- (1.) With the consent of the parties, all these writ petitions have been taken up for consideration together and are being decided by this common order. Facts are, however, being noticed from Civil Writ Petition No.16672 of 2010 (Ashu Garg and another v. State of Punjab and others).
(2.) Challenge in these petitions is to the recruitment process/shortlisting of candidates for purposes of appointment to the posts of Drug Inspectors under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, State of Punjab. Briefly noticed, advertisement dated 2.5.2010 was issued by the respondent-Department inviting applications for recruitment to the various posts including 37 posts of Drug Inspectors. The educational and other qualifications for the post of Drug Inspector have been specifically stipulated in such advertisement and the same read in the following terms: "Educational and other qualifications for Drug Inspector: Should possess a degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences or Medicine with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology or Microbiology from a recognized University or Institution. Provided that only those Inspectors:- i) Who have not less than 18 months experience in the manufacture of at least one of the substances specified in Schedule "C" of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945; or ii)Who have not less than 18 months experience in the testing of at least one of the substances in Schedule "C" of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945; in a laboratory approved for this purpose by the licensing authority; or iii)Who have gained experience of not less than 3 years in the inspection of firms manufacturing any of the substances in Schedule "C" of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1945 during the tenure of their services as Drugs Inspectors; shall be authorized to inspect the manufacture of the substances mentioned in Schedule "C" of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1945. iv)Candidates must have passed Punjabi up to matriculation standard."
(3.) It was also stipulated that incomplete applications as also the candidates with incomplete educational qualifications will not be considered/entertained. The last date for submission of application forms from the eligible candidates was fixed as on or before 12.6.2010. A written examination for purposes of selection was fixed for 25.7.2010, which was subsequently postponed to 8.8.2010. The petitioners assert that they were eligible for the post of Drug Inspector and had, accordingly, submitted their applications prior to the last date for submission of application forms and had also appeared in the written examination held on 8.8.2010. In pursuance to the written test having been held, a list at Annexure P7 had been issued by the respondent-Department reflecting the names of 70 candidates to be called for interview pertaining to the General Category.;