M.M. Kumar, J. - (1.) THIS judgment shall dispose of C.W.P. Nos. 16016 and 16188 of 2000, 150, 1765 and 6341 of 2001, 6985 of 2004 and 8057 of 2005. However, the facts are being taken from C.W.P. No. 16016 of 2000. The petitioners have approached this Court seeking a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent State to appoint them against the posts of Assistant Engineer (Civil) in the respondent Department in pursuance to their selection and recommendation made by the Haryana Public Service Commission.
(2.) THE Haryana Public Service Commission (for brevity, 'the Commission') issued an advertisement in English Daily 'The Tribune, 'Indian Express, Chandigarh' on 17.7.1996, 'Times of India' on 19.7.1996,and Hindi Daily 'Dainik Tribune, Chandigarh' on 18.7.1996 for filling up 6 temporary posts of Assistant Engineer (Civil) Class -II in the P.W.D. (B&R Branch) Haryana, in the pay scale of Rs. 2200 -4000 plus usual allowances as sanctioned by the Haryana Government. One post each was kept reserved for Scheduled Castes of Haryana (Block A) and Backward Class of Haryana. The age prescribed was not below 20 years and not more than 35 years as on 1.8.1996. Relaxation in upper age limit was admissible to various reserved categories as per Government instructions. The candidates were required to possess (i) Degree in Civil Engineering of a recognized University or one of the other equivalent qualifications in Civil Engineering as specified in Appendix 'B' to the HSE Class -II, PWD (B&R) Branch Rules, 1965 (Annexure P -1). Thereafter the Commission issued a corrigendum in September, 1999 for increasing the total number of posts for Assistant Engineer (Civil) P.W.D. (Buildings and Roads Branch) from 6 to 39with the following breakup: The last date of submission of applications was extended upto 30.11.1999 and the date for the purposes of age was fixed as 1.8.1999 instead of 1.8.1996.
(3.) THE petitioners being eligible submitted their applications. It is admitted position that they were called for screening test and after successfully clearing the same, interviewed by the Commission on different dates in March, 2000. The final result of the selection was published on 31.5.2000 (P -4). On 31.5.2000, the Secretary of the Commission sent a letter to the Financial Commissioner and Secretary to Government Haryana, P.W.D. (B&R) Department recommending the names of the candidates including the petitioners category wise in order of merit for appointment to the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) Class -II in P.W.D. (B&R) Department, Haryana (P -4/A). On 8.8.2000, letters were issued by the respondent Department to the Director, Health Services Haryana, Chandigarh, with a copy to the concerned selected candidates asking them to appear before the Director, Health Services for their medical examination (P -5). Similarly, letters were also issued to the concerned District Magistrates for verification of character and antecedents of the selected candidates for the post of Assistant Engineer for illustration, one such letter dated 10.8.2000 has been placed on record (Annexure P -6).;