Gupta, J. - (1.) This is an appeal by special leave from a judgment and order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dated November 14, 1977 allowing a writ petition made by the fourth respondent before us. By the impugned judgment the High Court set aside the decision of the Punjab Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) selecting the appellant for the post of Export Promotion Officer, directed the Commission to "hold the selection afresh" and gave certain directions for the purpose. The judgment appealed from marks the second chapter in the dispute concerning the selection.
(2.) These are the relevant facts. On September 10, 1975 the Commissioner invited applications for the aforesaid post. Six candidates including the appellant before us were interviewed by the Commission an November 20, 1975 for selection. The appellant occupied the first place in the list of candidates selected by the Commission according to merit; the name of one Shamsher Singh figured second in the list. However, the appellant was not recommended by the Commission for appointment because he had not on the date of the interview passed the test in Punjabi. In the advertisement inviting applications for the post one of the conditions laid down was that the "candidates shall have to pass the test (of knowledge in Punjabi) held by the Commission before interview". Shamsher Singh was accordingly recommended by the Commission. The present appellant filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the Commission's decision recommending Shamsher Singh for appointment. It appears that Shamsher Singh's sister was married to the son of the Chairman of the Commission, Giani Lal Singh who presided over the meeting held on November 20, 1975 for selection. By his judgment and order dated August 2, 1977 Harbans Lal J. who heard the matter allowed the writ petition and set aside the decision of the Commission selecting Shamsher Singh observing ".. ... ... it cannot be said that respondent No. 3 as Chairman of the Commission could have possibly applied his mind dispassionately while making selection of respondent No. 4 (Shamsher Singh) to the post and rejecting the other candidates including the petitioner". The learned Judge added that the Commission would be "at liberty to make the selection afresh". No appeal was preferred from this judgment. The Commission met again some time in September 1977 to select a candidate for the post. Giani Lal Singh had retired in the meantime. It may be stated here that the appellant passed the test in Punjabi on July 5, 1976. The Commission examined the qualifications, experience and the record of performance of the candidates at the interview already held and prepared a list in order of merit which was as follows: 1. Bhushan Kumar Puri, (appellant) 2. K. Shamsher Singh 3. Gobinder Singh Raadhawa (respondent No. 4) The appellant was recommended by the Commission for appointment. Respondent No. 4 challenged the selection of the appellant by a writ petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court by the impugned judgment set aside the selection of the appellant for the post on the ground that "the fresh selection has not been made in accordance with the principles of natural justice" and directed the Commission to "hold the selection afresh after giving an opportunity to all the candidates of being heard at personal interviews". The Commission was further asked to take into consideration "all relevant qualifications acquired by any candidates up to the date of the interview" to be held. The propriety of this order is challenged by the appellant in the present appeal.
(3.) The Commission filed an affidavit in the High Court answering the allegations made in the writ petition filed by the fourth respondent. The affidavit states inter alia: "While ................. quashing the selection of Sh. K. Shamsher Singh as Export Promotion Officer, the Hon'ble High Court left it open to the Commission to make the selection afresh keeping in view the observations made by them in the judgment. Accordingly, the whole case was reviewed by the Commission without Giani Lal Singh who had in the meantime retired. Respondent No. 4 (in the writ petition:the present appellant) was not earlier selected by the Commission as he had failed to qualify in the Punjabi test held by the Commission . . ... ... By the time the Hon'ble High Court gave its judgment on 2-8-1977, respondent No. 4 had passed the Punjabi Parbodh examination held by the Language Department on 5-7-1976. This fact was taken into account by the Commission while considering the entire case afresh in the light of the judgment of the High Court ... ... ... the Commission did not consider it necessary to readvertise the post and call the candidates again for interview. The Commission in their meeting held on 1-9-1977 went through the qualifications, experience and record of the performance of the candidates at the interview already held, and prepared the merit list for the post ... ... ..";