- (1.) As per the averments made in this writ petition, the petitioners were initially appointed as Constables in the Indian Reserve Battalion and Punjab Armed Police, and were assigned duties as Constables.
(2.) In response to an advertisement issued in the month of October, 2010, the petitioners applied for the posts of Constables in the District Cadre of the Punjab Police and were selected as such. As per the further averments, the respondents are holding a Basic proficiency test which is aimed for further promotion in service. As per the terms and conditions, any Constable having three years of service is entitled to appear in the said test. According to the petitioners, they represented to the respondents for counting their previous service rendered in the Indian Reserve Battalion and Punjab Armed Police for the purposes of their eligibility to appear in the said Basic proficiency test, which was to be held on 15th July, 2012, but the same was cancelled and is now stated to be scheduled for 20th August, 2012. However, the petitioners are not being allowed to appear in the Basic proficiency test despite the instructions (Annexure P-1) dated 15th November, 2000 and letter dated 25th May, 2011 (Annexure P-2) issued by the respondents and thus, a direction has been sought to the respondents to count the service rendered by the petitioners as Constables in the Indian Reserve Battalion and Punjab Armed Police before joining the district cadre of Punjab Police service under the respondents for the purposes of Basic proficiency test, which is to be held by the respondents for promotion to the higher rank of Head Constable.
(3.) I have heard learned counsel for the petitioners and perused the averments made in this writ petition as well as the documents placed on record.;