- (1.) Petitioners have approached this Court with a grievance that despite the criteria having been specifically prescribed in the advertisement dated 3.10.2011 (Annexure P-8) calling upon the eligible candidates to apply for recruitment to the post of Lady Constables in various districts of Punjab, the same, during the process of selection, has been changed which is not permissible in law.
(2.) Counsel for the petitioners contends that the petitioners fulfilled the educational qualifications and the age criteria, which was fixed as per the advertisement and accordingly applied for appointment to the post of female Constables. Their applications were considered and they were called for participating in the selection process. Criteria for selection was laid down in the advertisement dated 3.10.2011 which was published in Punjabi Newspaper 'Ajit'. The physical standards and physical efficiency test of the petitioners was conducted on 9th & 10th of November, 2011.
(3.) Before the interview could be held, a fax message was received from the Chairman-cum-Inspector General of Police, Zone Recruitment Board for Female Constables, 2011, Bathinda by the Chairman-cum-SSP, Faridkot, a copy of which was also forwarded to the Deputy Superintendent of Police participating in the selection process. This fax message is dated 10.11.2012 (Annexure R-4/T). In this fax message, it was stated that Standing Order No.3/2010 issued by the Director General of Police, Punjab be given effect to as far as the standard for physical efficiency test was concerned. Earlier, the advertised standard for the female candidates was that 800 meters race was to be completed in four minutes (one chance), long jump was to be for 3.25 meters (three chances) and high jump 1.05 meters (three chances), which as per Standing Order No.3/2010, long jump was reduced to 3.00 meters (three chances) and high jump was reduced to 0.95 meters (three chances). This, counsel for the petitioner contends, cannot be done once the selection process has been initiated. He contends that the selection which has been made by lowering the standard of physical efficiency in the light of Standing Order No.3/2010 issued by the Director General of Police, is not sustainable and the candidates who had cleared the first two stages of the recruitment process and as per the criteria laid down in the advertisement, had a prior right for consideration for appointment.;