88 4 2 1 a1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB 8cHARYANA AT l CHANDIGARH 1 J 6 CWP No 1023of2011 DateofDecisionl 62011 l Paramveer Singhandothers aPetitioners Versus 1 PunjabPublic ServiceCommission c others espondents 2 CWP N0528 of2011 d 1 1 Simar Preet Kaur eePetitioner Versus Ik 0 PunjabPublic SenticeCommission espondent 0 3 CWP No648 of2011 I C5 Gur Jai Pal Singh Petitioner I Versus Cr PunjabPublic ServiceCommission 8 another Respondents Z 1 CWP No823 of2011608Ml lr SukhpalSingh Petitioner Versus I iPunjab Public ServiceCommission 8 another Respondents 1 Z r CWP No2435 of2011 1 GursharanSingh ePetit ioner 110 Versus 7 Z PunjabPublic ServiceCommission c another Respondents 6 CWP No2436 of2011 e iarnek Singh8canother eePetitioners 4 Versus PunjabPublic ServiceCossion c another 7j CWP No2507 of2011 Maninder PartapSingh 40etitioner 40001 Versus PunjabPublic ServiceCossion 8 another B CWP No25530f2011 Karamvir Singh Petitioner Versus Punjab Public ServiceCommission c another Respondents 1 1 1 4 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 9 Jl r 89 1 a CWP No1023of2011 e2 r 9 CWP No666 of2011 1 MaPipreet Kaur c others ePetitioners V Versus Punjab Public ServiceCommission 8cothers Respondents 10 CWP No2688 of2011 Railinder Kaur ePetitioner t Versus d 1 C PunjabPublic ServiceCommission 8t another Respondents 3 11 CWP No735 of2011 0 9 Singh ePetitioner f I Versus r C5 PunjabPublic Service Commission 8eanother 12 CWP NoA682 of2011 r Z KamaljitSingh8 another ePetitioners Versus Q Punjab Public ServiceCommission8lother Respondents I I3 CWP No6522 of2011 43 ManpreetSingh ePetitioner Versus r1 PunjabPublic ServiceCommission 8 others CORAMe HONBLE MRJUSTICE PERMOD KOHLI 7 1 Presentl Mr Pawan Kumar Sr Advocate with Ml SaquibAli Khan Advocate tl Mr JagdeepSinghMr HC Arora Mr SL Chander Shekhar Mr GlV Malik Mr Harsh AggarwalMr PS k Khurana Mr BS Sewak Mr GL BajajMs JyotiSarin Mr Gunnohan SinghMr HC Arora Advocatesfor the 4 petitioners Mr PuneetGuptaAddl AG Punjab eevO Ms Anu Pal AAG Punjab 71c 3 PERMOD KOHLI J ORALI Faced with the common factualpremises and questions of law all thesepetitions are beingdisposedofbythis common order In view of the common questions repliesfiled by theStateof Punjaband PunjabPublic ServiceCommission in CWP No 1023of2011 44 4 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 90 n44 CWP No1023of2011 3 have also beentreatedas common repliesin all thesewrit petitions The PunjabPublic Service Commission hereinaer referredto as the 1ee no issued an advertisementdated 1 26l2009 inviting for fillingup of 143 poststhroughPunjab Civil Services Combined Examination 2009 Initially143 4 C4 posts were advertised however bya dated21122009 issued 0 by the Commission postsof Excise 8c Taxation Officers wereincreased 1 10 0 from 37 to 74 distributedin various Thus the total number of I C5 seats brought within the purviewof aforementionedexamination came to I 180 Z to PunjabCivil Services Executive Branchl1S by the statutoryrules framedunderprovisoto Article 309 namely I Punjab Civil Services Executive Branch96Class49Rules 1976 Rule 7 Z dealswith the to the serviceand readsas under rr 7 to the Service shall be made in manner D hereinprovidedfrom amongstaccepted candidateswhose names have been J Z dulyentered in accordance with these rules in the Registersof candidatesto be maintainedunder theserules 33 RuIe8 dealswith theRegisters to be maintained Under Rule 8 asmany as five typesofRegisters are to be maintained RegisterAl Ae2 A 3 and C deal with the appointment to the service from the in service e candidatesfrom various feedingservices of the Stateof Punjabwhereas B deals with the direct recruitment on the basis of main examination Rule8641 readsas under e ThefollowingRegistersof accepted candidates shall be maintainedbythe to Govt Punjabnamelyl 4 RegisterB in which shall be enteredthe name ofpersons as candidatesas a result ofthemain examination 04e Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 91 4 CWP No 1023 of2011 4 Clnd 72 1 Rule 14 deals with the inclusion of the qualifledcandidatesin the main exation in RegisterB subject to theprovisions of 1 Il Rules 13 and 134 Rules 12 and 13 deal with the conduct of the competitiveexamination and admission of candidates to the 4 e preliminary examination whereasRule 134 deals with the main examination to be held for selection of Il 0 C0 candidates These rules are hereunderl I C9 46 12 ll A examination the I regulationsofwhichare contained in Appendix II of theserules shall be held at any placein the StateofPunjabas and when notied bythe Govt Z throughthe Commissionfor the purpose of selection of candidatesfIr C admissionto the main competitive examinationas specledin rule 13 21 Notice of thedate edfor thepreliminary I examinationshall in thePunjabGovt Gazette 0 1 Z 13 for permission to sit in the preliminaolcompetitive exan8naon will be called bythe Commissionand r shall be madein themanner andformprescribed and bysuch 7 documentsor papers as may berequiredbythe Commissionin this behalf Z 2 No person shall be allowed to appear in the m examination al who hasnot attainedthe age oftwentyone years or who will haveattained theage oftwentysevenyearson the last datefixedbythe submissionofapplications Providedthat the upper age limit may be relaxed bythe Govt c 1 fom time to time that in thecase ofa candidatewho belongs to ScheduledCastesor Backward Classes the upper age limit shallbesuch as mayfronz time to time bed bytheGovt in respectofenlryinto servtce ulldertheStateofpersons to such castes or classes bl who doesnot possessat least a bachelorsdegreeof a recognized unersity in Arts Science or Commercend IrJ whn dnps nnt hv thp rlnsino dntP fnr rproint nf 161 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 92 1 CWP No 1023 of2011 5 applications to be notifiedbythe Commission send a crossed Bank Draft t drawn in favourof SecretaryPunjabPublic Service Commissionpayable at Patiala on account of norfundable examinationfee as fuedby the Commission Provided that a Govt servant holding a ministerial under the PunjabGovt including Courts who has not less continuousservice under the Govt on thelast datefixedby 1 the Commissionfor submission shall be eligibleto aear lll the examination if he possesses at least a Bachelors degreeof a 0 11 0 universityin Arts Science or Commerceand has nol attained 1 I theage ofthirtyeightyears subjectto the condition that he has not availed t5 f three chances in addition to thosewhich he mighthave alreadyavailed ofin any other capacity 1 Z Note Anyperson who is eligibleas Govt senlantunder this rule and wishes to appear ln the examination shall submit his in theprescribed form throughthe Head of his oice to the I Secretary to the Commission l3 13A A main examination theregulations of Z which are contained in Appendix III of theserules shall be held at any m placein the State ofPunjabas and when notifiedbythe Govt throughthe Commission for the purpose of selection by of as nlany W2 Z candidatesfor the serviceas Govt may determine Qm 29 Notice of the date flxedfor the maul competitive examinationshall bepublished in thePunjabGovt Gazette 1 39 No candidate shall be allowed to sit in the main examination unless he has qualifiedthe preliminary examinationin termsoftheprovisionofrule12 41 The total number of candidates to be admitted to the e lnaln examinalion shall not exceedthirteen limes the total numberofvacancies determinedbythe Govt r subrule 33 The Commission also issued brochure for PunjabState Civil Service Combined Examination 2009 The brochurecontains entire information in respectto the numberofvacancies break UP theconditions relating to andmain examination ee 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 93 CWP No 1023of2011 6 and other detailsregarding the examinationcentres etc As per the brochure the preliminary examination COIlSlSt of two papers in the following mannerl A f 9 4c PRELIMINARY PUNJAB STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMBINED COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION 1 1 The preliminary competitiveexaminationwill consistof Lr two papers of objectivetype nultiplechoice questionsland carry a 0 maximumof450 marksin thesubject as under1 I r 0 PaperI General Studies 150 marks I C5 PaperII One subjectto be 300 marks Z selectedfrom the list ofoptional subject givenbelow lr Totall 450marks I t0 Those who are qualified111 the preliminary Z examination are entitled to applyfor admission to the rnaill competiti ve 01 examination eao Z All the petitionersappliedfor preliminaryexamination in m response to the aforementionedadvertisement Petitionersin thesepetitions 4 belongto ScheduledCastes Backward Classes and Freedom Fighter categones The fact remainsthat all the belongto one or the 4C l other reservedcategory Theywere issued admit card and roll numbersfor in thepreliminary examinationwhich was held on 1922010 The Commission issued list of the success811candidatesof examination The list comprises of shortlisted candidates for the main examinationcategorywise like general ScheduledCastes BackwardCastes etc Even though the list is roll numberwise however everylist contains 0 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 94 CWP No 1023of2011 e 0 categorywtse cut off marks securedby the candidatesin the 1 examination The details of categoryWise cut off marks for each category are in thefollowing mannerl 4 GENERAL CATEGORY 711 TOTAL CANDIDATES1106 CUT OFF MARKS2900017 w ESM PUNJAB CATEGORY 021 TOTAL CANDIDATES119 CUT OFF MARKS68456 0 LDESM PtTNJAB CATEGORY 731 9 O TOTAL CANDIDATES8 CUT OFF MARKS2030578 r I t5 FREEDOM FIGHTERS PUNJAB CATEGOR741 TOTAL CAND1DATES14 CUT OFF MARKS305e050 I SPORTS PERSONS PUNJAB CATEGORY 751 Z TOTAL CANIDATES26 CUT OFF MARKS2260510 n PHYSICALLY HiU1TDICAPPED PUNJAB CATEGORY CC Cr 7610 TOTAL CAND1DATES6 CUT OFF MARKS2230063 I Co SC OTIRS PUNJAB CATEGORY 071 Z TOTAL CANDIDATES249 CUT OFF MARKS2760023 m SC ESM PUNJAB CATEGORY 781 TOTAL CANDIDATES12 CUTT OFF RKS680456 7 Z sc PUNJAB CATEGORY 801 TOTAL CANDIDATES CUTT OFF MARKS211155 i BlM SIKH P1RVJAB CATEGOR811 TOTAL CVDIDATES236 CUT OFF MARKS231117 BlM SIKH PUNJAB CATEGOR821 TOTAL CANIDATES1 CUT OFF MARKS880591 rc BlM SIKH SPORTS PERSON PUNJAB CATEGORY I TOTAL CANDIDATESZ2 CUT OFF MARKS2300923 BC PUNJAB CATEGORY 851 TOTAL CANDIDATES317 CUT OFF MARKS225017 BC ESM PUNJAB CATEGORY 861 TOTAL CANDIDATES12 CUT OFF MARKS68A56 ee 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 95 4a CWP No 1023 of2011 8 e Petitionerswho belong to different reservedcategories havenot 1 been shortlistedfor the maln examinationhavingsecuredmarks less than the cut off marks in their respective however some of the Id r petitioners havesecuredmarksmore than the last qualified candidatesin the generalcategory It is also pertinent to note that in most of the reserved 4 r categories the shortlistedcandidateshave securedmore marksthan the last 0 shortlistedin the general category In View of this factual the l O petitioners have this Court seeking a direction for shiftingthe I 40 resetved categorycandidates who have secured rnore marks than the I shortlistedcandidatesin generalcategoryto generalcategory on the basisof Z theirhighermerit and resultantslots in reservedlist be Olled from reserved Q candidatesnext in the merit on the basisof test The I prayermade insome of the writ petitions is also to redraw the merit list in Z accordancewith themandate in case ofIndra SawhneyVSe QO Union ofIndia reported as 1992Suppleo1 SCC 217 andRoK Sabharwal 7 and others Vse State ofPuniab reportedas 1995421 RSJ 8950 Z The stand of the Commission and the lS W identical It is statedthat as per thePunjabStateCivil Service 1 byCombined Examinationl Rules 2009 readwith PunjabCivil Service BranchlRules 1976 Rule 13A641the totalnumbei of candidatesto be admitted to the main examination cannot C exceed 13 times the total number of vacancies determinedby the Govt under sub rule l Rule 13A relied upon by the reads as underl 41 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 96 4 CWPN 1023of2011 9 rr The total number of candidates to be admitted to the main 1 examinationshall not exceedthirteentimesthe total number of vacanciesdetenninedbythegovt under subule P3 It is accordinglycontendedthat thereis no provisionunder 1 t1 the rules or instructions which inter alia requires a reservedcategory candidatewho secures more marksthan thegeneral categorycandidate is to d m be treated as generalcategorycandidatefor purposesof shortlisting as Il 0 prelude to main competitive examinatioIl have further relied 0 I uponthe instructions dated 301 1996 which prohibitsconversion from 1 C5 I one category to another It is accordinglystatedthat the candidates are 4 required to be shortlistedup to thirteel139timesthe numberofvacancies Z in their own categoryand no candidatecan be shied from one categoryto C another includingfrom reserved to generalcategoryfor purposes of I shortlisting for maul examination It is also the stand of the C Z Statethat reservationis providedunder the backwardclasses eservation C 111 Act 2006 andthere is no provisionin the said Act whereunder Ct J a reserved categorycandidate who secures more rnarksthan the general Z can be treatedas general categorycandidate It is also the standof ll the th the candidateswho applied r a panicularcategory are required to appear in the main examinationand viva voce test in the samecategoryin which theyhadapplied 9e The Stateof Punjabhas enactedthe PunjabScheduledCastes and Backward Classes in serviceslAct 2006 This Act is to all by a direct recruitment bypromotion or by transfer Section4 provides thepercentage ofreservationfor eachcategory e Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 97 d CWP No 1023of2011 10 1 and readsas under 1 4 Perenge of While making in servicebyany ofthemethodsprovidedunder any Service Rules reservation shall be madeforthe membersoftheScheduledCastcs r 0 and Backward Classesin the senlices under all theestablishments 29 The percentageof reservation for fllling up the d e vacancles by direct recruitment or by transr in Group541GroupBl r Group C and Group Dl servlces shaU be twentve per cent fOr Il 0 ScheduledCastes and twelveper centforBackwani Classes C3 39 The percentageof reservation for lling up the C5 vacancles bypromotionbyScheduled Castes in GroupA and Group B 1 I servicesshall befourteenper cent 41 Thepercentage up the vacancies Z bypromotion by ScheduledCastes in GroupC and GroupD serVlCCS 0 shall be twentyper cent 59 typer cent ofthe vacanciesof thequotareservedfor ScheduledCastes in direct recruitment shall be 0Heredlo Balmikisand C Z Mazhbi Sikhs if available as a first preferencefrom amongstthe ScheduledCastes co 61 Reservation shall be byreservingvacancies mm bymeans of a runningroster as may be prescribed till thepercentageof Z reservationas speclfted in subsections 31and are e 71 Reservationshall be applicable to vacancles to bejllled on ad hoc basis short term vacancies work chargedestablishmentdaily wagestaHandthe on contract basis 89 Resenlation shall also be to profonna and bytransfer 1 1 1 Section 7 deals with the dereservation of the reserved 49 vacanciesand readsas under Cl l9 There shall be no dev reservation of any reservedvacancy byany appointingauthority in any establishmentwhich is to be jilled up by direct recruitment or by In case a qualifled or eligibleScheduledCastes or Backward lnsrpr rnndidntP nr thP rnsP mnv hp ir nnt nvnilnhIP tn 611un rurh eO 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document e 98 1A CWP No 1023of2011 11 14 vacanc in that situation such vacancyshall remainunlllled 1 2 contained in subasection611 U lll the publicinterest it is deemednecessary to f1ll up any vacancy referredlO in that submsectionthe appointingauthorityshall referthe vacancyto the of Welfareof ScheduledCastes and Backward Classes for deesenlaon Upon such referencethe of Welfareof Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes may if it is satisfled 4 0 that it is necessaryor expedient so to do byorder in writingdemresenlethe vacancysubjectto the condition thatthevacancy so devreservedshall be 0 9 i 0 carriedforward agnst a unresenledvacancy 9P I C45 Contention on behalf of the petitioners is that the reservation I policyofthe Stateis to be appliedin accordancewith theprovisions of the Z Reservation Act Govt Instructions issued from time to time and the A ofthe Honble ApexCourt In case as 1992 SuppL r SCC 217 titled as Indra SawhneyVs Union of India the Honble Supreme Court obsenledas underl Z 81 In this connection it is well to remember that the m reservations under Article 1 49 do not operatelike a communal 7 reservation It may well happenthat some membersbelonging lO Sa Z ScheduledCastesgetselectedin the open competitiorledon the basis of their own merite theywill not be counted againstthe quotaresenledfor ScheduledCastes theywill be treatedas open competition candidates Il In a Constitution Bench in caseofRe Sabharwal Vs State ofPunjab 1995 21SCT 646 The Honble Supreme C Court has61rtherobservedas underl i 44 Whena percentageof reservation is xed in respectof a particularcadre and the roster indicatesthe reserve pointsit has to be taken that lhe postsshown at the reserve pointsare to be ftlledfrom the membersofresenlecategories and the candidates belonging to the generalcategoryare not entitledto be consideredfor the reserve posts On theotherhand the resenle categorycanllidales can conlpete 0 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 99 4a8 CWP No 1023of2011 2 Ior the nonesenle postsand in the event oftheir to the said 356posts their number cannot be added and takeninto workingout thepercentageofreservation Article 149 oftheConstitution of India permitsthe State Government to make any provisionfor lhe 4 of 1 reservatlon or postsinfavourofanybackward class of citizen which in the opinionof the StatelS not in the Services under the State It is thereforeincumbent on the State d 1 lr Government to reachz conclusion that the backward classlclassesfor which the reservationis rmde is not in the State 91 0 0 Services While doingSO the State Government may take the total I populationqf a particularbackward class and its in tlle C5 State Services When the State Government aer doingthe necessmy 1 exerctse makes the reservation and providesthe extent ofpercentageof Ar Z poststo be resenIedfor the said backward class then thepercentage has to befollowedstrictly The prescribedpercentagecannot be varied or changedsimplybecausesome of the members ofthe backward class have I alreadybeen againstthegeneral seats As mentioned above the roster pointwhich is reserved for a backward class has to be Z jllled by way of ofthe memberof the said class QO No generalcategorycandidate C4Ul be appointedagainsta slot in the rosterwhich is resenledfor thebackward class Thefactthat considerable 12 Z numberof membersof a backward class have been tl againstgeneralseats in the StateServicesmay be a relevantfactorfor the StateGovernmentto review the questionofcontinuing the 1 said class but so long as the instructionsIRulesprovidingcertain the backward classes are operative the same have to be followedDespit any number of to the backward classesagainstthegeneralcategolypoststhe 1 C givenpercentagehas to beprovidedin addition 3 Honble SupremeCourt againconsidered the questionof ofthe reservationin case ofRitesh Re Sah VseDre YeLe Yamul 1i 1 reported as SCC 253 and followed theaboveviewi however i1t 4n 11 wasa case ofadlnissionto course Incase ofRavinder Kumar 1 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 400 a 9 CWP Noe 1023 of2011 e13 1 Vs State of Haryana and others reponedas 2010 51 SCC 136 the Honble Supreme Court applyingthe principleof rneritof the reserved categorycandidatesobservedas underl 11 1 1 Itwas arguedbyMr Patwalia and in our opinionrighUy SO that if an exsenllceman candidatescoredhighenough marksentitlilzg him to be selected in the Exsen7icemeri Generallcategory such m 1Z candidatesoughtto be selected in the said categoryinstead of selecting 11 0 themin theExsenlicemen BA1 or BB9 categories 33 0 In case of Jitender Kumar Singhand anotherVse State of I C5 UeP And others reported as 2010 SCC 119 Honble Supreme Court I 4t was againexaminingthecontroversywhether reservedcategorycandidate Z t can be selectedagainstthegeneralcategoryposton obtaining more marks than the last candidatein thegeneral category In para33 ofthe I Honble Supreme Court noticed the issueinvolved whichreadsas underl C3 Z rr 33 The core issue in the writ petitions was with regardto 4 fllling up the General Categoryposts by candidates belongingto the QO reserved categorycandidas on their obtainingmoremarks than the last 7 candidatein the General Category 33 Z tl This question hasbeen answeredas under From the aboveit becomesquiteapparentthat the relaxotion in age limit is merelyto enable with the generalcategorycandidate all other thingsbeingequal The State has not treatedthe relaxcition in age andfee as relaxation in thestandwdforselection basedon the mcrit oflhe candidatein theselection test ie Main Written byIntenliew 1 C such relaxation cannot deprive a resenledcategorycatRdate of therightto be consideredas a generalcategorycandidateon thebasis of merit in the examination 33 Basedupon these leamedcounsel appearing for the have submittedthat reservedcategorycandidatescannot be putto positionEven bysecuringmore marksthanthe 41 5 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 401 e CWP No 1023of2011 4 generalcategorycandidates theyhave been retainedin reservedcategory 1 and thusdeprived the reservedcategorycandidatesnext in the merit oftheir rightof in the main competitive examination It is vehementy 1 arguedthat all thosereservedcategorycandidateswho havequalifted on the basisof their own merit are to be treatedas generalcategory candidatesfor Il m t purposes of allowingthe bene8t of reservation to other 0 reserved categorycandidates who are next in the merit in the relevant Il 0 I categoryIt is contendedthatthebenefltof reservationis to begranted to C5 the deprivedclasses of the societywho by Vtrtue of their are I unable to pIay a level game with others however by not treatingthe Z rneritorious reserved categorycandidates amongstthe generalcategory r candidates the bene8t of reservationdoes not percolate to the I reservedcategoIycandidates L2 Z Apart from above petitioners have also relied upon Govt m Instructions dated 1071995 wherein followingprovisionshave been emo made Z r1 i9 While calculatingthe percente of reservation as Ll prescribedin Govt Instructionsfrom time to time the oBlcialslocers 1 on basis belongingto resenle categories will be the numberofreservecategories working inhe particularcadre 33 These Govt Instructionshave also been followedby another 4 Govt Instructionsdated 301 1996 quantumof reservationfor Backward Classes in the State Services has been fixed This notiOcation irther providesthat where the regularnumber of Scheduled Castes Exm serviceman candidatesare not available the earmarkedvacancies for this categorywould first go to ScheduledCastesand in case no Scheduled ee4 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 402 CWP No 1023of2011 15 Castes candidates are available thesewill be givento the Exeserviceman generalcategorycandidatesIt is accordinglyargued thatenoughnumber of Scheduled CastesExvservicemanbeingnot available the vacancies 4 e would go to Scheduled castes candidates at the first instance and if ScheduledCastescandidatesare also not availablethen thesevacancieswill 4 1 goto Exerviceman 6general categoly9 candidates 0 MriC Arora one of the counsel appearing for thepetitioners Yi CO I has furtherarguedthat the very objectof shiflingthe meritoriousreserved t5 categorycandidates to the generalcategorypoolis not to allow any benefit I to any individual but to grantbenefit ofreservation to a class ofthe society Z who has sufferedand is to be providedequal with the none reservedcategories The Stateon its parthasseriously and opposed the r Z contention of the petitionersMr Puneet Gupta leamed Addl AG and CO Ms Anu Pal AAG Punjabwhile referring to the PunjabCivil Service 7 Executive Branchl6Class Rules 1976 have submittedthat Z examination has been conductedstrictlyin accordancewith the mandateof 11 the rules The rules envisage of the reservationpolicyat the 1 stageof preliminaryexaminationto the limited extent Accordingto Mr Guptaevery resenled categorycandidate has been sufficientlyprovided to competefor main examinationand 13 times candidatesfrom each reservedcategoryhave been shortlistedand declaredqualiOedfor 6 appearing in the main examination It is contended that the examination per se 1S not a process of selection but only a preludeto lllltlatlOIl of selection process The shortlisting the mode of examinationis onlya qualifying examinationandthestrict rules erl 1 Rashmi 2014.07.02 10: 59 Scanned True Copy of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 10:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 403 a 4 CWP No 1023of2011 6 of reservation have no applicationat the stageof 1 examtnation Y 0446 The rther contention of the ra Cxcx zcw lS that while providingbenefit to 14 the reserved categories ne the conceptof administrativeeftlciency cannot be 1 sacrificed A balanceis to be maintainedbetweenthe reservationand the administrativeefflciency which is the hallmark of everyservicepanicularly Il 1 C the administrativeservlces of a Statewhich is considered to be a premier 0 service Referring to the observationsmade in Indra SawhneyR Ii 0 I Sabharwal and M Nagjs cases it is arguedthat while maintainingthe C5 reservation administrativeefllciencyhasalso to be I It is 61rthercontendedthat a balance has to be