C.W.P. No. 13869 of 2008 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No. 13869 of 2008 (O&M) DATE OF DECISION: SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 Rajan Bedi and others .....PETITIONERS Versus State of Punjab and others ....RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL --- Present: Mr.G.P.S. Bal, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr. J.S. Puri, Addl.A.G.,Punjab, for respondents No.1 and 2. Mr.G.S. Sandhawalia, Advocate, for respondent No.3. .. SATISH KUMAR MITTAL, J. (Oral) All the three petitioners were appointed on contract basis from 25.10.2006 to 24.04.2007 on the posts of Firemen/Driver on a consolidated wage of Rs.3500/- per month. After the expiry of their term on 24.4.2007, the petitioners were again appointed on contract basis on 06.08.2007 on the same terms and conditions till 05.02.2008. The said term was further extended up to 05.08.2008. Thereafter the term of the petitioners expired. Before the expiry of their term, the petitioners filed the instant petition for issuing direction to the respondents not to replace them by other contract employees. In the written statement as well as additional affidavit filed by C.W.P. No. 13869 of 2008 (O&M) -2- the Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Batala, it has been stated that after dispensing with the services of the petitioners, vide resolution No.128 dated 28.02.2009 it was decided to fill up the posts by adopting proper selection process, and accordingly, advertisement dated 04.06.2009 was published in the Daily Ajit and 123 applications were received against four posts of Drivers and five posts of Firemen. In view of the said advertisement, the petitioners were also issued letters dated 02.06.2009 and were asked to appear for those vacancies to enable the Selection Committee to consider their candidature for 12.06.2009. It has been further stated that out of three petitioners, only petitioner No.2 appeared in the interview and he was considered and selected. The remaining two petitioners, i.e., petitioners No.1 and 3 did not respond to the said offer made by the respondents. In view of these facts, counsel for respondent No.3 on instructions from Shri Manmohan Singh, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Batala states that as and when any Driver or Fireman will be engaged by the respondent-Council on contract basis, the candidature of petitioners No.1 and 3 will be considered in accordance with law. In view of the aforesaid statement made by counsel for respondent No.3, counsel for the petitioners does not press this petition and the same is dismissed as such. September 16, 2009 (SATISH KUMAR MITTAL) vkg JUDGE