1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. CWP (T) No. 14188 of 2008 Decided on: 20.7.2011 Gopal Dass ....Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & another …Respondents The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph, Chief Justice. The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.K. Sharma, Judge. For the respondents : Mr. R.K. Bawa, Advocate General with Mr. Ankush Dass Sood, Additional Advocate General with Mr. J.K. Verma, Deputy Advocate General. Justice Kurian Joseph, C.J. (Oral) The writ petition has been filed with the following prayers: “(I) That the entire process for selection of Pump Operators be quashed and set-aside. (II) That the Applicant be appointed as a Pump Operator being meritorious candidate.” 2. In the reply at paragraph No. 6(i), it is stated as follows: “That the contents of this para are admitted being matter of record to the extent that the applicant has done his two years diploma and the remaining contents are wrong, hence denied. It is submitted 2 that the recruitment to the post of Pump Operator on contract basis has been done strictly on the basis of R&P rules framed under Article 309 of the Constitution of India wherein it has clearly been laid down that 50% posts are to be filled up by direct recruitment or on contract basis and 50% by promotion. As such there is no provision for 50% recruitment on batch wise seniority and 50% by direct recruitment in the R&P rules. Therefore the contention of the applicant is based on presumptions and surmises.” 3. It is seen that the petitioner was less meritorious than the selected candidates. There is no rejoinder. Therefore, the present writ petition is dismissed, so also the pending application(s), if any. (Justice Kurian Joseph), Chief Justice. July 20, 2011 (Justice V.K. Sharma) (hl) Judge.