S. Chandrashekhar, J. - (1.) SEEKING quashing of Notification dated 25.06.2013 and Notification dated 12.09.2013, the present writ petition has been filed. A direction to the respondents to conduct a special/fresh Civil Services Examination for unsuccessful candidates of 1st and 2nd Jharkhand Public Service Examinations has also been made in the present writ petition.
(2.) THE brief facts of the case are that, for the 1st J.P.S.C. Examination, an Advertisement was issued in the year, 2003 and the cut -off date was fixed 01.08.2003. For the 2nd J.P.S.C. Examination, an Advertisement was issued in the year, 2006 and the cut -off date was fixed 01.08.2004. Similarly, for the 3rd and 4th J.P.S.C. Examinations, the cut -off dates were fixed 01.08.2005 and 01.08.2006 respectively. However, for the 5th J.P.S.C. Examination for which the Advertisement was published in the year, 2013, the cut -off date was fixed 01.08.2009. Earlier, W.P. (PIL) No. 3594 of 2011 titled "Budh Deo Oraon v. State of Jharkhand and Others" was filed challenging the 1st and 2nd J.P.S.C. Examinations and this Court found the entire selection process tainted and hence, the matter was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. In the writ petition filed by the "Adivasi Chhatra Sangh" (W.P. (C) No. 4301 of 2013), this Court observed that the respondent -authorities are required to consider the representation in terms of policy of the Government. In W. P. (PIL) No. 6824 of 2013, this Court permitted the individual candidates to approach the authorities. It is stated that, though for the 4th J.P.S.C. Examination, the upper age limit for the General Category candidate was 40 years, for the 5th J.P.S.C. Examination, the upper age limit has been reduced from 40 years to 35 years which has adversely affected the petitioner and other similarly situated candidates. In other States, upper age limit has been enhanced from 35 years to 40 years for appearing in the Public Service Examinations. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
(3.) THE learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, though unsuccessful candidates of the 1st and 2nd J.P.S.C. Examinations have been given two compensatory attempts however, by fixing 01.08.2009 as cut -off date the petitioner has been denied two compensatory attempts. Challenging the decision reducing the maximum age limit for the General Category candidates from 40 years to 35 years, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the decision taken by the respondents is arbitrary and illegal.;