NUTANANDOTHERSAND RAKESHKUMARSINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three writ petitions involving the same dispute with respect to selection of the private respondents for appointment to the post of Fisheries Extension Officer have been heard together and are disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) The Governor of Bihar has framed rules entitled The Animal Husbandry and (Fisheries) Service Recruitment Rules, 1993 (in short 'the Recruitment Rules') for appointment of, amongst others, Fisheries Extension Officers in the State of Bihar. The said rules were notified on January 14, 1993. On March 2, 1993 the Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department sent requisition to the Bihar Public Service Commission to make advertisement and selection with respect to 33 posts of the Fisheries Extension Officer to be filled by direct recruitment. The advertisement was published on April 4, 1993. Candidates were called for interview which was held from March 21 to 23, 1994. The selection list in respect of 20 candidates was sent to the Government on March 24, 1994. No recommendation was made with respect to the remaining 13 posts as suitable candidates of the concerned categories were not available. The petitioner participated in the interview/selection process but failed to find berth in the selection list. They have come up to this Court challenging the process of recruitment.

(3.) The selection process has been assailed mainly on two grounds- (a) Consideration of the academic performance of the candidates at various examinations and (b) Illegality in constitution of the Interview Board. The selection of respondents Sanjay Kumar Gupta and Manoranjan Kumar has been additionally questioned on the ground of lack of prescribed qualification.