- (1.) This Letters Patent Appeal has been directed against the order dated 23.02.2012 passed by the learned Single Judge whereby the writ petition (CWP No.22533 of 2010) filed by the appellant challenging the order dated 13.03.2007 (Annexure P1) passed by the Collector, Hoshiarpur appointing respondent No.4 as Scheduled Caste Lambardar of village Gangnoli, Tehsil and District Hoshiarpur; orders dated 19.02.2008 (Annexure P3) and 15.09.2010 (Annexure P5) passed by the Commissioner and Financial Commissioner Appeals-II, respectively, upholding the order of the Collector, has been dismissed.
(2.) Though this appeal is barred by limitation, and along with the appeal, the appellant has filed an application (CM No.3441 of 2012) for condonation of 64 days delay in filing the appeal, yet without taking the said delay into consideration, we have heard the learned counsel for the appellant on merits and gone through the impugned order as well as the orders passed by the revenue authorities.
(3.) In this case, seven persons made applications for appointment of the newly created post of Scheduled Caste Lambardar in the village. Naib Tehsildar got their antecedents and character verified from the police, and after considering the evidence led by them in support of their claim, recommended the name of respondent No.4 for appointment on the said post. The Collector, who is the appointing authority of the post of Lambardar, after hearing all the parties and appreciating the comparative merit of each of the candidate, appointed respondent No.4 as Scheduled Caste Lambardar of the village vide order dated 13.03.2007.;