Vijay Bishnoi, J. - (1.) THE petitioners, in these writ petitions, have challenged the amendment introduced in Rajasthan Rural Development and Panchayati Raj State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1998 (hereinafter after referred to as 'the Rules of 1998'), whereby the State Government has made certain alterations in the qualificational eligibility for the purpose of appointment to the post of Junior Engineer (Degree Holder) and Junior Engineer (Diploma Holder).
(2.) AS per the existing qualification required for consideration for appointment to the post of Junior Engineer (Degree Holder), an aspirant should have degree in Civil or Agricultural Engineering from a university established by law in India or qualification declared equivalent thereto by the Government. The qualification of degree in Civil Engineering from a recognized institution or Diploma in Civil Engineering recognized by the institution of engineers is required to have consideration for appointment to the post of Junior Engineer [Diploma (Civil) Holder]. The petitioners, who are having qualifications of degree or diploma in Engineering in trades of Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science and Bachelor of Science are claiming that their exclusion from consideration for the purpose of Junior Engineer (Degree Holder) and Junior Engineer (Diploma Holder) is discriminatory as they were and are working in the various schemes such as MGNREGA and others on engineering posts and discharging similar kind of duties as discharged by a Junior Engineer (Degree Holder) and Junior Engineer (Diploma Holder) in Civil and Agricultural trades.
(3.) IT is contended that the process of selection initiated by the respondents to fill up the post of Junior Engineer under the Rules of 1998 is bad as the qualification prescribed under the Rules itself is discriminatory.;