Thursday, 23, Apr, 2026
 
 
 
Expand O P Jindal Global University
 
  
  
 
 
 

Kapil Prakash Hiwralay And Others vs The State Of Maharashtra And ...
2016 Latest Caselaw 3882 Bom

Citation : 2016 Latest Caselaw 3882 Bom
Judgement Date : 18 July, 2016

Bombay High Court
Kapil Prakash Hiwralay And Others vs The State Of Maharashtra And ... on 18 July, 2016
Bench: S.S. Shinde
                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                             BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                           WRIT PETITION NO. 2908 OF 2016 




                                                                         
    1.      Sangram s/o Ramdas Gholve,




                                                 
            age : 25 years, Occ.: Nil.
            R/o Gangpati Nagar, Behind Saraswati,
            School, Beed Tq. & Dist. Beed




                                                
    2.      Neeraj S/o Arjun Gangurde,
            age : 24 years, Occ.: Nil.
            R/o 50, Indraneel Ram Nagar,
            Dahivel Tq. Sakri Dist.Dhule




                                        
    3.      Ajinkya s/o Shyam Wankhade,
            age : 26 years, Occ.: Nil.
                                  
            R/o Flat No. 103, Kamal Plaza, 
            Farande, Nagar Nanded,
            Tq. and Dist. Nanded
                                 
    4.      Mahesh S/o Gunwant Morale,
            Age Major years, Occ.: Nil,
            R/o Wadjai, Tq. Washi 
      

            Dist. Osmanabad                                 .. PETITIONERS
   



            VERSUS

    1.      The State of Maharashtra
            Through its Secretary,





            Water Resources Department,
            Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32

    2.      The President,
            State Level Direct Recruitment





            Selection Committee, Nagpur and
            Executive Director (VPVM) Nagpur                .. RESPONDENTS

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 2776 OF 2016

    1.      Mahesh s/o Kalyan Khose,
            age 29 years, Occ. Student,
            R/o. Girvali, Post Pimparkhed, 




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016            ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                         2             wp2908-2016-group

           Tal.Jamkhed, Dist. Ahmednagar

    2.     Angad s/o Vinayak Morale,
           age : 27 years, 




                                                                    
           Occu.: Student,
           R/o. Jamkhed Road, 




                                            
           Ahmednagar,
           Dist. Ahmednagar


    3.     Ashutosh s/o Adinath Pachpute,




                                           
           age : 26 years, 
           Occu.: Student,
           R/o. Kashti, 
           Tal. Shrigonda, 




                                       
           Dist. Ahmednagar


    4.
                                  
           Rajendra s/o Subhash Khamkar,
           age 26 years, 
                                 
           Occ.: Student,
           R/o Ghargaon, 
           Tal. Shrigonda,
           Dist. Ahmednagar
      
   



    5.     Prashant s/o Madhukar Jagtap,
           age : 25 years, 
           Occu.: Student,
           R/o Shrigonda Factory,





           Tal. Shrigonda, 
           Dist. Ahmednagar


    6.     Ajinkya s/o Machindra Bansode,





           Age : 24 years, 
           Occu.: Student,
           R/o. Bhawaninagar,
           Tal. Indapur, 
           Dist. Pune


    7.     Dnyandeo s/o Pandurang Raykar,
           Age : 27 years, 
           Occu: Student,




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                         3             wp2908-2016-group

           R/o. Hangewadi, 
           Tal. Shrigonda,
           Dist. Ahmednagar




                                                                    
    8.     Mahendra s/o Macchindra Pachpute,




                                            
           age : 25 years, 
           Occu.: Student,
           R/o. Shrigonda Factory, 
           Tal. Shrigonda, 
           Dist. Ahmednagar,




                                           
    9.     Vishal s/o Dnyandeo Raskar,
           age : 25 years, 




                                       
           Occ.: Student,
           R/o Shrigonda Factory, 
           Tal. Shrigonda, 
           Dist. Ahmednagar
                                 
    10. Mahesh s/o Kakasaheb Yadav,
        age : 25 years, 
        Occu.: Student,
      

        R/o Shrigonda Factory,
        Tal. Shrigonda, 
   



        Dist. Ahmednagar


    11. Azhaurddin s/o Nabisab Hamnabad,





        age : 28 years, 
        Occu.: Lecturer,
        R/o. Daund, 
        Tal. Daund, Dist. Pune





    12. Pranav s/o Vasantrao Saste,
        Age : 23 years, 
        Occu.: Student,
        R/o Kashti, 
        Tal. Shrigonda,
        Dist. Ahmednagar




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                         4             wp2908-2016-group

    13. Hrishikesh s/o Dipak Yadav,
        age : 26 years, 
        Occu. Student,
        R/o Kolhapur, 




                                                                    
        Tal. Dist. Kolhapur




                                            
    14. Sonal s/o Sukhdev Besekar,
        age : 27 years, 
        Occu.: Student,
        R/o Tilaknagar,




                                           
        Bramhapuri, 
        Dist. Chandrapur




                                       
    15. Rajaram s/o Bhiva Shinde,
        age : 28 years,           
        Occu.: Student,
        R/o. Ranjali, 
        Tal. Man, 
                                 
        Dist. Satara                                  .. PETITIONERS


           VERSUS
      
   



    1.     The State of Maharashtra
           Through 
           Chief Secretary,
           Government of Maharashtra





           Mantralaya, 
           Mumbai - 32


    2.     The Secretary,





           Department of Water Resources, 
           Mantralaya,
           Mumbai - 32


    3.     The President,
           State level Direct Recruitment 
           Selection Committee, 
           Nagpur                                     ..RESPONDENTS




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                           5                 wp2908-2016-group

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 2781 OF 2016

    1.     Deepak Vasantrao Galande,




                                                                          
           Age : 27 years, 
           Occ. Unemployed,




                                                  
           r/o MIDC, 
           Latur, Tq. Latur 
           District Latur

    2.     Shivanand Nagnath Salunke,




                                                 
           Age : 28 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
           r/o In front M.S. Bidve 
           Engineering College,
           Pakhar Sangvi Barshi Road Latur,




                                         
           Tq. Latur, District Latur

    3.
                                  
           Abhijit Arvindrao Bhosale
           Age : 28 years, Occu.: Unemployed, 
           R/o Sayhyadri Building Narayanagar,
                                 
           Latur

    4.     Vaibhav Jivanrao Patil,
           Age : 25 years, Occ.: Unemployed,
      

           R/o At Walswangi Post Shirol, 
           Tq. Nilanga District Latur
   



    5.     Dattaji Balaji Patil,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
           r/o Shirsal Lamjana Tq. Latur,
           Dist. Latur





    6.     Kiran Salojirao Baraskar,
           Age : 23 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
           r/o Behind Tulshidas Mandir Bhoi Galli,
           Latur, Tq. and Dist. Latur





    7.     Niranjan Navnath Mhuske,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
           R/o. At Post Kava, Tal. Ausa,
           Dist. Latur

    8.     Shreyash Vinayak Bagal,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
           R/o.: Main road, Shivaji Chowk, 
           Murud Bk. District Latur




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                           6                 wp2908-2016-group


    9.     Ganesh s/o Kiran Dixit
           Age : 26 years Occu.: Unemployed,
           R/o.: Shubhshri Nathnagar, Ausa,




                                                                          
           Tal. Ausa District Latur,




                                                  
    10. Manohar Gabaru Pawar,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
        r/o At post Odhare Tq. Chalisgaon, 
        Dist. Jalgaon




                                                 
    11. Abhiman Annasaheb Sanap,
        Age : 22 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
        r/o At post Tagadgaon, Tq. Shirur,
        Dist. Beed,




                                         
    12. Sudhir Dinkarrao Shinde,  
        Age :29 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
        R/o C/o. Sandeep Dattaray Kankhar,
        Jaibhavaninagar, Aurangabad
                                 
        Tq. Dist. Aurangabad

    13. Amol Anna Bhople,
        Age 24 years, Occu.: Unemployed,
      

        r/o. Ramkrupa Colony, Mahada, 
        In front of Pratapnagar Dargah Road,
   



        Aurangabad.
        Tq. District Aurangabad              .. PETITIONERS

           VERSUS





    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary, 
           Water Conservation & Irrigation
           Department, Mantralaya, 





           Mumbai-32

    2.     The State-Level Direct 
           Employment Selection Committee/
           jkT;Lrjh; ljGlsok fuoM lferh] ukxiwj,
           Nagpur (MS), 
           through it's President                           .. RESPONDENTS

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 2772 of 2016




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                         7             wp2908-2016-group


    1.     Jayant s/o Bhaskar Patil,
           Age : 27 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o. A-1, Aryan Residency,




                                                                    
           Shambhhoo Nagar, Aurangabad




                                            
    2.     Sumeet s/o Sanjay Ragade,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Education,
           R/o Vinay Colony, Plot No. 87,
           CIDCO, N-2, Aurangabad.




                                           
    3.     Sachini s/o Ashok Pendharkar,
           Age : 24 years, Occu.: Education,
           R/o. Plot No. 25, New Shantiniketan
           Colony, Aurangabad




                                       
    4.     Rohitkumar s/o Bhausaheb Ghuge,
                                  
           Age : 24 years, Occu.: Education,
           R/o. Shastri Nagar, Aurangabad
                                 
    5.     Bhgyashri D/o Bhimrao Kawale,
           Age : 24 years, Occ.: Education,
           R/o Jyotiba Nagar, Taroda (Bk.),
           Near Raj Corner, Nanded,
      

           Tal. and Dist. Nanded
   



    6.     Nitin s/o Sakharam Lahane,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o Ayodhya Nagar, CIDCO,
           N-7, Aurangabad





    7.     Tanmay s/o Shashikant Kulkarni,
           Age 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o D-75, Vinay Colony, N-2,
           CIDCO, Aurangabad





    8.     Kiran s/o Bhagawat Dhokle,
           Age : 26 years, Occu. Nil,
           R/o. Osmanapura,
           Aurangabad

    9.     Shirishkumar s/o Chintamanrao Jadhav,
           Age 29 years, Occ.: Service,
           r/o House No. 300, MHADA Colony,
           N-2, CIDCO, Aurangabad




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                       8             wp2908-2016-group


    10. Sachin s/o Bansidhar Sangle,
        Age 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Patoda, Tal. Patoda,




                                                                  
        Dist. Beed




                                          
    11. Amit s/o Sanjiv Mahajan,
        Age : 24 years, Occu. Nil,
        R/o Swami Narayan Nagar,
        Savada, Tal. Raver, Dist. Jalgaon




                                         
    12. Sumit s/o Shivaji Surushe, 
        Age : 25 years, Occu.: Service,
        R/o CIDCO, N-4, Aurangabad




                                     
    13. Parag s/o Bhanudas Mahajan,
        Age : 27 years, Occu.: Nil,
                                
        R/o Ganesh Nagar, Nhavi,
        Tal. Yawal, District Jalgaon
                               
    14. Ravikiran s/o Sahebrao Surwase,
        Age : 25 years, Occu. Nil,
        R/o Girwalkar Nagar, Barshi Road,
        Latur, Tal. and Dist. Latur
      


    15. Rupesh s/o Damu Fegade,
   



        Age : 25 years, Occu.: Nil,
        r/o. Baherpura, Nhavi,
        Tal. Yawal, Dist. Jalgaon





    16. Girish s/o Vitthalrao Khedkar,
        Age : 25 years, Occu.: Private Service,
        R/o Nirmal Nagar, Satkar Colony,
        Savedi, Ahmednagar,
        Tal. And District Ahmednagar





    17. Vikram s/o Ramkisan Khajekar,
        Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
        R/o Beed Bye pass, Near Renuka
        Mata Temple, Gut No. 105,
        Plot No. 71, Janjira Housing Society,
        Satara Parisar, Aurangabad

    18. Anand s/o Shahurao Ghorpade,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,




       ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:50 :::
                                       9             wp2908-2016-group

         R/o Shriram Nagar, Shivneri Colony,
         Beed, Tal. and Dist. Beed

    19. Prashik Siddharth Shende,




                                                                  
        Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,
        r/o. Khushbu Housing Society, 




                                          
        Plot No. 11, Near Guru Ganesh Nagar,
        Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad

    20. Nitin s/o Govardhan Kolekar,
        Age : 23 years, Occ.: Nil,




                                         
        R/o C-7, 28, Sneha Nagar,
        Station Road, Osmanpura,
        Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabaad




                                     
    21. Vikram s/o Magan Chaudhary,
        Age : 23 years, Occo.Nil,ig
        R/o. T-12, Prayap Nagar,
        Near Little Wood Nursary School,
        Osmanpura, Aurangabad
                               
    22. Swati d/o Sahebrao Pagare,
        Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
        R/o Eknath Nagar, Osmanpura,
      

        Aurangabad Dist. Aurangabad
   



    23. Rohini D/o Ravindra Dahifale,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        r/o. Koradgaon, Tal. Pathardi,
        District Ahmednagar





    24. Pushpa d/o Amarsingh Bamm,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.:Nil,
        r/o.:Plot No. 157, 
        Shrikrishna Nagar,





        Ramtara Road, Shahanoorwadi,
        Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad

    25. Radha d/o Nandkumar Tibhe,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        r/o N-9, L-62/3, Shivaji Nagar,
        HUDCO, Aurangabad

    26. Sachin s/o Sahebrao Gadhe,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,




       ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016       ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                           10                wp2908-2016-group

           r/o.: Balegaon, Tal. Umari, 
           Dist. Nanded

    27. Datta s/o Venkatrao Chorband,




                                                                          
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Osmannagar, Tal.Kandhar,




                                                  
        Dist. Nanded

    28. Vinayak s/o Babanrao Jatale,
        Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
        r/o Plot No. 15, Town Centre,




                                                 
        CIDCO, Near CIDCO Bus stop,
        Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad

    29. Lakhanpal s/o Shridhar Kendre,




                                         
        Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
        r/o Plot No. 118, Laxmi Nagar,
                                  
        Garkheda, Aurangabad

    30. Deepak s/o Rajendra Darade,
                                 
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Pagori Pimpalgaon, 
        Tal. Pathardei,
        District Ahmednagar
      


    31. Rucha d/o Shrikrishna Tandale,
   



        Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
        R/o. Aurangabad, 
        Dist. Aurangabad.                          .. PETITIONERS





           VERSUS

    1.     The State of Maharashtra
           Through its Secretary, 
           Water Resources Department,





           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32

    2.     The President,
           State Level Direct Recruitment
           Selection Committee, Nagpur and 
           Executive Director (VPVM)
           Nagpur                          ..RESPONDENTS

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 2894 OF 2016




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                         11             wp2908-2016-group


    1.     Nikhil s/o Bharat Garudkar,
           Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o Mahakali Galli, Tal. Mukhed,




                                                                     
           District Nanded




                                             
    2.     Pratik s/o Kevalkumar Sangolkar,
           Age : 22 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o. Near ITI College, Shivaji Road,
           Rampuri, Tal. and Dist. Chandrapur,
           At present Near Government College,




                                            
           Opp. Badi Masjid, Osmanpura,
           Aurangabad

    3.     Deepa d/o Shivnath Rahane,




                                       
           Age : 23 years, Occu. Nil,
           R/o. Flat No. E-9, Chinar Garden,
                                  
           Padegaon, Aurangabad

    4.     Kailas s/o Bhimrao Dhait,
                                 
           Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o. Changle Nagar, Ambad,
           Tal. Ambad, Dist.Jalna
      

    5.     Vishnu s/o Tukaram Taur,
           Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
   



           R/o. Mauli Niwas, Tilak Mohalla,
           Nutan Vasahat, Ambad,
           Tal. Ambad, Dist. Jalna.





    6.     Abhilash s/o Shantappa Patil,
           Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o. Chandraratna Niwas,
           Beside Samartha Vidyalaya,
           Pachod Road, Ambad,





           Tal. Ambad, District Jalna.

    7.     Raju s/o Harichandra Rathod,
           Age : 23 years,Occu.: Nil,
           R/o. Khanphodi, Tal. Mantha,
           District Jalna

    8.     Nitesh s/o Tukaram Jawadwad,
           Ae : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
           R/o.: N-11, Subhashchandra Bose Nagar,




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                         12             wp2908-2016-group

           Aurangabad

    9.     Pratik s/o Vijaykumar Mane,
           Age : 25 years, Occu.: Nil,




                                                                     
           N-12, D-46/13, Swami Vivekanand 
           Nagar, T.V. Centre, Aurangabad




                                             
    10. Akash s/o Vikas Sangale,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Dusarbid, Tal. Sindkhedraja,
        District Buldhana, at present




                                            
        C/o Parvez Shaikh, Sonu Tower,
        Nutan Colony, Aurangabad

    11. Vikrant s/o Vitthalsing Bahure,




                                       
        Age : 24 years, Occu.: Education,
        R/o Town Centre, CIDCO,   
        Aurangabad

    12. Ajit s/o Balasaheb Kupekar,
                                 
        Age : 25 years, Occu.: Service,
        R/o. Surdi-Sonesangavi,
        Tal. Kaij, District Beed
      

    13. Aboli d/o Anand Deshpande,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
   



        R/o. Flat No.2, Suman Residency, 
        Ulkanagari, Aurangabad

    14. Amit s/o Vitthalrao Umrajkar,





        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. N-4, CIDCO, NS-3,
        Plot No.2, Aurangabad

    15. Sandeep s/o Chokha Bansode,





        Age : 34 years, Occu.: Pvt.Service,
        R/o. Bhim Nagar, Panchakki,
        Aurangabad

    16. Sarovarprabhat Raghunath DandAge,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Plot No.58, Ulkanagari,
        Garkheda Parisar, Aurangabad

    17. Akash s/o Balaji Yenge,




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                       13             wp2908-2016-group

         Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
         R/o.  Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad

    18. Dattatraya s/o Pandurang Khade,




                                                                   
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Khadewadi, Tal. and Dist. Beed.




                                           
    19. Nishant s/o Prabhakar Pagare,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o G-22, Tirupati Supreme Enclave,
        Near Raiwlay Station, Aurangabad




                                          
    20. Vaishali d/o Sambhaji Bhuktar,
        Age : 30 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Plot No. 25, Sangita Colony 




                                     
        Bhavsing Road, Aurangabad

    21. Ragini d/o Narayan Anjan,
                                
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Shrinagar Colony, Near Gathal Press,
                               
        Ambajogai,
        Tal. Ambajobai, Dist. Beed

    22. Pratapsinh s/o Anil Patil,
      

        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Swapnashil, Sinchan Nagar,
   



        Karmala, Tal. Karmala,
        District Solapur, at present
        A-1, Aryan Residency, Subhash Nagar,
        Aurangabad





    23. Shashikant s/o Umakant Gudale,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Plot No. 65-4, Shamumarga, 
        Udgir, Tal. Udgir, Dist. Latur





    24. Yogesh s/o Dnyandeo Sakhare,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o. Prashant Nagar, Ambajogai, 
        Tal. Ambajogai, Dist. Beed

    25. Vishwajeet s/o Dattatraya Gulbhile,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Prashant Nagar, Ambajogai, 
        Tal. Ambajogai, Dist. Beed




       ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                       14             wp2908-2016-group


    26. Ranjitkumar s/o Shrihari Bhutekar,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Sai Nagar, Osmanabad,




                                                                   
        Tal. and District Osmanabad.




                                           
    27. Kiran s/o Suresh Kesapure,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Service,
        R/o Opp. Nita Printing Press,
        Naik Galli, Nehru Road,
        Kadrabad Jalna, Dist.Jalna




                                          
    28. Kishor s/o Bhagwat Sawant,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Ukali, Tal.Mehkar,




                                     
        District Buldhana, at present
        E-52, Gadres House, N-4,
        CIDCO, Aurangabad

    29. Bhushan s/o Dhananjay Nilekar,
                               
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil,
        R/o Sarafa Line, Ward No.1,
        Durga Chowk, Malegaon,
        District Washim, at present 
      

        Vinay Colony, D-87, CIDCO,
        N-2, Aurangabad, Dist.Aurangabad
   



    30. Anand s/o Shrikantrao Sawant,
        Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,
        R/o Behind Vijay Kirana Store,





        Main Road, Samata Nagar,
        Osmanabad, Dist. Osmanabad

    31. Vicky s/o Vasant Ahire,
        Age : 23 years, Occu.: Nil





        R/o Gorane, Tal. Sindkheda,
        Dist. Dhule.

    32. Pushpak s/o Anil Sarode,
        Age : 24 years, Occu.: Education,
        R/o Shivaji Nagar, Raizpur,
        Tal. Yawal, District Jalgaon

    33. Pankaj s/o Sopan Pawar,
        Age : 25 years, Occu.: Service,




       ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                         15             wp2908-2016-group

           R/o Near Gajanan Mandir,
           Aurangabad                         ..PETITIONERS

           VERSUS




                                                                     
    1.     The State of Maharashtra,




                                             
           Through its Secretary,
           Water Resources Department,
           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32

    2.     The President,




                                            
           State Level Direct Recruitment
           Selection Committee, Nagpur and
           Executive Director (VPVM)
           Nagpur                          ..RESPONDENTS




                                       
                                  AND
                    WRIT PETITION NO. 2907 OF 2016
                                  
    1.     Kapil S/o Prakash Hiwaralay,
           Age : 24 years, Occ. Nil,
                                 
           R/o Plot No. 3, Pethenagar,
           Bhausingpura Area, Aurangabad,
           Tal. and District Aurangabad
      

    2.     Abhijeet S/o Dattatray Kale,
           Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,
   



           R/o Plot No. 25, Vishal Nagar,
           Garkheda Parisar, Aurangabad,
           Tal. and District Aurangabad6





    3.     Balaji S/o Sanjay Yelikar,
           Age : 24 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o Plot No. 96, N-4, CIDCO,
           Parijat Nagar, Aurangabad





    4.     Parmeshwar S/o Satish Pawar,
           Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o Bandhuprem Housing Society,
           Saigain Naka, Ambajogai,
           Tal. Ambajogai, Dist. Beed

    5.     Pradip S/o Dnyanoba Bedarkar,
           Age : 24 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o B-95/2, T.V. Centre, HUDCO,
           Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad    .. PETITIONERS




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                           16                wp2908-2016-group

           VERSUS

    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary,




                                                                          
           Water Resources Department,
           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32




                                                  
    2.     The President,
           State Level Direct Recruitment
           Selection Committee, Nagpur and
           Executive Director (VPVM)




                                                 
           Nagpur                          ..RESPONDENTS

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 2911 OF 2016




                                         
    Sachin S/o Deorao Georaikar,
    Age : 36 years, Occ. Nil,
                                  
    R/o Plot No. 28, Samta Nagar,
                                 
    Near Kranti Chowk, Police Station,
    Aurangabad, 
    Tal. and Dist. Aurangabad                      .. PETITIONER
      

           VERSUS
   



    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary,
           Water Resources Department,
           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32





    2.     The President,
           State Level Direct Recruitment
           Selection Committee, Nagpur and
           Executive Director (VPVM)





           Nagpur                          ..RESPONDENTS

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 5473 OF 2016

    1.     Nitin S/o Sakharam Lahane,
           Age : 25 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o Ayodhya Nagar, CIDCO,
           N-7, Aurangabad




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                         17             wp2908-2016-group

    2.     Sachin S/o Ashok Pendharkar,
           Age : 24 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o Plot No. 25, 
           New Shantiniketan Colony, 




                                                                     
           Aurangabad




                                             
    3.     Rohitkumar S/o Bhausaheb Ghuge,
           Age : 23 years, Occ. Education,
           R/o Shastri Nagar, Aurangabad

    4.     Sumeet S/o Sanjay Ragde,




                                            
           Age : 25 years, Occ. Education,
           R/o Vinay Colony, Plot No.87,
           CIDCO, N-2, Aurangabad




                                       
    5.     Jayant S/o Bhaskar Patil,
           Age : 27 years, Occ. Nil,
                                  
           R/o A-1, Aryan Residency,
           Shambhoo Nagar, Aurangabad
                                 
    6.     Shirishkumar S/o Chintamanrao Jadhav,
           Age : 29 years, Occ. Service,
           R/o  House No.300, MHADA Colony,
           N-2, CIDCO, Aurangabad           ..Petitioners
      


           VERSUS
   



    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary,
           Public Works Department,





           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32

    2.     The Chief Engineer, 
           (P.W.D.) Regional Division, 
           Mumbai





    3.     The Superintending Engineer (PWD),
           Circle, Mumbai

    4.     The Executive Engineer,
           Ekatmikrut Ghatak (P.W.) Division,
           2nd Floor, Bandhkam Bhavan,
           25, Marzaban Road, Fort,
           Mumbai - 400 001                ..Respondents




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                           18                wp2908-2016-group

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 5550 OF 2016

    1.     Vishnu S/o Tukaram Taur,




                                                                          
           Age : 24 years, Occ.Nil,
           R/o Nutan Vasahat, Ambad,




                                                  
           Tal. Ambad, Dist. Jalna

    2.     Datta S/o Venkatrao Ghorband,
           Age : 25 years, Occ. Nil,
           R/o Osman Nagar, Tal. Kandhar,




                                                 
           District Nanded

    3.     Sachin S/o Sahebrao Gade,
           Age : 26 years, Occ.: Nil,




                                         
           R/o Balegaon, Tal. Umari,
           District Nanded        
    4.     Kailas S/o Bhimrao Dait,
           Age : 24 years, Occ. Nil,
                                 
           R/o Changli Nagar, Tal. Ambad
           District Jalna.

    5.     Vidyasagar S/o Shriram Kathar,
      

           Age : 25 years, Occ.Nil,
           R/o Plot No. 114, F-Sector,
   



           N-4, CIDCO, Aurangabad

    6.     Nikhil S/o Bharat Garudkar,
           Age 23 years, Occ. Nil,





           R/o Mahakali Galli, Tal. Mukhed,
           District Nanded

    7.     Vishal S/o Dattatraya Kadam,
           Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,





           R/o Kanheri, Tal. Washi,
           District Osmanabad

    8.     Datta S/o Pandurang Khade,
           Age : 25 years, Occ.Nil,
           R/o Khadewadi, Tal. Kaij,
           District Beed

    9.     Vinayak S/o Babanrao Jatale,
           Age : 30 years, Occ. Nil,




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                           19                wp2908-2016-group

           R/o Plot No. 15, Town Centre,
           CIDCO, Aurangabad

    10. Siddeshwar S/o Vaijnath Patil,




                                                                          
        Age : 27 years, Occ. Nil,
        R/o Plot No. 18, Kala Hanuman Mandir,




                                                  
        Sambhaji Chowk, CIDCO,
        Aurangabad, Dist. Aurangabad

    11. Snehal D/o Bhujang Bagal,
        Age : 23 years, Occ. Nil,




                                                 
        R/o Katri, Tal. Tuljapur,
        District Osmanabad

    12. Dipak S/o Rajendra Darade,




                                         
        Age 24 years, Occ. Nil,
        R/o Pagori Pimpalgaon,    
        Tal. Pathardi, 
        Dist. Ahmednagar           ..Petitioners
                                 
           VERSUS

    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary,
      

           Public Works Department,
           Mantralaya, Mumbai - 32
   



    2.     The Chief Engineer, 
           (P.W.D.) Regional Division, 
           Mumbai





    3.     The Superintending Engineer (PWD),
           Circle, Mumbai

    4.     The Executive Engineer,





           Ekatmikrut Ghatak (P.W.) Division,
           2nd Floor, Bandhkam Bhavan,
           25, Marzaban Road, Fort,
           Mumbai - 400 001                ..Respondents

                                          AND
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 5589 OF 2016

    Sachin S/o Sandipan Sanap,
    Age : 25 years, Occ. Service,




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016             ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                         20             wp2908-2016-group

    R/o Tagadgaon, Tal. Shirpur (Kasar),
    District Beed                        ..Petitioner




                                                                     
           VERSUS




                                             
    1.     The State of Maharashtra,
           Through its Secretary,
           Public Works Department,
           Mantralaya,




                                            
           Mumbai - 32

    2.     The Chief Engineer, 
           (P.W.D.) Regional Division, 




                                       
           Mumbai

    3.
                                  
           The Superintending Engineer (PWD),
           Circle, Mumbai
                                 
    4.     The Executive Engineer,
           Ekatmikrut Ghatak (P.W.) Division,
           2nd Floor, Bandhkam Bhavan,
           25, Marzaban Road, Fort,
      

           Mumbai - 400 001                ..Respondents
   



                                ----
    Mr. S.S. Thombre, Advocate for the petitioner/s in 
    W.P.Nos.   2908/2016,   2772/2016,   2894/2016,   2907/2016,
    2911/2016, 5473/2016, 5550/2016 and 5589/2016 





    Mr. Shaikh Mazhar A. Jahagirdar, Advocate for the 
    petitioner/s in W.P.No. 2776/2016 

    Mr. Madhav C. Ghode, Advocate for the petitioner/s in 





    W.P.No. 2781/2016

    Mr. S.Y. Deopujare, Advocate for respondent No. 2 in 
    W.P. No. 2908/2016

    Mr. A.B. Girase, Government Pleader with Mr. S.K. Kadam 
    and Mr. A.G. Magare, AGPs, for the respondents/State in 
    all the writ petitions
                              ----




         ::: Uploaded on - 19/07/2016        ::: Downloaded on - 19/07/2016 23:58:51 :::
                                             21                 wp2908-2016-group

                                        CORAM :   S.S. SHINDE AND
                                                  SANGITRAO S. PATIL, JJ.

                    JUDGMENT RESERVED ON  :    30TH JUNE, 2016




                                                                             
                    JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON :   18TH JULY, 2016




                                                     
    JUDGMENT (PER : SANGITRAO S. PATIL, J.) :

Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With the

consent of the learned counsel for the parties, heard

finally.

2.

Since common questions of law and facts are

involved in these writ petitions, they are being decided

by this common judgment.

3. The petitioners who are possessing degrees in

Civil Engineering, have been excluded from the

eligibility for the posts of Junior Engineers (Civil)

(Group-B - Non-Gazetted), since the candidates

possessing Diploma in Civil Engineering for a duration

of three years only have been held eligible for the said

posts. The petitioners have challenged Rule 3 (b) (ii)

of "The Junior Engineer (Civil) (Group-B - Non-Gazetted)

in the Public Works Department and the Irrigation

Department (Recruitment) Rules, 1998", dated 1st January,

22 wp2908-2016-group

1998 (for shot, "the impugned Rule") prescribing the

requisite qualification for the said post as three years

Diploma in Civil Engineering, recognised by the

Government or any other qualification, recognised as

equivalent thereto. They have further challenged the

advertisement dated 15th February, 2016, published by

respondent No. 2 i.e. the President, State Level Direct

Recruitment Selection Committee, Nagpur and Executive

Director (VPVM), Nagpur, calling for the applications

from the eligible candidates possessing the above

mentioned Diploma for filling up 1256 posts of Junior

Engineer (Civil) (Group-B - Non-Gazetted). Some of the

petitioners had filed Original Applications before the

Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal ("MAT", for short)

and sought interim stay to the selection process. The

MAT refused interim stay vide order dated 1st March,

2016. Therefore, the said petitioners, being aggrieved

by the order dated 1st March, 2016, have sought to quash

and set aside that order. The petitioners further

claimed that their applications for the above-said posts

may be directed to be accepted and they may be allowed

to participate in the selection process.

23 wp2908-2016-group

4. Based on the averments made in the applications

and certain advertisements issued by some other

departments/institutions for the posts of Junior

Engineers (Civil), the learned counsel for the

respective petitioners submit that the petitioners are

possessing higher qualification i.e. Bachelor of

Engineering (Civil) than the qualification prescribed

for the above mentioned posts i.e. three years Diploma

in Civil Engineering. According to them, higher

qualification cannot be held to be a disqualification

for the above-said posts. It is stated that the other

departments which have filled up the similar posts have

allowed the degree holders in Engineering (Civil) to

participate in the selection process for the said posts.

The impugned Rule 3 (b) (ii) and the advertisement dated

15th February, 2016, excluding the petitioners-degree

holders in Engineering from being considered for the

posts of Junior Engineers (Civil) (Group-B) (Non-

gazetted), because they are possessing higher

qualification, is arbitrary, unreasonable and

unconstitutional. According to them, the orders passed

by the MAT in Original Application St. Nos. 310, 323,

329 and 331 of 2016 on 1st March, 2016, refusing to grant

24 wp2908-2016-group

the interim relief to stay the selection process for the

above mentioned posts, is not legal, proper and correct.

5. The respondents filed the replies through the

Executive Director, Vidarbha Irrigation Development

Corporation, Nagpur and opposed the petitions. On the

strength of the averments made in these replies, various

Government Resolutions and various Rules, the learned

counsel for the respondents, submits that as per the

Government Resolution dated 16th April, 1984, issued by

the Irrigation Department, Government of Maharashtra,

the Government decided to confer the status of Gazetted

officers on the Junior Engineers working in Irrigation

as well as Public Works Departments. Accordingly, it

was decided that the Junior Engineers holding the

Diploma in Engineering having duration of three years

and having served for five years, the Junior Engineers

possessing Diploma having duration of two years and

having served for seven years and Junior Engineers who

were not possessing even the Diploma in Engineering but

having served for ten years, would be conferred the

status of Gazetted officers. However, the Junior

Engineers possessing Degree in Engineering (B.E.) were

25 wp2908-2016-group

given the said status of Gazetted Officers from day one.

The Junior Engineers possessing degree in Engineering

and the Junior Engineers possessing Diploma or not even

the Diploma but having served for five years, seven

years and ten yeas, respectively, as stated above, were

called "Gazetted Officers - Class-II (Lower Grade)". It

was further decided to divide the cadre of Junior

Engineers into two groups. Accordingly, the Junior

Engineers holding degree were designated as "Assistant

Engineer - Grade-II", while the Junior Engineers who

were holding Diploma or having no Diploma but having

served for the abovementioned period, were designated as

"Sectional Engineers". It was decided that there should

be 25% of the posts of Assistant Engineers - Grade-II

out of the total strength of Junior Engineers. It was

further decided that in future, the candidates holding

degree in Engineering would be appointed by nomination

through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission to the

post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) Grade-II as per the

Maharashtra Service of Engineers - Group-B (Recruitment)

Rules, 1997, dated 16th June, 1997 (for short,

"Recruitment Rule of Degree Holders") made by the

Governor of Maharashtra in exercise of the powers

26 wp2908-2016-group

conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the

Constitution of India. The said Rules, excepting Rule

8, were made applicable with retrospective effect from

1st April, 1981. Likewise on the same day, the

"Sectional Engineer (Civil) - Group-B in the

Maharashtra Service of Engineers (Recruitment) Rules,

1997 (for short, "Recruitment Rules of Diploma Holders")

came to be framed by the Governor of Maharashtra in

exercise of the powers under the proviso to Article 309

of the Constitution, for being applied with

retrospective effect from 1st April, 1981. As per the

Recruitment Rules of Diploma Holders, the appointment to

the said posts were to be made by promotion on the basis

of seniority, subject to fitness, from amongst the

persons holding the posts of Junior Engineers who have

put in not less than five years regular service as such

- if they possess a three year Diploma, seven years

regular service - if they possess the requisite

certificate, and ten years regular service - who are not

possessing either Diploma or requisite certificate.

6. The learned counsel for the respondents further

submits that for filling up the remaining 75% of posts

27 wp2908-2016-group

of Junior Engineers, which were designated as "Junior

Engineer (Civil) Group `B' - Non-gazetted", in order to

extend the Diploma holders an opportunity to get

Government service, "The Junior Engineer (Civil) Group

`B' Non-gazetted in the Public Works Department and the

Irrigation Department (Recruitment) Rules, 1998 (i.e.

"the impugned Rules") dated 1st January, 1998 came to be

framed by the Governor of Maharashtra in exercise of the

powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the

Constitution of India in supersession of all existing

Rules, orders or instruments made in this behalf.

7. The learned counsel for the respondents

submits that as per the Circular dated 16th December,

1998, it was clarified that 25% of the posts out of the

total strength of Junior Engineers would be filled up as

"Assistant Engineer Grade-II Gazetted" by nomination

through Maharashtra Public Service Commission and out of

the remaining 75% posts, 90% of the posts would be

filled up by nomination from amongst the Diploma holders

through the Regional Staff Selection Board, while 10%

out of the said 75% posts would be filled up by

promotion. To cut short, it is the contention of the

28 wp2908-2016-group

learned counsel for the respondents that 25% posts out

of the total strength of Junior Engineers have been

reserved for the candidates holding degrees, while out

of the remaining 75% of the total strength of the Junior

Engineers, 90% pots have been reserved for being filled

up by nomination from amongst the candidates holding

Diploma and the remaining 10% have been earmarked for

the in-service employees to be appointed by promotion.

8.

The learned counsel for the respondents submits

that all the sanctioned posts of Deputy Engineers are

to be filled up through different modes in the ratio

34:66%. The said 34% of the posts of Deputy Engineers

are to be filled up by direct recruitment through the

Maharashtra Public Service Commission from the degree

holders who are designated as Assistant Engineers-I, for

which Diploma holders are not entitled to apply. 33%

posts out of the remaining 66% posts of Deputy Engineers

are reserved for being filled up from amongst the Degree

holders serving for a minimum period of three years as

Assistant Engineers-II by promotion. The posts of

Assistant Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer-I,

are to be filled up by nomination through Maharashtra

29 wp2908-2016-group

Public Service Commission from amongst the candidates

holding Degree in Engineering. For all these posts, the

Diploma holders in Engineering cannot be considered. He

submits that considering the various avenues for being

selected by nomination as well as by promotion available

to the candidates holding Degrees in Engineering and

with a view to extend sufficient opportunity to the

holders of Diplomas in Engineering, who otherwise would

not be entitled to compete for the posts which are

exclusively meant for the candidates holding Degrees in

Engineering, as stated above, 25% of posts at the entry

level came to be reserved for the candidates holding the

Degree in Engineering and the remaining 75% of posts

came to be reserved for the candidates holding Diploma

in Engineering (out of which 90% posts were to be filled

up by nomination and 10% by promotion). He submits that

this classification is quite reasonable. He further

submits that the Degree in Engineering cannot be held to

be the higher qualification of Diploma in Engineering,

in the sense that for acquiring the Degree in

Engineering, it is not necessary that one should possess

a Diploma in Engineering. He submits that the

petitioners who are holding Degree in Engineering are

30 wp2908-2016-group

not eligible to apply for the posts of Junior Engineer

(Civil) (Group-B - Non-Gazetted), due to the above

mentioned reasonable classification. He, therefore,

prays that the writ petitions may be dismissed.

9. After considering the rival contentions of the

learned counsel for the parties as well as the

Government circulars and resolutions produced on record

with reference to the pleadings of the parties, the

picture that emerges is that out of the total strength

of Junior Engineers, 25% have been earmarked for being

filled up by nomination through the Maharashtra Public

Service Commission from amongst the candidates holding

Degree in Civil Engineering. The candidates so selected

would get the status of gazetted officer from day one

and would be called "Assistant Engineer - Grade-II. Out

of the remaining 75% of posts, 90% of posts are to be

filled up by nomination through the Regional Staff

Selection Board from amongst the candidates holding

three years Diplomas in Civil Engineering, recognised by

the Government or any other qualification equivalent

thereto, recognised by the Government in view of the

impugned Rule 3 (b) (ii) and 10% posts would be filled

31 wp2908-2016-group

up by promotion from amongst the eligible Engineering

Assistants having served as such for not less than three

years. The said Junior Engineers were to be designated

as "Junior Engineer (Civil) Group-B Non-gazetted". From

this factual position, it is clear that the candidates

holding the Degrees in Civil Engineering have not been

totally ignored for being considered for the posts of

Junior Engineers. In fact, they have been given 25% of

posts having Gazetted status and would stand on a higher

pedestal as compared to the position of the Junior

Engineers - Non-gazetted from the quota of 75% of posts.

Moreover, the candidates holding the Degrees in Civil

Engineering would be eligible for being considered by

nomination to the posts of Assistant Engineer-I and

Assistant Executive Engineer, to which the candidates

holding the Diplomas in Engineering would not be

eligible. It is, thus, clear that the petitioners/

holders of Degrees in Engineering cannot be said to have

been denied the opportunity to apply for the post of

Junior Engineer (Civil) Group-B (Non-gazetted) only

because they are holding Degrees in Civil Engineering.

As a matter of fact, by classifying the posts of Junior

Engineers (Civil) into two groups, the candidates

32 wp2908-2016-group

holding Degrees in Civil Engineering have been given 25%

of posts to which the candidates holding the Diploma are

not entitled to be considered. In order to extend an

opportunity of Government service to the candidates

holding Diploma in Civil Engineering, out of the

remaining 75% posts, 90% of posts have been earmarked

for them to which the candidates holding the Degrees in

Civil Engineering would not be entitled to apply as per

the impugned Rule 3 (b) (ii).

10. It is strange to note that the petitioners did

not at all whisper about reservation of 25% of posts of

Junior Engineers for the candidates holding the Degrees

in Civil Engineering as provided in the Government

Resolution dated 16th April, 1984. When the petitioners

are claiming the extraordinary relief under the writ

jurisdiction of this Court, it was expected of them to

disclose all the material facts in their petitions.

However, it seems that the petitioners have totally

suppressed the fact that out of the total strength of

Junior Engineers, 25% of posts have been reserved for

the candidates holding Degree in Civil Engineering. They

have further kept it undisclosed that there are

33 wp2908-2016-group

additional avenues available to them in the Public Works

Department and Irrigation Department for being

considered for the posts of Assistant Engineer-I and

Assistant Executive Engineer, which posts are to be

filled up to the extent of 34% and 40%, respectively by

nomination through the Maharashtra Public Service

Commission, to which the candidates holding Diplomas

would not be eligible. The petitioners have created a

picture as if they have been totally deprived of the

opportunity of being considered for the posts of Junior

Engineers, which has been washed out by the contents of

the replies filed on behalf of the respondents.

11. Now the question would be whether the

classification of the posts as has been done by the

respondents is reasonable in the sense that it would not

infringe the provisions of Articles 14 and 16 of the

Constitution of India. Here, a reference may be

conveniently made to the judgment in the case of Alok

Kumar Misra and others Vs. State of U.P. and others

MANU/UP/0876/2016, delivered on 2nd May, 2016 by the High

Court of Allahabad, the facts whereof are almost

identical to that of the present case. In that case, an

34 wp2908-2016-group

advertisement was issued for holding a combined

selection for the posts of Junior Engineers in various

fields of Engineering, such as Civil, Mechanical and

Electrical, for various Departments and Corporations

under the State of U.P. The terms and conditions of

recruitment to those posts were governed by the Rules

made under the proviso of Article 309 of the

Constitution of India. The qualification prescribed for

selection and appointment to the posts of Junior

Engineers referred to therein was Diplomas in the

respective fields of Engineering. In view of Rule 8 of

the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department Junior

Engineer (Civil) (Group-`C') Service Rules, 2014 also,

the requisite educational qualification for the post of

Junior Engineer was that the candidate must possess

three years Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Board

of Technical Education, Uttar Pradesh or a qualification

recognised by the Government as equivalent thereto. The

petitioners therein relying upon the decisions in Jyoti

K.K. and others Vs. Kerala Public Service Commission and

others 2010 (15) SCC 596, State of Haryana and another

Vs. Abdul Gaffar Khan and another 2006 (11) SCC 153 and

Ajay Kumar Uttam Vs. State of Jammu and Kashmir and

35 wp2908-2016-group

others SWP No. 2670 of 2001, contended that they being

Degree holders in Engineering, which is a higher

qualification in the same faculty/stream of Engineering,

are presupposed to possess the lower qualification of

Diploma and therefore, they are fully eligible for being

considered in the selection in question, but the

opposite parties, even after having allowed them to

appear in the written examination and having called them

for interview, orally debarred them from appearing

therein on the date of interview, which is not

sustainable in the eye of law. In that case, the Public

Information Officer of the Commission, in response to

the requisition made under the Right to Information Act,

had informed that a Degree holder was eligible for being

considered for selection. It was pointed out by the

petitioners therein that in the previous years, the

Degree holders were permitted to appear for the

examination for the post of Junior Engineer held by the

Subordinate Service Selection Commission as also the

Public Service Commission. The learned counsel

appearing for the Commission, in that case, had

contended that the reliance placed upon the judgments

referred to therein by the petitioners was misconceived

36 wp2908-2016-group

as the said judgments were based upon the language used

in the Rules applicable therein. He also relied upon

the judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases

of State of Punjab and others Vs. Anita and others 2015

(2) SCC 170, P.M. Latha and another Vs. State of Kerla

and others 2003 (3) SCC 541 and Yogesh Kumar and others

Vs. Government of NCT, Delhi and others 2003 (3) SCC

548, to rebut the contentions made on behalf of the

petitioners therein and stated that the decisions relied

upon by him have already been considered in the

aforesaid decisions.

12. After considering the rival contentions as well

as the case law cited by the contesting parties, in

support of their respective contentions, the learned

Judge dismissed the petitions holding that the

petitioners cannot be presumed to be possessing the

lower qualification of Diploma in Engineering as in

order to possess a Degree in Engineering, it is not

necessary to first of all pass or possess a Diploma in

Engineering. In paragraph No. 21 of the judgment, the

learned Judge quoted the following two paragraphs from

the judgment delivered by the Uttarakhand High Court in

37 wp2908-2016-group

Writ Petition No. 643 (SS) of 2015 in the matter of

Vikas Kumar and others Vs. State of Uttarakhand and

others and connected petitions, which would justify

earmarking certain posts for the candidates holding the

Diploma in Engineering only.

"But in the present controversy, a degree education in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, by no stretch of imagination, can

be attributed to the effect that the candidate had attained the diploma qualification in that

stream because for taking admission in the Bachelors Course does not envisage the attaining of the diploma qualification as a

pre-requisite. So, holding the diploma cannot be equated with holding of the degree in the engineering stream. The exception can be made even in such situation if the rules of the

recruitment contemplate to that effect and it was the situation probably in the Jyoti K.K.

and others case (supra) where Kerala State and Sub-Ordinate Service Rules, 1956 had such provision, but here, in Uttarakhand, the Rules have been enacted in 2003 and there is no such

provision analogous to the Rules of Kerala.

That apart, if a degree holder in a particular stream will always exclude the diploma holder

in that stream then the scope to get employment for the diploma holders will always be very little if not closed altogether because where a degree and diploma holders both are permitted to attend the same examination without any discrimination then in all probabilities, the degree holders will always take lead as against the diploma holders. So, the opportunity to get a government job will almost be closed to the diploma holders and in other words the

38 wp2908-2016-group

persons who are not capable enough to take the qualification of a degree and cannot afford the monetary expenses to get their degree course, will always be deprived from the government job

where the diploma is the minimum qualification to make the candidate eligible for the post."

13. In our opinion, the views expressed by the

learned Single Judge of Uttarakhand High Court, referred

to above, are quite reasonable and acceptable. The

observations made in the above-referred paragraphs

indicate the rationale behind classification made

between the holders of Degrees and Diplomas in

Engineering. In the case at hand, after reserving 25%

of posts of Junior Engineers for being filled up by

nomination from amongst the candidates holding Degrees

in Civil Engineering, if the remaining posts are

reserved for the candidates holding Diplomas in Civil

Engineering, obviously with a view that they should not

be excluded from being considered for the posts of

Junior Engineers and in order to extend them an

opportunity to get Government service, who could not

afford the monetary expenses to get Degree course or who

did not find themselves capable enough to take

qualification of a Degree, it cannot be said that the

39 wp2908-2016-group

classification that has been done by the respondents is

irrational, unreasonable or unconstitutional.

14. The various advertisements issued by the

District Selection Committee Aurangabad, Zilla Parishad

Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation,

Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai, etc. whereby the

candidates holding Degrees in Engineering also were held

eligible for the posts of Junior Engineers, are of no

use to the petitioners herein to substantiate their

case, since the above-stated institutions are governed

by their respective Recruitment Rules. As stated above,

we do not find any discrimination on the part of the

respondents in framing the impugned Rule and advertising

the posts of Junior Engineers (Group-B Non-gazetted),

calling for the applications from the candidates holding

Diplomas in Civil Engineering only and not from the

candidates holding Degrees in Civil Engineering.

15. Certain judgments have been cited by the

learned counsel for the petitioners in support of the

contentions raised on behalf of the petitioners. The

first judgment is in the case of Mohit s/o Prashant

40 wp2908-2016-group

Meshram and others Vs. State of Maharashtra, through its

Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation & Water Conservation

and others, Writ Petition No. 1011 of 2016, delivered by

the Bombay High Court, Bench at Nagpur between 13 th to

16th April, 2016, wherein the petitioners who were

Diploma and Degree holders in Engineering and appointed

on contract basis for a period of eleven months by the

Water Conservation Department of the State Government in

the Vidarbha Region in pursuance of the advertisement,

dated 23rd August, 2013, had sought regularization of

their services. Though the Court was of the view that

the petitioners and the other Engineers that were

appointed in pursuance of the advertisement dated 23 rd

August, 2013, were not entitled to regularization, the

statement made on behalf of the State Government that

the State Government would exclude 28 posts of Junior

Engineers for the Vidarbha Region from the

advertisement, dated 15th February, 2016 so that their

cases would be considered on the basis of the criteria

mentioned in the affidavit, came to be accepted and with

those observations, the writ petition was dismissed. We

do not find anything in this judgment which would

advance the case of the petitioners.

41 wp2908-2016-group

16. In the case of Sudhir s/o Sharadrao Hunge and

another Vs. The State of Maharashtra and others, Writ

Petition No. 1489/2010 and other connected writ

petitions, decided by the Bombay High Court, Bench at

Nagpur on 2nd July, 2010, the question was whether

introduction of NET/SLET as eligibility condition for

recruitment and appointment of Lecturers in

Universities/Colleges/Institutions as per Gazette

Notification dated 11.7.2009 prescribed by University

Grants Commission (UGC) will affect the selections and

appointments made in accordance with the approved

advertisements/notifications published before 11.7.2009

when the eligibility condition was not compulsory NET or

SLET. The finding of the Court on this issue has no

bearing on the facts of the present case.

17. In the case of Ashok Kumar Sharma Vs. Chander

Shekhar, 1997 (4) SCC 18, it has been held that where

the applications were called prescribing a last date for

filing the application, the eligibility of the

candidates would be judged with reference to that date

only. In the case of Gopal Krushna Rath Vs. M.A.A.

42 wp2908-2016-group

Baig, 1999 (1) SCC 544, it has been observed that once

the election process has commenced and even the last

date for submitting application is over, subsequent

change will not affect the process of selection so

having commenced. Therefore, the appointment made on

the basis of such process cannot be nullified. The

ratio laid down in these rulings practically has no

bearing on the controversy involved in the present writ

petitions.

18. As discussed above, the classification made by

the respondents prescribing the educational

qualification of Degree in Civil Engineering for 25% of

the posts out of the total strength of the posts of

Junior Engineers and leaving the remaining 75% posts to

be filled up from amongst the candidates holding Diploma

in Civil Engineering, is quite reasonable and rationale.

The impugned Rule cannot be characterized as arbitrary,

irrational or unconstitutional. Consequently, the

impugned advertisement based on the said Rule cannot be

assailed on any ground.

19. While challenging the vires of impugned Rule 3

43 wp2908-2016-group

(b) (ii) and the impugned advertisement, the petitioners

have suppressed the fact that 25% of the posts out of

the total strength of the posts of Junior Engineers

reserved for being filled up from the candidates holding

the Degree in Civil Engineering. This suppression of

material fact would dis-entitle the petitioners from

claiming any relief. In fact, when the petitioners

wanted to challenge vires of the impugned Rule, it was

necessary for them firstly to challenge the Government

Resolution dated 16th April, 1984, whereby classification

was introduced by reserving 25% of the total strength of

Junior Engineers for being filled up exclusively from

the candidates possessing the Degrees in Civil

Engineering. They should have further challenged the

validity of the Recruitment Rules of Degree Holders of

1997 whereunder as per Rule 3 (ii) the candidates

possessing Degrees in Civil Engineering or any other

qualification declared by Government to be equivalent

thereto only have been held eligible for being appointed

to the posts of Assistant Engineers, Group-B (Gazetted),

which were to be filled up through the Maharashtra

Public Service Commission to the extent of 25% of the

total strength of Junior Engineers. Keeping the very

44 wp2908-2016-group

source of the alleged discrimination intact, the

petitioners cannot be allowed to challenge validity of

the offshoot thereof, as has been tried to be done by

them by these petitions. The petitions are liable to be

dismissed. The order dated 9 th March, 2016 whereunder

the respondents were directed to accept the application

forms of the petitioners will have to be recalled and

the applications of the petitioners will have to be

directed to be ignored. In the result, we pass the

following order :-

(i) All the writ petitions are dismissed.

(ii) The order dated 9th March, 2016 passed by this

Court is vacated.

(iii) The respondents may proceed with the selection

process ignoring the applications of the

petitioners.

(iv) Rule stands discharged accordingly.

    (v)              No costs.


                      Sd/-                                 Sd/-
            [SANGITRAO S. PATIL]                      [S.S. SHINDE]
                    JUDGE                                 JUDGE

    npj/wp2908-2016-group





                                          45                    wp2908-2016-group



20. After pronouncement of the judgment, the

learned counsel for the petitioners pray for

continuation of the interim relief which was in force

during the pendency of these writ petitions, for further

period of four weeks. The learned Government Pleader

strongly opposed the prayer for continuation of the

interim relief.

21.

In the facts and circumstances, discussed above

in the judgment and since the selection process has

already been set in motion, we are not inclined to

entertain the prayer made on behalf of the petitioners

for continuation of the interim relief any more. Hence,

the prayer for continuation of the interim relief for

further four weeks stands rejected.

                     Sd/-                                  Sd/-





            [SANGITRAO S. PATIL]                      [S.S. SHINDE]
                    JUDGE                                 JUDGE




    npj/wp2908-2016-group





 

 
Download the LatestLaws.com Mobile App
 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter
 

Publish Your Article

 

Campus Ambassador

 

Media Partner

 

Campus Buzz

 

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent Apply Now!
 

LatestLaws.com presents: Lexidem Offline Internship Program, 2026

 

LatestLaws.com presents 'Lexidem Online Internship, 2026', Apply Now!

 
 

LatestLaws Partner Event : IDRC

 

LatestLaws Partner Event : IJJ

 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter