Rajiv Narain Raina, J. - (1.) This is a selection matter involving recruitment to the post of Assistant Food & Supplies Officer (AFSO). The Government of Haryana sent a requisition on August 24, 2006 to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana for filling up one post of AFSO by an orthopaedically handicapped candidate. The advertisement was placed in the print media on August 29, 2006 inviting applications from eligible candidates from the reserve category of applicants suffering from orthopaedic disabilities to the extent indicated. Other posts were also advertised including the post of Auditor, Clerks and Chowkidars etc. with which we are not presently concerned. The territory of State was divided into four zones for interview purposes since the number of candidates who responded to the employment notice were 1294 in number. For each zone was constituted an independent Interview Committee headed by a Senior District Level Officer of the department. Each zone had different committees depending on the volume of work. The interviews were conducted in the first fortnight of October 2006. The criteria of selection consisted of 20 marks out of which 5 were for academic qualifications, 5 marks for experience and 10 marks for viva voce. A total of 1022 candidates appeared before the Interview Committees. The rest dropped out of the competition.
(2.) The petitioner was an applicant in the category of orthopaedically handicapped persons. He has challenged the selection of Bharat Bhushan as AFSO who is named the 3rd respondent to the petition.
(3.) The State has filed its written statement and so has the selected candidate Bharat Bhushan defending his selection. Besides, affidavits and additional affidavits have been filed as per directions issued by this Court from time to time. The pleadings are complete and the matter was taken up for final hearing and judgment was reserved on October 07, 2016 after hearing the parties, which is being pronounced today containing the reasons for the decision taken to allow the petition.;