- (1.) This judgment disposes of Civil Writ Petitions No.6191 and 4167 of 1993.
(2.) A challenge has been made to the selection to the posts of Junior Engineer-II (Electrical) pursuant to the advertisement circulated vide Memo No.218609/ 219959/ CRA- 109/165, dated November 8, 1990 addressed by the Secretary, Staff Selection Committee, Recruitment Section-I, Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala to all the Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Sub Divisional Officers in the Board.
(3.) A brief reference to relevant facts s necessary for adjudication of the dispute: The Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala (for short, the Board) vide Office Order No.l33/ENG/BET/G-33, dated June 2, 1987, fixed the following criteria for filling up the posts of Junior Engineers-II and Sub Station Operators: "(a) Line Supdt. (J.E.-II) i) By Direct Recruitment from amongst Diploma 60% Holders/Matriculate ITI pass Lineman with 5 years' experience as Lineman, ii) By promotion from at least Matriculate/higher 40% qualified Lineman on seniority-cum-merit basis subject to completion of minimum time gap already prescribed. "(b) Sub Station Operator: i) By direct recruitment from amongst Diploma 33% Holders in Elect. Engineering with 2 years' experience on Sub Stations and Matric ITI qualified SSAs with 5 years' experience on Sub Stations, ii) By promotion from Matriculate/higher 67% qualified SSAs on seniority-cum-merit basis subject to the completion of minimum time gap already prescribed. Vide office order No.l5/ENG-3(34) Vol-III, dated March 9,1989, the Board with a view to remove the under employment among the in-service Diploma/ITI qualified Lineman and Sub Station Attendants, modified the criteria laid down by office order dated June 2, 1987 and decided that the recruitment to the post of Junior Engineer-Gr.II (Electrical) and Junior Engineer Gr.II (Sub Station Operators) henceforth would be made as a temporary measure from amongst the Lineman and Sub Station Attendants, who possess the following qualifications/experience: "(1) Candidates who are Matric ITI in the trade of Lineman/Electrician/Wiremen and have experience of rninimurn 10 years as Lineman in the Board for appointment to the post of Jr. Engineer, Gr-JJ and who have minimum 10 years' experience as Sub Station Attendant in the Board for the post of Sub Station Operator (JE-II). OR (ii) Candidates who have 3/4 years diploma in the Electrical Engineering and have worked for atleast 5 years as Lineman in the Board for the post of Jr. Engineer-II (Electrical) and who have worked for atleast 5 years as Sub Station Attendant for the post of Sub Station Operator/(Jr. Engineer-II).";