Hemant Gupta and A.N. Jindal, JJ. - (1.) This order shall dispose of above mentioned three writ petitions, wherein, the petitioners have sought a writ of mandamus for directing the respondents to appoint the petitioners to the posts of Civil Judges (Junior Division)-cum- Judicial Magistrates in the State of Punjab from the date the other candidates were appointed i.e. 18.4.2011
(2.) The brief facts leading to the present petition are that the Punjab Public Service Commission invited applications by public advertisement dated 10.5.2010 in various newspapers for the recruitment to 85 posts of Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch). Though, initially, the advertisement contemplated 25 posts for the General Category but in the subsequent corrigendum issued on 31.8.2011 (Annexure P-1) 34 posts were meant to be filled from amongst General Category candidates. The petitioners participated in the selection process, the result of which was declared on 23.12.2010 (Annexure P-2). The name of the petitioners in these petitions appear at serial numbers 37, 38, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48 and 49.
(3.) While declaring the result, a note was appended by the Registrar (General) of this Court, which reads as under:- First 34 candidates appearing in Annexure "A", the first 11 candidates appearing in Annexure "B", the first 14 candidates appearing in Annexure "C", all the 5 candidates appearing in Annexure "D", the candidates appearing in Annexures "E", "F" and "G" are recommended to be appointed as Civil Judges (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrates in the State of Punjab. 15 candidates next in the merit in Annexure "A" and 5 candidates next in merit in Annexure "B" shall remain in waiting list for one year from today i.e. 23.12.2010. In the eventuality of any vacancy accruing in the above-said 34 + 11 vacancies on account of non joining of the candidates or the resignation of any candidates or on account of any other unforeseen eventuality, such vacancies shall be filled up from the above said 15 + 5 candidates from their respective categories. It is not disputed that 34 candidates were initially offered appointment but two of them did not join. Consequently, the candidates at serial number 35 and 36 were offered appointment.;