CWP No.1971 of 2010.doc - 1 – HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** CWP No.1971 of 2010 Date of Decision: 05.02.2010 **** Gurmail Singh and others . . . . Petitioners VS. State of Punjab and another . . . . . Respondents **** CORAM : HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT **** 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? **** Present: Mr. Tribhawan Singla, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. B.S. Chahal, DAG Punjab ***** SURYA KANT J. (ORAL) (1). The petitioners are working as SS Master/Mistresses in the Education Department, Government of Punjab. They seek a writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondents to assign them seniority on the basis of their merit in the selection panel read with Rule 11 of Punjab State Education Class III (School Cadre) Rules, 1978. According to the petitioners, the seniority is being assigned, keeping in view the incidental factors like the ‘date of joining’, overlooking the CWP No.1971 of 2010.doc - 2 – inter-se merit at the time of selection. In this regard, the petitioners have served the respondents with a legal notice dated 25.04.2009 (Annexure P3) but no decision has been taken so far. (2). In these circumstances and having regard to the nature of relief sought for, I deem it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondent No.2 to take cognizance of the legal notice dated 25.04.2009 (Annexure P3) and dispose of the pending claim of the petitioner by passing a speaking order, by following prescribed procedure and principles of natural justice, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. (3). Dasti . (SURYA KANT) JUDGE 05.02.2010 vishal shonkar