso specificallyo observedo thato powero ofo relaxationo couldo beo exercisedo foro mitigatingohardshipsooromeetingospecialoorodeservingosituations.oo

47.o o Theo judgmento ofo Sandeepo Kumaro Sharmao (Supra)o waso followedoinotheojudgmentoofoAshokoKumaroUppalo(Supra)oasowelloasoinotheo mattero ofo Aruno Kumaro (supra).o Theo appointmentso soo madeo wereo thuso affirmedowhileosoundingoaoruleoofocautionothatotheoobservationsomadeomayo notobeotreatedoasogeneraloapplicationoforoeveryosituationooandoareotoobeoappliedo onlyoinoexceptionalocircumstances.oTheocircumstanceonoticedobyotheoCouncilo ofo Ministerso ino theo presento caseo iso oneo amongsto sucho extremeo ando rareo circumstancesowhereoanoincumbentoChiefoMinisteroisoassassinatedoinoanoacto ofoterroristoviolence.ooTooholdothatothereocanobeonoodetractionofromotheoRuleo ino sucho ano exceptionalo circumstanceso wouldo beo ano infringemento ono theo powersoofotheoStateoandowouldobeoheldothatoitohasonooauthorityotooexerciseotheo powerooforelaxation.ooo

48.o o Ito iso alsoo noteo worthyo thato theo petitionero haso noo personalo grievanceoagainstotheoaforesaidoappointmentoandoisoinofactoagitatedoagainsto theoallegedoexcesses/atrocitiesocommittedobyotheoPoliceoduringotheopeakoofo CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-67-o o terrorism.oHeoconcedesothatoheoneitheroappliedoforonoroisoaocandidateoseekingo appointmentotootheoPolice.oSimilarly,otheopetitioneroinotheosecondopetitiono alsoo doonoto fallo inoao categoryo whereo theyo mayo haveoanyo righto tooraiseo ao challengeotootheoappointment.oEvenootherwise,otheosaidowritopetitionoseeksotoo impugnedo theo degreeo heldo byo theo privateo respondento ono theo strengtho ofo notificationoofotheoUGCowhichowasoissuedomuchoafterotheorespondentohado alreadyoobtainedohisodegree.oHence,otheochallengeowouldonotobeosustainableo onotheounprovedoallegationothatotheopetitionerodidonotofulfillotheoeligibilityoino theopresentocase.oo

49.oo o Aowritoinotheonatureoofoquoowarrantooisonototoobeoinvokedomerelyo becauseo ofo ano allegationo thato thereo iso ano impropero exerciseo ofo ao lawfulo authority.oItogetsoattractedowhenoanoauthorityoexercisesoaopoweroitodoesonoto wield.oTheodistinctionoisofineobutoreal.oTheoallegationoleveledoinotheopresento caseorevolveoaroundoundueoexerciseoofodiscretionoandorelaxationobyotheoState.o Vestingo ofo sucho powero thuso iso noto disputed.o Consideringo theo totalityo ofo circumstancesonoticedoabove,oIoamoofotheoviewothato:-o

i)k o TheopowersoofotheoexecutiveoounderoArticleo162ocannotobeosettledooro circumscribedobyoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia;o

ii)ko Theo executiveo powero extendso too allo segmentso ofo theo legislativeo poweroofotheoStateonotwithstandingoowhetheroanyoActoorostatutoryo Rules/Regulationsohaveobeenoenactedooronot;o

iii)ko TheoStateowouldoordinarilyobeoboundobyotheostatutoryorulesoinoitso actiono unlesso theo extra-ordinaryo circumstanceso necessitateo exceptionalomeasures;o

iv)ko TheoStateomayoforovalidoreasonsoexerciseoitsopowerooforelaxationo fromo theo rules,o excepto theo mandatoryo eligibility,o providedo sucho CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-68-o o poweroisostipulatedoinotheoRules;o

v)ko Theodiscretionoexercisedobyotheoexecutiveoisosubjectotooaoproceduralo judicialoreviewoandonotoaosubstantiveoreviewoandoconfinedotootheo basiso questiono ofo illegality;o irrationality-namelyo Wednesburyo unreasonablenessoandoproceduraloimproprietyoasointerpretedothougho variousojudgments;o

vi)ko Theo constitutionalo Courto wouldo noto ordinarilyo goo intoo theo sufficiencyooforeasonsoorofixotheoprioritiesoforotheogovernmentooro substituteoitsoreasonsoforotheoreasonothatoweighedowithotheoexecutiveo whileomakingoitsodecision.oo

vii)k Ino ao particularo case,o eveno ano individualo mayo beo ao classo untoo himself;o

viii)k Aowritoofoaoquoowarrantooisonotoaomeansotooimpugnoaodecisiono merelyoonoanoimproperoexerciseoofoaolawfuloauthorityobutotheoacto aggrievedoofomustobeowithoutoauthority.oAolegalowrongoshouldoino othero caseo ofo challengeo existo foro maintainingo theo cause,o ao legalo wrongorequiresoexistenceoofoaoojudiciallyoenforceableorightodistincto fromoaonominaloorohighlyospeculativeoadverseoaffectoonotheointeresto ofoaoperson.oTheopersonobriningoaboutoaochallengeoshouldodisplayoao legalo wrongo ando prejudicialo affecto (distincto fromo speculative;o nominaloororemoteoaffect)obyoanoactooroomissionoofotheoauthority,o evenoifoheohasonoofiduciaryooroproprietaryointerest.oo

ix)ko Theopetitionersocouldonotobringoanyomaterialoonorecordotooestablisho thatotheoqualificationoheldobyotheoprivateorespondentowasoinvalid.o Theo U.G.C.o Notificationo iso latero thano hiso degreeo ando iso noto establishedotoohaveoretrospectiveoeffect.oBesides,otheopetitioneroino CWP-23267-2017o&oCWP-14246-2018o o o o ooooooo-69-o o secondowritohimselfopossessesoaodegreeofromoaoUniversityooutsideo theoState.oNoomaterialootherothanoboldoassertionohasobeenobroughto onorecordotooshowothatoanyodecisionohasobeenotakenobyotheoStateotoo noto recognizeo degreeo ofo theo Universityo ino question.o Noo sucho instancesowereoevenomentionedoandopleadingooforespondentotootheo contraryohasonotobeenocontroverted.oo

x)ko Theo appointmento ofo theo privateo respondento iso ano exceptionalo appointmentoasoaospecialocaseounderotheoexigentocircumstancesothato haveonooparallel.oEvenothoughothereoisoanoelementoofocompassion,o butoitocanonotobeotestedoonotheopolicyoparametersoofocompassionateo appointment.oo

xi)ko Theoappointmentohasobeenomadeoasoperoprocedureoprescribedoando aftero takingo theo posto outo ofo previewo ofo Punjabo Publico Serviceo Commission;owithinotheoquotaoandoafterotakingoallocircumstanceso intooaccount,obyotheoCounciloofoMinistersowhichoisocompetentoundero theoConstitutionoofoIndiaotootakeosuchodecisionoandoasoperotheoRuleso ofo Business.o Theo legalityo ofo theo sameo cannoto beo testedo againsto relaxedorecognizedorules.oo o o Iothusodoonotofindomyselfotoobeoinoagreementowithotheopetitionerso inobothotheopetitions.oTheopresentopetitionsoareoaccordinglyodismissed.oo o o o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo APRILo11,o2023o o o o o o ooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo