Madhya Pradesh High Court
Laxman Singh Lodhi vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh on 10 October, 2025
Author: Maninder S. Bhatti
Bench: Maninder S. Bhatti
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR
BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE MANINDER S. BHATTI
ON THE 10th OF OCTOBER, 2025
WRIT PETITION No. 32673 of 2025
LAXMAN SINGH LODHI AND OTHERS
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
Appearance:
Shri Devesh Bhojne - Advocate for the petitioners.
Shri Darshan Soni G.A. appeared for respondents.
ORDER
1. The petitioners have filed this writ petition praying for following
reliefs:-
"(i) To issue a writ in the nature of Certiorari to quash
the impugned in-eligibility List whereby petitioners
were declared in eligible for appointment on the post of
Contract Teacher Grade-III i.e (Ann. P/-4)
(ii) To issue a writ in the nature of mandamus
commanding the respondents to appoint the petitioners
on the post of Contract Teacher Grade-III.
(iii) To grant any other relief which this Hon'ble Court
deemed fit in the circumstances of the present case
awarded to the petitioners."
2. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners'
case is covered by the decision of the Apex Court in the case of Smita
Shrivastava Vs. State of M.P. & Ors. passed in SLP (C) No.23966-
23968/2023. He further submits that the petitioners are being denied
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appointment on the post of Samvida Shala Shikshak on the ground that they
are ineligible as they failed to procure minimum aggregate marks in the
eligibility examination. It is his submission that the circular prescribing such
condition has already been declared ultra-vires by the Division Bench of this
Court vide order dated 24/08/2009 passed in the case of Sarbar Khan Vs.
State of M.P. & others in W.P. No.1688/2009. He refers to paragraph 20 of
the said order which read as under:-
"20. In the case at hand, as is demonstrable, initially the Rule
prescribed the eligibility criteria. By way of amendment, what has been
stipulated is that the candidate must receive the requisite percentage of marks
in each paper. Neither the original rule nor the amended rule prescribes
marks in aggregate. It is worth noting that the aggregate is also connected
and has intrinsic nexus with the eligibility. Thus, it is luminescent that the
rule had made a postulate relating to the eligibility criteria and the letter
circular has stipulated a different eligibility criteria by incorporating the
concept of aggregate. It is, thus, luculent that the circular runs absolutely
contrary to the rules and, in fact, it brings in an inconsistency. Thus, we have
no doubt in our mind that the circular issued by the Secretary, School
Education Department, dated 26-9-08, contained in Annexure-P/1, has to be
declared ultra vires as it supplants the rules and accordingly, we so declare".
3 . The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that they have
already submitted representation contained in Annexure-P/5 to the
respondents but the same has not been decided so far. He, therefore, prays
for disposal of the petition directing the respondents to consider the
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petitioners representation keeping in view the judgment passed by the Apex
Court in the case of Smita Shrivastava (supra) as also judgment passed by the
Division Bench of this Court in the case of Sarbar Khan (supra) .
4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents/State has no
objection to the innocuous prayer made by the learned counsel for the
petitioners.
5 . Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed off directing respondent
no.2 & 4 to consider the petitioners' representation filed as Annexure-P/5,
alongwith this writ petition, and decide the same considering the judgment
passed by the Apex Court in the case of Smita Shrivastava (supra) and the
Division Bench of this Court in the case of Sarbar Khan (supra) within a
period of 90 days' from the date of submission of the certified copy of this
order.
6 . Needless to mention that in case the petitioners are found covered
by the aforesaid decisions, they shall be given requisite benefits in
accordance with law. It is also directed that respondents no.2 & 4 shall
intimate the decision on their representation to the petitioners.
7. With the aforesaid direction, this petition is disposed off.
8 . It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on
merits of the case.
(MANINDER S. BHATTI)
JUDGE
Astha
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