Man Mohan Kapoor vs State Of Himachal Pradesh & Ors
2021 Latest Caselaw 1360 HP

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA.

.

                                   CWPOA No.            7692 of 2020





                                   Reserved on:         24.2.2021.
                                   Decided on:           26.2.2021.





    Man Mohan Kapoor                            .....Petitioner.
                             Versus
    State of Himachal Pradesh & ors.            .....Respondents.

    Coram

The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Judge.

The Hon'ble Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?1 Yes.

For the petitioner : Mr. Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, Advocate.

For the respondents : Mr. Ashok Sharma, Advocate General with Mr. Vinod Thakur, Mr. Vikas

Rathore, Mr. Shiv Pal Manhans, Addl.

AGs, Mr. Bhupinder Thakur and Mr. Yudhvir Singh Thakur,, Dy. AGs for

respondents No. 1 to 5.

Mr. Sanjeev Bhushan, Senior Advocate with Mr. Rakesh Chauhan, Advocate, for

respondent No. 6.

Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge

Petitioner claims that even though he has availed the

benefit of age relaxation and fee concession available to the

candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes category, yet having

scored more marks than the last candidate in the General

Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the Judgment?

category, he is required to be moved to the General category.

Challenge has also been laid to the circular/instruction dated

.

12.12.2011 issued by the State Government, which provide for

migration of only such SC/ST/OBC candidates to the general

category merit list who are selected on the same standard as

applied to general category candidates.

2. Bare minimum factual position is that :-

2(i)

A recruitment notice was issued by respondents No.1

to 5 on 5.3.2015 for filling-up various posts of Constables in

different districts of the State. 60 posts of Constables (Male)

were allotted to District Shimla.

2(ii) Age limit prescribed for recruitment to the post of

Constable was 18-23 years for general category, whereas for

candidates belonging to reserved category of SC/ST/OBC, it was

18 to 25 years. Petitioner had admittedly crossed age limit of 23

years when he applied under the advertisement. Petitioner

belonged to Scheduled Tribes Category (UR) and, therefore, was

eligible to apply only in view of the age concession admissible to

ST category. He had applied accordingly for the posts in District

Shimla.

2(iii) Petitioner obtained 65 marks in the written

examination and in view of his height was entitled to three

marks. Petitioner thus scored 68 marks (i.e. 65 marks for

written+ 3 marks for height). He was not selected within his

category as no post for ST (UR) was available. Petitioner's

candidature was not considered against general category posts

.

as he did not fulfill the standards prescribed for general category

(UR) candidates. Accordingly he was not called for interview.

2(iv) Aggrieved, petitioner has preferred instant petition

primarily on the ground that he having scored more marks than

the last candidate called for interview in general category (61

marks) was required to be moved from ST category to the

general category. Additionally, State Government instructions

dated 12.12.2011 on the subject have also been assailed.

3. Contentions.

3(i) Learned Counsel for the petitioner contended that

concession in age and fee availed by the petitioner as a

Scheduled Tribe candidate would not debar his migration to

general category merit list, as on merit the petitioner had scored

more marks than the minimum cut off in the general category.

In support of this contention, learned Counsel placed heavy

reliance upon following paras of the judgment in (2010) 3 SCC

119, titled Jitendra Kumar Singh and another versus State of

Uttar Pradesh and others:-

"49. It is permissible for the State in view of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 38 of the Constitution of India to make suitable provisions in law to eradicate the disadvantages of candidates belonging to socially and educationally backward classes. Reservations are a mode to achieve the equality of opportunity guaranteed under Article 16 (1) of

the Constitution of India. Concessions and relaxations in fee or age provided to the reserved category candidates

.

to enable them to compete and seek benefit of

reservation, is merely an aid to reservation. The concessions and relaxations place the candidates at par with General Category candidates. It is only thereafter the

merit of the candidates is to be determined without any further concessions in favour of the reserved category candidates.

71. We are of the considered opinion that the

concessions falling within Section 8 of the Act of 1994 cannot be said to be relaxations in the standard prescribed for qualifying in the written examination. Section 8 clearly provides that the State

Government may provide for concessions in respect of

fees in the competitive examination or interview and relaxation in upper age limit.

75. In our opinion, the relaxation in age does not in any manner upset the "level playing field". It is not

possible to accept the submission of the learned counsel for the appellants that relaxation in age or the concession in fee would in any manner be infringement of Article 16

(1) of the Constitution of India. These concessions are provisions pertaining to the eligibility of a candidate to

appear in the competitive examination. At the time when the concessions are availed, the open competition has not

commenced. It commences when all the candidates who fulfill the eligibility conditions, namely, qualifications, age, preliminary written test and physical test are permitted to sit in the main written examination. With age relaxation and the fee concession, the reserved candidates are merely brought within the zone of consideration, so that they can participate in the open competition on merit. Once the candidate participates in the written examination, it is immaterial as to which category, the candidate belongs. All the candidates to be declared eligible had participated in the Preliminary Test as also in the Physical Test. It is only thereafter that successful

candidates have been permitted to participate in the open competition."

.

It was also urged on behalf of the petitioner that the

instructions dated 12.12.2011 providing that candidates availing

relaxed standards cannot be considered against unreserved

vacancies, are unconstitutional.

3(ii) Per contra, learned Senior Counsel for private

respondent No. 6 and learned Additional Advocate General relied

upon (2019) 7 SCC 383, titled Niravkumar Dilipbhai Makwana

versus Gurarat Public Service Commission and others in support

of their stand that once relaxation in age and fee has been

availed by a candidate belonging to reserve category, then he

cannot be shifted to general category even on the basis of his

merit more particularly in view of State Government instructions

on the subject, issued on 12.12.2011.

4. Observations.

It is not in dispute that the petitioner had availed

concession in age and fee while applying as Scheduled Tribe

candidate under the recruitment notice. He had already crossed

the maximum age bar fixed for general category candidates.

4(i) In support of petitioner's claim of migration from

scheduled tribe category to general category on the basis of

merit, reliance has been placed upon Jitendra Kumar Singh's

case (relevant portions already extracted). The judgment passed by Hon'ble

Apex Court in Jitendra Kumar Singh's case supra was considered

in (2017) 12 SCC 680, titled Deepa E.V. versus Union of India

.

and others. In Deepa E.V., the appellant before the Apex Court

was an OBC category candidate who had availed age relaxation

and was claiming treatment as a general category candidate. In

support of the claim to be treated as a general category

candidate, the appellant therein had relied upon the judgment in

Jitendra Kumar Singh's case.

to The Apex Court, however,

distinguished Jitendra Kumar Singh's case in following manner:-

"8. The learned counsel for the appellant mainly relied

upon the judgment of this Court in Jitendra Kumar Singh v. State of U.P., which deals with the U.P. Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes

and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 and Government order dated 25.3.1994. On a perusal of the above judgment, we find that there is no express bar in the

said U.P. Act for the candidates of SC/ST/OBC being considered for the posts under general category. In such

facts and circumstances of the said case, this Court has taken the view that the relaxation granted to the reserved category candidates will operate a a level playing field. In

the light of the express bar provided under the proceedings dated 1.7.1998 the principle laid down in Jitendra Kumar Singh cannot be applied to the case in hand.

9. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondents has also drawn our attention to paras 65 and 72 in Jitendra Kumar Singh to contend that principle in Jitendra Kumar Singh is in the context of the interpretation of U.P. Act 1994 and in the particular factual situation of the said case. Paras 65 and 72, read as under:-

"65. In any event the entire issue in the present appeals need not be decided on the general principles of law laid down in various judgments as

noticed above. In these matters, we are concerned with the interpretation of the 1994 Act, the instruction dated 25.3.1994 and the G.O. dated 26.2.1999. The controversy herein centres around the limited issue as to

.

whether an OBC who has applied exercising his option as a reserved

category candidate, thus becoming eligible to be considered against a reserved vacancy, can also be considered against an unreserved vacancy if he/she secures more marks than the last candidate in the general category.

72. Soon after the enforcement of the 1994 Act the Government issued instruction dated 25.3.1994 on the subject of reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward groups in the Uttar Pradesh Public Services. These instruction, inter alia, provide as under:-

'4. If any person belonging to reserved categories is selected on the basis of merits in open competition along with general category candidates, then he will not be adjusted towards reserved category, that is, he shall be deemed to have been r adjusted against the unreserved vacancies. It shall be immaterial that he has availed any facility or relaxation (like relaxation in age

limit) available to reserved category.'

From the above it becomes quite apparent that the relaxation in age limit is merely to enable the reserved category candidate to compete with the general category candidate, all other things being equal. The State has

not treated the relaxation in age and fee as relaxation in the standard for selection, based on the merit of the candidate in the selection test i.e. Main Written Test followed by Interview. Therefore, such relaxations cannot deprive a reserved category candidate of the right to be

considered as a general category candidate on the basis of merit in the competitive examination. Sub-section (2) of Section 8 further provides

that Government Orders in force on the commencement of the Act in respect of the concessions and relaxations including relaxation in upper age limit which are not inconsistent with the Act continue to be

applicable till they are modified or revoked."

10. Having regard to the observations in paras 65 and 72, in our view, the principles laid down in Jitendra Kumar Singh cannot be applied to the case in hand. As rightly pointed out by the High Court that judgment in Jitendra Kumar Singh was based on the statutory interpretation of the U.P. Act, 1994 and Government order dated 25.3.1994 which provides for entirely a different scheme."

4(ii) The issue again cropped-up in (2018) 11 SCC 352,

titled Gaurav Pradhan and others versus State of Rajasthan and

.

others. The Apex Court observed that the ratio of judgment in

Jitendra Kumar Singh's case has to be read in context of the

statutory provision and the government orders/circulars involved

therein as it was confined to the scheme under consideration in

that case. Statutory scheme and intention of State Government

vogue.

r to indicated from the said scheme cannot be extended to a State

where different circular indicating contrary intention was in

In this regard it will be apposite to extract para-32 from

the judgment:-

"32. We are of the view that judgment of this Court in

Jitendra Kumar Singh which was based on statutory scheme and circular dated 25.03.1994 has to be confined to scheme which was under consideration, statutory

scheme and intention of the State Government as indicated from the said scheme cannot be extended to a

State where the State circulars are to the contrary especially when there is no challenge before us to the converse scheme as delineated by the circular dated

24.06.2008."

Following the judgment in Deepa E.V. and taking into

consideration the circular dated 26.7.2017 issued by State of

Rajasthan, it was held that the candidates belonging to SC/ST/BC,

who had taken relaxation of age were not entitled to be migrated

to the unreserved vacancies. Relevant paragraphs are as under:-

"40. The circular dated 26.07.2017 is the reiteration of the earlier position as was provided by the circular dated

24.06.2008 quoted above. Thus, the position is now well accepted even by the State of Rajasthan that those

.

candidates belonging to SC/ST/BC who have obtained

concession of age are not eligible to be migrated to the unreserved vacancies. The circular dated 24.06.2008 being very much in existence, law laid down by this Court

in Deepa E.V. holds the field and the State of Rajasthan was obliged to not migrate those SC/ST/BC category candidates who are in unreserved category, who have taken concession of age.

...............

49. In view of the foregoing discussion, we are of the considered opinion that the candidates belonging to SC/ST/BC, who had taken relaxation of age were not

entitled to be migrated to the unreserved vacancies; the

State of Rajasthan has migrated such candidates who have taken concession of age against the unreserved vacancies which resulted displacement of a large number of candidates who were entitled to be selected against the

unreserved category vacancies. The candidates belonging to unreserved category who could not be appointed due to migration of candidates belonging to SC/

ST/BC were clearly entitled for appointment which was denied to them on the basis of the above illegal

interpretation put by the State........."

4(iii) In Niravkumar Dilipbhai Makwana versus Gujarat

Public Service Commission, reported in (2019) 7 SCC 383, the

question for consideration before the Hon'ble Apex Court was

whether a candidate who has availed of age relaxation in a

selection process as a result of belonging to reserved category

can thereafter seek to be accommodated in/or migrated to the

General Category seat. Reliance was placed upon Jitendra Kumar

Singh's judgment in support of the claim. The Apex Court noticed

that judgment in Jitendra Kumar Singh's case was based upon

specific consideration of the provisions of U.P. Public Services

.

(Reservation for Scheduled Casts, Scheduled Tribes and Other

Backward Classes) Act, 1994 as well as the instructions dated

25.3.1994 issued by State of U.P. on the subject of reservation

for scheduled casts/scheduled tribes/other back groups in Uttar

Pradesh Public Services, the portion of which, read as under:-

"4.

If any person belonging to reserved categories is selected on the basis of merits in open competition along with general category candidates, then he will not be

adjusted towards reserved category, that is, he shall be

deemed to have been adjusted against the unreserved vacancies. It shall be immaterial that he has availed any facility or relaxation (like relaxation in age limit) available to reserved category."

The statute and the instructions involved in Jitendra

Kumar Singh's case were held not applicable to Nirav Kumar's

case. After considering applicable provisions it was held that

reserve category candidate availing benefit of age relaxation in

the selection process cannot be accommodated in general

category.

4(iv) Recently in Saurav Yadav & ors. versus State of Uttar

Pradesh & ors., SLP(Civil) No. 23223 of 2018, decided on

18.12.2020, Hon'ble Apex Court while considering the claim of

OBC female and SC female candidates against the posts of

general category female candidates noted various Apex Court

decisions touching the issue vis-a-vis vertical reservations under

Article 16(1) of Constitution of India that a candidate belonging

.

to any of the vertical reservation categories, on the basis of his

own merit is entitled to be selected in open or general category

and in such eventuality his selection is not to be counted against

the quota reserved for such vertical reservation category. While

considering same claim vis-a-vis horizontal reservation under

"35.

Artcle 16(4), the views taken by the High Courts of Rajasthan,

Bombay, Uttranchal and Gujarat were upheld with following rider:

We must also clarify at this stage that it is not

disputed that the Applicant no.1 and other similarly situated candidates are otherwise entitled and eligible to be appointed in 'Open/General Category' and that they

have not taken or availed of any special benefit which may disentitle them from being considered against 'Open/General Category' seat. The entire discussion and

analysis in the present case is, therefore, from said perspective."

4(v) The judgment delivered in Jitendra Kumar Singh's

case was based on its own facts governed by specific statutory

provisions and State Government circulars. In view of law laid

down in Deepa E.V., Gaurav Pradhan and Nirav Kumar's cases

supra, this judgment on its own cannot advance the claim of

petitioner for migration from ST category to General category on

the strength of securing more marks than the minimum cut off

marks in general category. The Hon'ble Apex Court has already

held that judgment in Jitendra Kumar Singh's case was based on

the statutory interpretation of U.P. Government Act 1994 and the

.

State Government instruction dated 25.3.1994 providing for a

specific scheme of migration. The statutory scheme and the

intention of the state government as indicated from the said

scheme cannot be extended to the respondent-State where the

instructions on the subject express intention different to the one

expressed in Jitendra Kumar's case. The said circular which

govern the recruitment in question was issued on 12.12.2011

and reads as under:-

"From

The principal Secretary (Personnel) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

To

1. All Administrative Secretaries to thereafter Government of Himachal Pradesh.

2. All the Divisional Commissioners in H.P.

3. All the Deputy Commissioners in H.P.

4. All the Heads of the Departments in H.P.

5. All the Chairmen/ Managing Directors/

Secretaries & Registrars of all the Public Sector Undertakings/Corporations/Boards/ Universities etc. in H.P.

Dated: Shimla-171002, the 12th December, 2011.

Subject: Relaxation of standard/concessions to the SCs/STs/OBCs against unreserved posts-classification regarding.

I am directed to refer to this department's instructions issued vide letter No. PER (AP)-C-B(12)-1/98, dated 20.08.1998 and 19.02.2000 followed by letter No. PER (AP)-C-F(1)-1/95, dated 04.01.2000 and No. PER (AP)- C-F(11)-3/98, dated 18.01.2004 regarding implementation of post based reservation rosters, determination of seniorities and treatment of reserved category candidates appointed on their own merit.

2. The above mentioned instructions provide that the reserved category candidates who are appointed on their own merit and not owing to reservation will not be adjusted against reserved points and they will be adjusted against unreserved points. These instructions further provide that the SC/ST candidates appointed on their own merit by direct recruitment or promotion and adjusted against unreserved points will retain their status of SC/

ST and will be eligible to get benefit of reservation in future/further promotions, if any.

3. The cases are being referred to the Department of Personnel

.

for clarification whether the reserved category candidates who apply for the

post advertised for unreserved category candidates will be entitled for relaxation in standard/concession as provided to them against reserved posts or not?

4. In this context, it is clarified that only such SC/ST/OBC

candidates who are selected on the same standard as applied to general candidates shall not be adjusted against reserved vacancies. In other words, when a relaxed standard is applied in selecting an SC/ST/OBC candidates, for example, in the Age limit, Experience, Qualification, permitted number of chances in written examination, Extended zone of consideration larger than

what is provided for general category candidates etc. The SC/ST/OBC candidates are to be counted against reserved vacancies. Such candidates would be deemed as unavailable for consideration against unreserved vacancies.

r These instructions may be followed strictly and also brought in the notice of all concerned for compliance.

Yours faithfully, Sd/-

Under Secretary (Personnel) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh."

The above extracted instruction though have also

been assailed in the instant writ petition, however, the only

ground pleaded for assailing the same is that these are violative

of Articles 14 and 16 of Constitution of India. Simply by averring

that the instruction are violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the

Constitution of India will not make them unconstitutional.

Scoring more marks than a general category candidate in the

merit list, will not ispo facto entitle a candidate belonging to

SC/ST/OBC category to be accommodated against a general

vacancy. Reservation is an enabling provision. The State is fully

empowered to lay down the criteria for grant of exemption,

concession, reservation, the manner and methodology to

effectuate such reservation. The manner and extent for

providing the reservation has to be spelled from the orders

.

issued by the Government from time to time. Migration of

reserved candidates into general category is also part and parcel

of larger concept of reservation. Below observation from Gaurav

Pradhan's case are relevant in this regard:

"23. The reservation being the enabling provision the

manner and extent to which reservation is provided has to be spelled from the orders issued by the Government from time to time. In the present case there is no issue pertaining to the extent of reservation provided by the State Government to the

SC, ST and OBC candidates. The issue involved in the present

case is as to whether the reserved category candidates can be allowed to be migrated into general category candidates. The reservation is wide enough to include exemption, concession etc. The exemption, concession etc. are allowable to the reserved

category candidates to effectuate and to give effect to the object behind Article 16 clause (4) of the Constitution. The State is fully empowered to lay down the criteria for grant of exemption, concession and reservation and the manner and methodology to

effectuate such reservation. The migration of reserved candidates into general category candidates is also part and

parcel of larger concept of reservation and the Government orders issued on 17.06.1996, 04.03.2002 and 24.06.2008 were the Government orders providing for methodology for migration

of reserved category candidates into general category candidates which was well within the power of State......"

The circular/instruction dated 12.12.2011, clearly

provide that only such SC/ST/OBC candidates who are selected

on the same standard as applied to general category candidates

shall not be adjusted against reserved vacancies or in other

words when a relaxed standard is applied in selecting SC/ST/OBC

candidates for example in age limit, experience, qualification,

permitted number of chances in written examination, extended

.

zone of consideration then the SC/ST/OBC candidates are to be

counted against reserved vacancies. Such candidates will be

deemed as unavailable for consideration against unreserved

vacancies. The inclusion of reserved category candidate in the

general category would only be in accordance with law of

reservation. Instruction

dated 12.12.2011 providing

reasonable classification for treating unequals as equals cannot

be said to be unconstitutional. The petitioner has not been able for

to demonstrate before us as to how the instructions (already

extracted above) are violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the

Constitution of India. It is next contended that these instructions

were not part and parcel of the recruitment notice dated

5.3.2015 inviting applications for posts of Constables, therefore,

could not have been applied to the recruitment process in

question. We are afraid that the contention has been raised only

to be rejected. The recruitment process initiated on 5.3.2015

was certainly to be governed by the instructions dated

12.12.2011 regulating the subject. There was no necessity of

incorporating these instructions governing the mode and

manner of migration of reserve category candidates to general

category, in the recruitment notice. Instructions of such nature

having uniform application through out the State do not loose

their finding force merely because of their non incorporation in

the recruitment notice.

.

For all the aforesaid reasons, the writ petition lacks

merit and the same is accordingly dismissed. Pending

application(s), if any, stand disposed of. All interim orders stand

vacated.

(Tarlok Singh Chauhan), Judge.

(Jyotsna Rewal Dua),

Judge.

26th February, 2021, (vs)