* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + LPA 21/2009 S.G.T. RAJ KUMAR ..... Appellant Through : Mr. S.K. Tyagi, advocate. versus STATE BANK OF INDIA ..... Respondent Through : Mr. Rajiv Kapur, advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA O R D E R % 20.01.2009 1. The advertisement inviting applications for recruitment from General as well as Reserved Category including Ex-Servicemen had specified eligibility conditions. For posts reserved for Ex-Servicemen, the eligibility condition imposed vide Note 1 reads as under:- “NOTE : 1) Candidates slip serving in Defence and desirous of applying under Ex-Servicemen category should submit a certificate from the competent authority to the effect that they would be released/retired on or before 31.07.2008.” 2. Thus candidates serving in defence and desirous of applying under Ex-Servicemen Category were required to submit a No Objection Certificate from a competent authority that they would be released or retired on or before 31st July, 2008. The appellants herein do not qualify and meet the said requirement. As per No Objection Certificate issued by the competent authority, they were to retire or were to be released from service after 1st April, 2008. 3. It is not for the Courts to examine the eligibility criteria and fix or modify cut off dates. Cut off dates are fixed by the authorities concerned, keeping in mind their need and requirement. The date 31st July, 2008 cannot be regarded as arbitrary. Applications were invited by advertisement published in “Employment News” period 17- 23rd May, 2008. While fixing the cut off date, the respondent-Bank has to keep in mind several facts including dates on which the candidates should join. Whenever any cut off date is fixed, some persons are bound to be adversely affected but this alone does not mean that the cut off date so fixed can be challenged on the ground that it violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India. We, therefore, find no merit in the present Appeal and the same is dismissed. CHIEF JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA, J. JANUARY 20, 2009 P