IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Letters Patent Appeal No.1878 of 2010 In (CIVIL WRIT JURISDICTION CASE 3876/2010) 1. The N.T.P.C.Kahalgaon through Its General Manager, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 2. The General Manager N.T.P.C, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 3. Shri G.C. Sarkar, Senior Officer, Human Resource Department, N.T.P.C, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur ...Appellants Versus 1. Nakul Das S/O Sri Chhathu Harijan @ Chhathu Das R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O. & P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 2. Md. Saiful Islam S/O Late Md. Abul Hussain R/O Vill.- Chandpur, P.O. & P.S.- Rasahalpur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 3. The Union of India through Its Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources Department Govt. Of India, New Delhi ....Respondents ---------------------------------- With Letters Patent Appeal No.1860 of 2010 IN (CIVIL WRIT JURISDICTION CASE 3876/2010) 1. Pramod Kumar Mandal S/O Chintamani Mandal R/O Vill.:Ogri, P.O. Maheshamunda, P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt.: Bhagalpur. 2. Prasant Kumar Mishra S/O Shri Pream Shankar Mishra R/O Vill.:Khuvad Gali, P.O.Begampur, Distt.:Patna. 3. Santosh Kumar S/O Yogendra Paswan R/O Vill.:Sundarpur, P.O. Maheshmunda, P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt.: Bhagalpur. 4. Raghunandan Kumar S/O Sri Ram Yadav R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 5. Manoj Kumar Mishra S/O Shri Parmanand Mishra R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 6. Jitendra Kumar Mishra S/O Sri Anirudh Kuma Mishra R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt. Bhagalpur. 7. Awadh Bihari Singh S/O Sri Ram Singh R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 8. Mithilesh Kumar Mishra S/O Narayan Mishra R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 9. Ritesh Kumar Bharti S/O Narendra Prasad R/O Vill.:Brahamchari, P.O.Lagma Hat, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 10. Syed Afjal Hussain S/O Syed Sadamat Hussain R/O Vill.:Chandpur, P.O.Ekchari, P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt. Bhagalpur. 11. Rana Pratap S/O Ram Prasad Singh R/O Vill.:Chakraju, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 12. Amresh Kumar S/O Anirudh Prasad R/O Vill.:Bholsar, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 13. Pawan Kumar Kushwaha S/O Harideo Singh R/O Vill.:Chakraju, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 14. Rajesh Prasad Pal S/O Maheshwari Pal R/O Vill.:Pal Nagar, P.O.Shobhnathpur, P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt. Bhagalpur. 2 15. Raj Kumar Yadav S/O Sadanand Yadav R/O Vill.:Banshipur, P.O.Shobhnathpur, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 16. Jantul Kumar Singh S/O Jagdish Singh R/O Vill.:Bholsar, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 17. Lalan Kumar Sah S/O Pramod Prasad Sah R/O Vill.:Ekchari, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 18. Umakant Singh S/O Narsingh Prasad Singh R/O Vill.:Bholsar, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 19. Imtyaj Ahmad S/O Ahmad Ali R/O Vill.:Mogalpura, P.O.Mirjan Hat, Distt.:Bhagalpur. 20. Ashish Kumar S/O Bundeli Singh R/O Vill.:Bholsar, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 21. Pintu Kumar Yadav S/O Sakaldip Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.:Jamunia Tola, P.O. Lalpur Bhader, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. 22. Manoj Kumar Yadav S/O Sakaldip Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.:Ekchari, P.O.Ekchari, P.S.Kahalgaon, Distt.Bhagalpur. ....Appellants Versus 1. Nakul Das S/O Chhathu Harijan @ Chhathu Das R/O Vill.:Bholsar, P.O. & P.S. Kahalgaon, Distt. Bhagalpur. 2. Md. Saiful Islam S/O Late Md. Abdul Hussain R/O Vill.:Chandpur, P.O. & P.S.Rasahalpur, Distt.Bhagalpur. 3. The Union Of India Through Its Secretary Ministry Of Human Resources Deptt., Govt. Of India, New Delhi. 4. The N.T.P.C. Khalgaon through Its General Manager, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur. 5. The General Manager, N.T.P.C. Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur. 6. Shri G.C. Sarkar, Senior Officer, Human Resources Deptt., N.T.P.C., Khalgaon, Bhagalpur. 7. The D.M. cum Inspector of Factories, Bhagalpur. ....Respondents ---------------------------------- with Letters Patent Appeal No.1899 of 2010 IN (CIVIL WRIT JURISDICTION CASE 12471/2010) 1. The N.T.P.C., Kahalgaon through Its General Manager, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 2. The General Manager, N.T.P.C., Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 3. Shri G.C. Sarkar, Senior Officer Human Resource Department, N.T.P.C., Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur ....Appellants Versus 1. Alok Kumar Ranjan S/O Sri Murli Manohar Singh R/O Vill.- Laxmipur, Babhaniyan, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 2. Santosh Kumar Yadav S/O Sri Umesh Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.- Madarganj, P.S.- Amdanda, Distt.- Bhagalpur 3. The Union of India through Its Secretary Ministry of Human Resources Department, Govt. Of India, New Delhi 4. The District Magistrate-Cum-Inspector of Factories, Bhagalpur ......Respondents 3 ---------------------------------- With Letters Patent Appeal No.1966 of 2010 IN (CIVIL WRIT JURISDICTION CASE 3876/2010) 1. Kumar Prakash Deep S/O Gurudeo Prasad Mandal R/O Vill.- Kushapur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 2. Yogesh Pal S/O Arjun Pal R/O Vill.- Pal Nagar, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 3. Rajendra Mandal S/O Narayan Mandal R/O Vill.- Pal Nagar, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 4. Anup Lal Pal S/O Subodh Prasad Pal R/O Vill.- Pal Nagar, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 5. Gautam Prasad Pal S/O Ram Bilas Pal R/O Vill.- Pal Nagar, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 6. Gopal Bhagat S/O Manna Bhagat R/O Vill.- Pal Nagar, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 7. Kapildeo Yadav S/O Muni Lal Yadav R/O Vill.- Bhagalpur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 8. Navin Kumar Pal S/O Saryug Pal R/O Vill.- English Chichroan, P.O.- Akbar Nagar, P.S.- Akbar Nagar, Distt.- Bhagalpur 9. Ashok Kumar Jha S/O Nasib Narayan Jha R/O Vill.- B/307, Pts/Ntp, P.O.- Kahalgaon, STP, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 10. Pawan Kumar S/O Rajendra Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.- Alampur, P.O.- Lalpur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 11. Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari S/O Ram Bilash Tiwari R/O Vill.- Maheshamunda, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 12. Binod Kumar S/O Banarsi Prasad Mandal R/O Vill.- Banshipur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 13. Gautam Kumar Pandit S/O Sahdeo Pandit R/O Vill.- Banshipur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 14. Ranveer Kumar S/O Harihar Prasad Singh R/O Vill.- Banshipur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 15. Sanjay Kumar S/O Bhuneshwar Prasad Singh R/O Vill.- Salempur Saine, P.O.- Nandlapur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 16. Dilip Kumar S/O Shiv Shankar Gupta R/O Vill.- Vikramshila Nagar, P.O. + P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 17. Ranjeet Kumar S/O Muneshwar Prasad Sah R/O Vill.- Salempur Saine, P.O.- Nandlapur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 18. Santosh Kumar Gupta S/O Baleshwar Prasad Sah R/O Vill.- Salempur Saine, P.O.- Nandlapur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 19. Rajendra Prasad Ranjan S/O Laxman Prasad Ranjan R/O Vill.- Harchandi, P.O.- Harchandi, Distt.- Bhagalpur 20. Ajay Kumar Mandal S/O Arjun Prasad Mandal R/O Vill.- Kushapur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 21. Kavindra Kumar Singh S/O Manoranjan Singh R/O Vill.- Shobhnathpur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 22. Mukesh Kumar Singh S/O Hem Shankar Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 23. Rajesh Chandra Singh S/O Durga Prasad Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 4 24. Ramdhani Yadav S/O Hira Yadav R/O Vill.- Kharwa Tola, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 25. Kumar Vikram S/O Kaushal Kishore Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 26. Bibhuti Bhushan Singh S/O Mohan Prasad Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 27. Sant Lal Yadav S/O Ganesh Yadav R/O Vill.- Kharwa Tola, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 28. Shiv Kumar Yadav S/O Gajadhar Yadav R/O Vill.- Bhagalpur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 29. Prem Kumar Singh S/O Uchit Kumar Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 30. Raj Ballav Kumar Singh S/O Pradeep Narayan Singh R/O Vill. + P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 31. Uttam Kumar Yadav S/O Sadanand Yadav R/O Vill.- Banshipur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 32. Arun Kumar Singh S/O Jayram Pd. Singh R/O Vill.- Masdaha, P.O.- Shanker, P.S.- Shanker, Distt.- Bhagalpur 33. Panchu Prasad Singh S/O Prasadi Singh R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 34. Rajesh Paswan S/O Ramdas Paswan R/O Vill.- Ekchari, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 35. Rajiv Kumar Ranjan S/O Awadhesh Prasad Singh R/O Vill.- Ekchari, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 36. Raghunath Singh S/O Sri Mant Lal Singh R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 37. Prakash Singh S/O Tarni Singh R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 38. Niranjan Kumar Singh S/O Ram Charan Singh R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 39. Ratnesh Kumar S/O Jaldhar Prasad Singh R/O Vill.- Kushapur, P.O.- Shobhnathpur, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 40. Bipin Kumar S/O Banke Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.- Jamunia Tola, P.O.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 41. Dilip Paswan S/O Bhuwan Paswan R/O Vill.- Sundarpur, P.O.- Maheshamunda, Distt.- Kahalgaon 42. Kaushal Kishore Verma S/O Brajesh Prasad Verma R/O Vill.- Khutahari, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 43. Ratan Kumar S/O Yogesh Prasad Verma R/O Vill.- Khutahari, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 44. Shankar Kumar Mandal S/O Radha Shyam Mandal R/O Vill.- Ogri, P.O.- Maheshamunda, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 45. Prabhash Kumar Shukla S/O Siyaram Shukla R/O Vill. + P.O.- Maheshamunda, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 46. Prashant Kumar S/O Anandi Prasad Yadav R/O Vill.- Ogri, P.O.- Maheshamunda, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 47. Amrendra Kumar Mishra S/O Ram Lal Mishra R/O Vill.- B/20, Ntpc Pts, P.O.- Kahalgaon, Stp, Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 48. Ram Deo Mandal S/O Chun Chun Mandal R/O Vill.- Sakrama, P.O.- Sakrama, Distt.- Bhagalpur 49. Rajesh Kumar S/O Hardeo Singh R/O Vill.- Chakraju, P.S.- Ekchari, 5 P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 50. Amit Kumar S/O Dayanand Singh R/O Vill.- Chakraju, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 51. Mritunjay Kumar S/O Mahendra Prasad Singh R/O Vill.- Chakraj, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 52. Suraj Kumar Suraj S/O Jagdish Prasad Sah R/O Vill.- Ekchari, P.O.- Ekchari, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 53. Bhupendra Narayan Singh S/O Murlidhar Singh R/O Vill.- Babhania, P.O.- Lakshmipur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 54. Sunil Kumar Choudhary S/O Kapildeo Choudhary R/O Vill.- Shyampur, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 55. Devendra Sah S/O Thakur Sah R/O Vill.- Kalgiganj, P.O.- Kalgiganj, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 56. Ashok Kumar Saha S/O Late Indra Deo Sah R/O Vill.- Shyampur, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 57. Subhash Chandra Pal S/O Vijay Chandra Pal R/O Vill.- Shyampur, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 58. Yogesh Kumar Sah S/O Late Raj Kumar Sah R/O Vill.- Shyampur, P.S.- Lalapur Bhader, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 59. Ranveer Kumar S/O Gajadhar Mandal R/O Vill.- Kalgiganj, P.O.- Kalgiganj, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 60. Sujit Kumar S/O Rajendra Prasad Mandal R/O Vill.- Kalgiganj, P.O.- Kalgiganj, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 61. Raj Kumar S/O Yadunandan Prasad Gupta R/O Vill.- Jagdish Bhawan, P.O.- Kahalgaon, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 62. Sanjay Kumar Mishra S/O Vyas Chandra Mishra R/O Vill.- Shahichak, P.O.- Belbadda, Distt.- Godda 63. Nandan Kumar S/O Ramadhar Mahto R/O Vill.- Belbadda, P.O.- Belbadda, Distt.- Godda 64. Awadhesh Prasad Gupta S/O Lakshman Prasad Gupta R/O Vill.- Ramgarh, P.O.- Ramgarh, Distt.- Dumka 65. Sunil Kumar S/O Ambika Prasad R/O Vill.- Belbadda, P.O.- Belbadda, Distt.- Godda 66. Shayam Kumar Sinha S/O Billo Prasad Mandal R/O Vill.- Ogri, P.O.- Maheshmunda, P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur ......Appellants Versus 1. Nakul Das S/O Chhathu Harijan @ Chhathu Das R/O Vill.- Bholsar, P.O. & P.S.- Kahalgaon, Distt.- Bhagalpur 2. Md. Saiful Islam S/O Late Md. Abul Hussain R/O Vill.- Chandpur, P.O. & P.S.- Rasahalpur, Distt.- Bhagalpur 3. The Union of India through Its Secretary Ministry of Human Resources Department, Govt. Of India, New Delhi 4. The N.T.P.C., Kahalgal through Its General Manager, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 5. The General Manager, N.T.P.C., Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 6. Shri G.C. Sarkar, Senior Officer Human Resource Department, N.T.P.C., Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 7. The District Magistrate cum Instructor of Factory, Bhagalpur .....Respondents ---------------------------------- 6 With Letters Patent Appeal No.133 of 2011 IN (CIVIL WRIT JURISDICTION CASE 3876/2010) 1. Ajay Kumar Yadav son of Chhote Lal Yadav, resident of village – Narayanpur, P.O. Nandlalpur, P.S. Kahalgaon, District Bhagalpur 2. Niranjan Prasad Yadav son of Jaldhar Yadav, resident of village Bhagalpura, P.O. Shobhnathpur, P.S. Kahalgaon, District Bhagalpur 3. Janata Pal son of Shiv Narayan Pal, resident of village Palnagar, P.O. Shobhnathpur, P.S. Kahalgaon, District Bhagalpur 4. Vijay Kumar son of Arjun Mandal, resident of village Kushapur, P.O. Shobhnathpur, P.S. Kahalgaon, District Bhagalpur 5. Vijay Kumar, son of Yogendra Prasad, resident of village and P.O. Ekchari (Masudanpur), District- Bhagalpur ....Appellants Versus 1. Nakul Das s/o Chhathu Harijan @ Chhathu Das, resident of village – Bholsar, PO & PS Kahalgaon District Bhagalpur 2. Md. Saiful Islam s/o Late Md. Abdul Hussain, resident of village Chandpur, PO & PS- Rashalpur, District Bhagalpur 3. The Union of India through its Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources Department, Government of India, New Delhi 4. The N.T.P.C. Kahalgaon through its General Manager, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 5. The General Manager, NTPC, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur 6. Shri G. C. Sarkar, Senior Officer, Human Resources Department, NTPC, Bhagalpur 7. The D.M cum Inspector of Factories, Bhagalpur ...Respondents ---------------------------------- For the Appellants (LPA no. 1860/2010): Kumar Ravish, advocate For the Respondents: Mr. S. M. Shabbir Alam, advocate For the Appellants (LPA no. 1966/2010): Mr. Rajendra Prasad Singh, Sr. advocate with Mr. Ramakant Singh and Mr. Onkar Kumar, advocates For the Appellants (LPA no. 1878/2010): Mr. Chitranjan Sinha, Sr. advocate and Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, advocate For the Respondents: Mr. Ramakant Sharma, Sr. advocate For the Appellants (LPA no. 1899/2010): Mr. Chitranjan Sinha, Sr. advocate and Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, advocate For the Respondents: Mr. Raghib Ahsan, Sr advocate For the Appellants (LPA no. 133/2011): Mr. Yugal Kishore, Sr. advocate and Mr. Arjun Prasad No.1 advocate For the Respondents: Mr. S. M. Shabbir Alam, advocate ------------------------ 4 12-09-2011 Heard the parties. 2. The writ petitioners are belonging to both the groups, some are from the family of land oustees, 7 that is, those whose lands were acquired by the State for National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC for brevity) for establishing Kahalgaon Thermal Power project, and some are outsiders. They are aggrieved by selection and appointment of 101 persons in W/3 grade posts. 3. The writ court has interfered with selection and appointment on two grounds. Firstly, on the ground that the method for calling applications was only through employment exchange which in the opinion of the writ court was not sufficiently fair and should have been through newspaper advertisement also. Secondly, the plea of the writ petitioners that there should not have been 100 % reservation in favour of land oustees has also found favour with the writ court. 4. Learned counsel for the NTPC submitted that pursuant to policy for accommodating land oustees framed in the year 1986, earlier recruitment was made through employment exchange only and hence, the impugned selection process was also through 8 employment exchange. It was further submitted that policy itself permits filling up posts of settlees through employment exchange also. Same stand has been taken on behalf of the appointees whose appointments have been challenged by the writ petitioners. 5. Learned counsels for the NTPC as well as the appointees have also questioned the decision of the writ court on the ground of reservation up to 100 % as not being permissible. It has been submitted that the posts available in the present instance have been earmarked only for land oustees on the recommendation of a Committee of Parliament by way of special drive so that the local people whose lands were acquired may not feel dissatisfied and may not unnecessarily attempt to interrupt the work of the NTPC. It was pointed out that 100% reservation or any reservation beyond 50% is not permitted on account of judgements of the Supreme Court which have clarified that under Article 16 (4) of the Constitution of India inadequacy of representation can be a good ground for providing reservation only up to 50%. In the present 9 case, it was pointed out that the issue of reservation under Article 16 is not involved at all and the only issue to be seen is whether the land oustees constitute a special class for whom special policy can be envisaged and implemented. 6. Learned counsels for the writ petitioners have supported the judgement of the writ court on both the aforesaid issues. 7. Having considered the rival submissions as well as the main issue involved in these cases, we are of the considered view that the writ court has correctly held that in absence of newspaper advertisement, the requirement of notice to all eligible persons will not be fully satisfied. This view has been supported by the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case of Excise Superintendent, Malkapatnam Vs. K. B. N. Vishweshwara Rao (1996) 6 SCC 216. In that judgement the Supreme Court held that restricting the selection only to the candidates sponsored by employment exchange was not proper; in addition to requisitioning the names from employment exchange, 10 names should also be called for by publication in newspapers or, if required, even by announcing on radio and television etc. The special category of land oustees, after a lapse of 25 years, may be scattered even outside the district of Bhagalpur and, hence, in our view, in the facts of the case, requisition only through employment exchange was not sufficient. The direction of the writ court to NTPC to give opportunity to other eligible persons by advertisement in newspapers, in our view, is in accordance with requirements of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. Hence, we uphold that part of the judgement of the writ court. 8. So far as issue of limiting the available 101 vacancies only to 50 % for land oustees is concerned, we find sufficient merit in the submissions advanced on behalf of NTPC and the appointees that the policy decision to give opportunity of employment to eligible land oustees in respect of presently available 101 vacancies does not amount to reservation in terms of Article 16 (4) of the Constitution of India. It is a 11 policy decision in order to compensate for the loss which the land oustees have suffered and, hence, they are clearly a special class for which a special policy decision can be formulated. Such policy decision, in our view, cannot be treated as reservation on the lines of reservation provided to backward classes on account of non representation in a particular service. Hence, in our view, restriction of 50% by treating the policy to be a policy of reservation is not applicable and not justified. Hence, this decision of the writ court on this issue is set aside. As a result the NTPC will be entitled to issue further advertisement in newspapers so as to give opportunity of making applications to eligible land oustees for filling up 101 posts of W/3 grade as per prevailing practice and policy meant for land oustees. This exercise should be done expeditiously, preferably, within four months. Cases of those who were earlier appointed but whose selection and appointments have been declared illegal, shall also be considered afresh in accordance with law along with those who may apply in response to newspaper 12 advertisements. The judgement and order under appeal is modified to aforesaid extent. All the appeals are disposed of accordingly. BKS/- (Shiva Kirti Singh, J.) (Shivaji Pandey, J.)