Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)
Ajijul Islam & Anr vs The State Of West Bengal & Ors on 7 October, 2024
Author: Tapabrata Chakraborty
Bench: Tapabrata Chakraborty
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
Civil Appellate Jurisdiction
APPELLATE SIDE
Present:
The Hon'ble Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty
&
The Hon'ble Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee
FMA 803 of 2019
+
IA No. CAN 1 of 2019 [Old No. CAN 7589 of 2019]
+
IA No. CAN 2 of 2020
+
IA No. CAN 3 of 2021
+
IA No. CAN 4 of 2022
Ajijul Islam & Anr.
-Versus-
The State of West Bengal & Ors.
For the Appellants : Mr. Simanta Kabir,
Mr. Satyam Mukherjee,
Mr. Avik Pramanick.
For the WBCSSC : Dr. Sutanu Kumar Patra,
Mr. Kanak Kiran Bandyopadhyay.
Hearing is concluded on : 11th September, 2024.
Judgment On : 7th October, 2024.
Tapabrata Chakraborty, J.
1. The present appeal has been preferred challenging the order dated
8th April, 2019 passed by the learned Single Judge in the writ petition being
WP 28256 (W) of 2017.
2. Shorn of unnecessary details the facts are that the writ
petitioners/appellants herein participated in the 12th Regional Level
Selection Test (in short, RLST) for appointment to the post of Assistant
Teacher. Upon emerging to be successful in the selection process the
appellants were empanelled but they were not called for counseling and
were not offered any letter of recommendation for appointment. Aggrieved
thereby, the appellants preferred a writ petition being WP 34996 (W) of 2013
which was disposed of by an order dated 17th December, 2013 directing inter
alia that 'if it is found that the writ petitioners have crossed all hurdles i.e.
TET examination, subject and interview in that event the authorities are
directed to call the writ petitioners in counselling and recommend them for
giving appointment. It appears that the petitioners' name are appearing in the
combined merit list'. Challenging the said order, the West Bengal Central
School Service Commission (in short, the Commission) and others preferred
a mandamus appeal being MAT 1257 of 2014 which was disposed of by an
order dated 15th March, 2017, setting aside the order impugned in the said
appeal. Aggrieved by the said order the appellants preferred a Special Leave
Petition (in short, SLP) and the Hon'ble Supreme Court disposed of the same
on 4th September, 2017 observing inter alia that 'the petitioners at liberty to
move the High Court so as to ascertain whether any decision has been taken
not to fill up the vacancies from the existing panel'. Thereafter the appellants
preferred a fresh writ petition being WP 28256 (W) of 2017 but the same was
dismissed by an order dated 8th April, 2019. Aggrieved by the said order, the
present appeal has been preferred.
3. Mr. Kabir, learned advocate appearing for the appellants submits
that as the appellants, namely, Ajijul Islam (in short, Ajijul) and Bijoy
Kumar Ruidas (in short, Bijoy) emerged to be successful in the 12th RLST,
they were empanelled by the Commission after adding the marks they have
obtained in the written examination, evaluation of academic qualification
and personality test (hereinafter referred to as PT). They accordingly secured
berth in the panel as defined under the Rule 2(f) of the West Bengal School
Service Commission (Selection of Persons for Appointment to the Post of
Teachers) Rules, 2007 (in short, the 2007 Rules). A perusal of such
definition would reveal that the names of candidates empanelled should be
equal to the number of vacancies declared. Thus, the Commission was
under an obligation to call the appellants for counseling and to recommend
their names for appointment.
4. According to him, under the 2007 Rules there is no provision
towards preparation of any 'combined merit list' (hereinafter referred to as
CML). Rule 12(6) of the 2007 Rules inter alia provides that each Regional
Commission is required to prepare a subjectwise, mediumwise, categorywise
and genderwise list of candidates on the basis of the marks obtained by the
individual candidates in the written examination and evaluation of academic
qualification. From amongst them, the candidates coming within the zone of
1.5 times the number of actual vacancies shall be called for PT. Thereafter
in terms of Rule 12(8) each Regional Commission upon adding the marks
obtained in the written examination, evaluation of the academic
qualification and PT would prepare a panel of candidates and each panel
shall include names equal to the number of vacancies on 1:1 basis together
with a waiting list on 1:0.1 basis. The appellants on the basis of merit were
included in a panel and accordingly earned a right to be called for
counseling. They have been arbitrarily denied of such right by the
Commission contending inter alia that the appellants found place in a CML
and not in the panel though in paragraph 4 of the affidavit-in-opposition it
has inter alia been averred that a CML was published after adding the
marks obtained in written examination, evaluation of academic qualification
and PT.
5. He contends that the Commission had illegally denied the fact that
the appellants were empanelled. The sequence of facts would clearly reveal
that the alleged CML was prepared on 25th September, 2013 after the PT of
the appellants was held in between 20th August, 2013 and 1st September,
2013. The Commission had sought to alter the nomenclature of the list from
a panel to a CML though the same was admittedly prepared by the
Commission including names equal to the number of vacancies. Such fact
would be explicit from the answer given to an application seeking
information under the Right to Information Act, 2005, vide memo dated 16th
April, 2015.
6. He argues that there is no provision towards preparation of any
CML. The Commission in terms of 2007 Rules can only prepare a panel on
1:1 basis and a waiting on 1:0.1 basis. Admittedly, the appellants were
included in the panel but the learned Single Judge glossed over the said
issue and arrived at a finding that the appellants were never empanelled and
dismissed the writ petition.
7. He argues that while disposing of the SLP, the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in the order dated 4th September, 2017 granted liberty to the
appellants to move the High Court so as to ascertain whether any decision
had been taken not to fill up the vacancies from the existing panel. The
advertisement dated 28th December, 2011 contemplated filling up of 36140
vacancies but only about 22000 vacancies were filled up though a panel was
prepared and candidates were available. The issues of empanelment and
recommendation for appointment in the existing vacancies are inextricably
bound. Once a person is empanelled, he earns a right to be called for
counseling and to be recommended for appointment in a vacancy. In the
affidavit-in-opposition filed to the writ petition there is no clear explanation
as to how many vacancies in the respective categories could not be filled up
due to non-availability of candidates. The Commission has thus frustrated
the legitimate rights of the appellants and it is incumbent upon the Court to
prevent perpetration of such illegality and to prevent evasion of law. In
support of such argument reliance has been placed upon the judgment
delivered in the case of A.P. State Financial Corporation -vs- M/s Gar Re-
rolling Mills and Another, reported in (1994) 2 SCC 647.
8. Drawing our attention to the CML produced on behalf of the
Commission at the time of hearing of the earlier appeal being MAT 1257 of
2014, Mr. Kabir submits that candidates below the appellants have been
recommended. Even if it is assumed that the candidates referred to under
remarks column belong to untrained para-teacher category, the maximum
number of candidates who can be recommended under the said category is
10%. If the total declared vacancy under the concerned category was 313
then only 31 candidates in terms of such reservation can be recommended.
However, a perusal of the purported CML would reveal that more than 31
candidates under the said category were recommended. Such anomaly
maligns the purported CML from which the Commission had whimsically
called some candidates for counseling.
9. He argues that it is a well settled proposition of law that a natural
person has the capacity to do all lawful things unless his capacity has been
curtailed by some rule of law. It is equally a fundamental principle that in
case of statutory authority, it is just the other way. The said authority can
act only in terms of the rules prescribed and operative. In the present case,
the Commission being a statutory authority had traversed beyond the
statutory rules having prepared a CML which is alien to the Rules.
10. Mr. Kabir contends that there is no definition of 'combined merit list'
in the 2007 Rules. However, the term 'panel' stands defined under Rule 2 (f)
meaning 'a list published by the Commission for Schools and for Madrasahs
separately containing the names of candidates equal to the number of
vacancies declared for a Regional level Selection Test found fit for appointment
strictly in order of merit'. A composite reading of Rule 2 (f) and Rule 12 (8)
would clearly reveal that the Commission was under an obligation to prepare
a panel including the names equal to the number of vacancies together with
a waiting list, as defined under Rule 2(o)(i). Admittedly the appellants were
called for PT and were included in the CML published by the Commission.
Once a candidate secures a berth in the panel on the basis of the marks
obtained in the written examination, academic qualification and PT, he earns
a right to be called for counseling and to be recommended for appointment
since the number of candidates empanelled is equal to the number of
vacancies. After allotment of marks towards academic qualification, written
examination and PT, Commission under the rules can only publish a panel
in terms of Rule 12 (8). Prior to preparation of the panel the stage is of
preparation of a list in terms of Rule 12 (6). The said list would contain the
names of the candidates who would be qualified for the PT test on the basis
of the marks obtained in the written examination and after evaluation of
academic qualification and the number of candidates to be called for PT shall
not exceed 1.5 times the number of actual vacancies.
11. He argues that after conclusion of the PT, the Commission had
published a list with the nomenclature 'combined merit list' though there is
no provision of towards preparation of any such CML. Whichever list is
published after Rule 12 (6) stage, whatever may be it its nomenclature, the
same has to be construed as a list prepared under Rule 12 (8) and such a
list would be a panel of candidates found fit for appointment strictly in order
of merit and such list/panel shall include the names equal to the number of
vacancies. The Commission having included the appellants in the said list
cannot deny recommendation to the appellants for appointment.
12. Per contra, Dr. Patra, learned advocate appearing for the
Commission submits that the preparation of the CML was an internal
arrangement. Without preparing such list, no panel could have been
prepared categorywise, languagewise, mediumwise. In the said panels the
appellants were not included and as such they did not earn any right
towards recommendation and appointment. Furthermore, it is well-settled
that mere empanelment does not confer any indefeasible right upon the
concerned candidates to be appointed.
13. He submits that the issue of discrimination as urged on behalf of
the appellants cannot be re-agitated in the present appeal since the said
issue was finally decided in the earlier appeal being MAT 1257 of 2014 and
in the SLP preferred against the same. The only issue that was left open for
the appellants was to ascertain whether any decision had been taken by the
Commission not to fill up the vacancies from the existing panel. By filing an
affidavit-in-opposition to the writ petition the Commission had explained in
details that as in different categories there were no suitable candidates, all
the vacancies could not be filled up and in terms of Rule 20 of the 2007
Rules the said vacancies were carried forward and included with the
vacancies of the next year.
14. He submits that the total number of candidates who find a
position in the panel and in the waiting list is equal to 1.1 times the actual
vacancies. Hence, candidates equal to 0.4 times the actual vacancies, who
were included in the CML, do not find any position either in the panel or
waiting list. The appellants are amongst those 0.4 times candidates, who
were neither empanelled nor waitlisted.
15. He argues that identical issues came up for consideration in a writ
petition being WPA no. 1330 of 2014 [Ruma Das - vs.- State of West Bengal
& Ors.] wherein it was observed inter alia that by no stretch of imagination
can the CML be deemed as a panel given the definition of panel under Rule
2(f) read with Rule 2(n), Rule 8 and Rule 12. Such finding stood affirmed by
the Hon'ble Division Bench and the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
16. Indisputably, Ajijul applied for the post of Assistant Teacher under
OBC-A category in the subject of Bengali (Pass), medium Bengali in the
South Eastern Region whereas Bijoy applied for the post of Assistant
Teacher under SC category in the subject of Bengali (Pass), medium Bengali
in the Northern Region. The last selected candidate in Ajijul's category was
at merit position no. 403 having secured 58.08 marks whereas Ajijul was at
merit position 408 upon securing 57.33 marks. The last selected candidate
in Bijoy's category was at merit position no. 708 upon securing 59.17 marks
whereas Bijoy secured 56.33 marks and was at merit position 854. A co-
ordinate Bench of this Court in the earlier appeal being MAT 1257 of 2014
scrutinized the CML and extracting the portion of the same, which contained
the status of the appellants, arrived at a categoric finding that 'it is crystal
clear to us that none of the writ petitioners/respondents was superseded by
any candidate belonging to the same category in which the respective
respondents belong'. The appellants have failed to dislodge the rigors of such
finding in the present proceedings.
17. Mr. Kabir has strenuously urged that on 17th July, 2018 by filing a
supplementary affidavit wrong information was given by the Commission. In
paragraph no. 16 of the supplementary affidavit, the Commission declared
vacancies as 313. Even, if that be true, then there were 4 declared vacancies
available which were not filled up. According to CML total 324 SC candidates
have been called for counseling. According to R.T.I. reply of Regional School
Service Commission, among those 324 SC candidates only 15 candidates
obtained general/unreserved vacancies school at the time of counseling as
per their merit. Then definitely (324 - 15) = 309 SC candidates have been
filled up by 309 candidates and 4 declared vacancies have not been filled
and have been carried forwarded for next selection process. Out of those 4
vacancies one vacancy definitely could have been offered for recommending
Bijoy as a SC category to the post of Assistant Teacher in Secondary or
Senior Secondary School. In reply, placing reliance upon the CML of
candidates, the Commission had shown that that there were 75 candidates
who belonged to the same category as that of Bijoy and whose names
featured above Bijoy in the CML and 72 of them obtained higher marks than
Bijoy. Last three candidates out of those 75 candidates obtained same marks
as that of Bijoy i.e. 56.33 but their names featured above Bijoy in the CML.
In view thereof, we are unable to accept the argument of Mr. Kabir that the
Commission had acted arbitrarily.
18. In the affidavit affirmed by the Commission before the writ Court on
25.05.2018 it was inter alia stated that CML prepared and published by the
Commission was not a panel. Regionwise, subjectwise, categorywise,
genderwise and mediumwise panels were prepared from the CML strictly in
order of merit. The CML was not the panel. The appellants were placed in the
CML and the vacancies were filled up by the successful candidates, who
were placed in higher ranks than the appellants in the CML. In the
advertisement published on 29.12.2011 the number of vacancies declared
was tentative and the total number of vacancies finally declared was 46,401.
A total of 36,140 candidates were included in the CML and ultimately 30006
candidates were recommended. In some categories, less candidates were
available and in some categories excess candidates were available and as
such all of them could not be recommended. Though the appellants were
placed in the CML, the respective vacancies in which the appellants applied
for were all filled up and no occasion arose to empanel the appellants. The
vacancies in the concerned region of the appellants in their respective
categories were exhausted but in the selection process in other regions,
subjects, categories etc. some vacancies could not be filled up for shortage of
qualified candidates for the same. Such unfilled vacancies as per the Rules
were duly carried forward in the subsequent selection process. As per leave
granted by the Appeal Court on 03.11.2016, the Commission affirmed an
affidavit on 11.11.2016 stating inter alia that the appellants could not be
recommended as their ranks were lower than the last recommended
candidate in the same category. Fact remains that prior to disposal of the
SLP the panel which was prepared by the Commission expired on
24.03.2015 and all existing vacancies were carried forward to the next
selection process in terms of the 2007 Rules.
19. From the above discussion it is clear that the Commission published
a CML consisting of the candidates who appeared in the PT test and in the
said list the respective merit position was also indicated. Nomenclature is
not relevant, it is the effect the entry has. Rigors of the entry is relevant and
not the phraseology. Whatever be the nomenclature of the said list it was a
list consisting of candidates who participated in the PT and secured the
merit position as indicated in the said list. Subsequent thereto, the
Commission had recommended candidates strictly on the basis of the merit
position of the respective candidates.
20. Ordinarily the advertisement/notification merely amounts to an
invitation to qualified candidates to apply for recruitment and on their
selection, they do not acquire any right to the post. Unless the relevant
recruitment rules so provide/so indicate the employer is under no legal duty
to fill up all or any of the vacancies. However, it does not mean that the
employer has the license of acting in an arbitrary manner. The decision to
fill up the vacancies has to be taken bona fide for appropriate reasons and if
the vacancies or any of them are filled up, the employer is bound to respect
the comparative merit of the candidates and no discrimination can be
permitted.
21. In the present case, the Commission had recommended candidates
strictly on the basis of the merit position of the respective candidates.
Shrinkage of the CML following the parameter of merit cannot be questioned
as arbitrary. The appellants have not been superseded by any candidate
belonging to the same category and from the same region in which they
appeared. The status as examined at the time of disposal of the earlier
appeal has not changed. The appellants admittedly did not secure the marks
to come within the zone of consideration.
22. For the reasons discussed above, the appeal, the application for stay
being IA No. CAN 1 of 2019 [Old No. CAN 7589 of 2019] and the application
for addition of party being IA No. CAN 3 of 2021 are dismissed. The
applications for early hearing being IA No. CAN 2 of 2020 and IA No. CAN 4
of 2022 are disposed of.
23. There shall, however, be no order as to costs.
24. Urgent Photostat certified copy of this judgment, if applied for, shall
be granted to the parties as expeditiously as possible, upon compliance of all
formalities.
(Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, J.) (Tapabrata Chakraborty, J.)
