Baljeet Singh & Others v. State Of Punjab & Others

CWP No. 20044 of 2015

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CWP No. 20044 of 2015 Date of decision: 19.09.2015 Baljeet Singh and others ....Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab and others

...Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.S.SANDHAWALIA

Present:

Mr. Ranjivan Singh, Advocate, for the petitioners.

G.S.SANDHAWALIA, J. (Oral) The present writ petition has been filed for consideration of applications of the petitioners to the post of the Revenue Patwaris on the ground that in view of notification dated 28.10.2014 (Annexure P-2), the amendment of the Rules had been done and vacant posts prior to the amendment of the Rule were sought to be filled. The petitioners allege to be having +2 qualifications and would be barred on account of the requirement of Graduation from the recognized university alongwith the experience of computers as per the amendment in The Punjab Revenue Patwaris, Class-III, Service Rules, 1966. Reliance has been placed upon similar orders passed by this Court in CWP No. 19351 of 2015 (Annexure P-4) whereby, similar indulgence was granted to similarly situated candidates to apply manually by 18.09.

2015, which was the last date for submitting the applications alongwith the fee challan generated system. A further prayer has been made for extension of the last date. Admittedly, the last date for submitting the applications was 18.09.2015. The petitioner approached this Court only on 18.09.2015 itself SHIVANI GUPTA 2015.09.

CWP No. 20044 of 2015 knowing very well that the matter was not likely to be listed on the same date. The petition has come up today after the last date is over. In such circumstances, to grant indulgence and permit the petitioners to provisionally appear would have serious legal implications and would amount to opening of the flood gates to other candidates who would approach this Court for the same relief and on the principle of parity alleging that they were eligible to apply against the vacancies which were there prior to the amendment of the Rule on the strength of +2 qualifications. It is settled principle that the cut off date has to be strictly adhered to and cannot be tinkered with impunity.

In such circumstances, once the last date is over, it would not be permissible for this Court to extend the last date and permit the petitioners to apply for the said post. It is settled principle that law protects the ones who are vigilant and not to the ones who sleep over their rights. In such circumstances, indulgence cannot be made and the present writ petition is dismissed accordingly. 19.09.2015 (G.S. SANDHAWALIA) shivani JUDGE SHIVANI GUPTA 2015.09.