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Ravindra Singh v. Regional Higher Education Officer, Meerut And Another
Factual and Procedural Background
On the retirement of an employee, a vacancy arose in a Class-IV post at Arya Kanya Pathshala Post Graduate College, Khurja, affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The Principal sought permission from the Regional Higher Education Officer (RHEO), Meerut, and the authority by an order dated 5.12.2000 accorded approval to fill the post. The college advertised the vacancy, 223 candidates applied, and the selection committee recommended the petitioner. The college issued an appointment letter to the petitioner and forwarded his papers to the RHEO for financial approval.
By letter dated 14.5.2001 the RHEO asked whether the vacancy had been filled applying the roster required under the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 ("Act of 1994"). The Principal replied by letters dated 21/23.4.2001 and 27.6.2001, stating that there were 11 sanctioned Class-IV posts, in which four employees were Scheduled Caste (SC), four were Other Backward Classes (OBC) and two were from the General Category, and therefore the roster did not apply (as reported by the Principal).
On the basis of the Principal's earlier information, the RHEO by order dated 30.7.2001 refused to accord approval to the petitioner's appointment on the ground that the roster had not been applied. The Principal then terminated the petitioner's services by order dated 20.11.2001.
The petitioner filed Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 43425 of 2001. That petition was disposed of by order dated 25.1.2002, directing the petitioner to make a fresh representation, which the petitioner did; the representation was rejected by the RHEO by order dated 30.3.2002 on the ground that the post was required to be filled by a reserved-category candidate as per the roster under the Act of 1994.
The petitioner then filed the present writ petition seeking quashing of the RHEO's order dated 30.3.2002 and a direction permitting the petitioner to work as a Class-IV employee.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the vacancy in the Class-IV post had to be filled in accordance with the roster issued under the Act of 1994 (i.e., by a reserved-category candidate) despite the fact that, on the facts admitted in the record, the number of reserved-category incumbents already employed exceeded the permissible reservation percentage;
- Whether the petitioner was entitled to appointment as a General Category candidate and consequential relief (quashing of the RHEO order dated 30.3.2002 and direction to permit the petitioner to work) in light of the roster and the existing composition of incumbents in the cadre.
Arguments of the Parties
Regional Higher Education Officer (Respondent)
- The RHEO's position was that since the vacancy had occurred in the institution for the first time after the enforcement of the Act of 1994, the vacancy must be filled in accordance with the roster and, thus, should be filled by a candidate belonging to a Scheduled Caste (as the roster point required).
Educational Institution (Respondent — the College)
- The college's stated position was that, of the 11 sanctioned posts, eight posts had already been filled up by candidates belonging to reserved categories (SC and OBC) and therefore the quota for reserved categories had already been filled; on that basis, the college contended the vacancy could be filled by a General Category candidate.
Petitioner
- The petitioner sought quashing of the RHEO order dated 30.3.2002 and a direction that the respondents permit him to be appointed and to work as a Class-IV employee (i.e., recognition of his appointment and approval by the RHEO).
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| R.K. Sabharwal v. State of Punjab, 1995 70 FLR 985 SC | The Supreme Court held that once the total number of posts are filled up as per the roster the roster comes to an end and cannot be used further; the roster and the "running account" operate until the respective appointees occupy the posts meant for them, and thereafter the roster's operation ceases for the purpose of achieving equality of opportunity. | The High Court relied on this principle to conclude that where the roster's intended result has been achieved (i.e., reserved quota filled), the roster need not be applied further. The court applied this authority to hold that the RHEO's insistence on applying the roster in the present case was misconceived because the reserved quota had already been met. |
| Bhup Singh v. State of Haryana | The Supreme Court (affirming the High Court) held that the utility of a roster is to guide filling reserved quotas vis-à-vis general-category candidates and that once the quota for a group is achieved the roster ceases to have utility for that community. | The court cited this authority to support the proposition that once the reserved quota is attained, roster points for that community lose their utility and cannot be enforced to displace a general-category appointee; applied to the facts to conclude the roster could not be used to deny the petitioner appointment when the reserved quota was already filled. |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The court examined the statutory scheme in section 3 of the Act of 1994, noting:
- Section 3(1) prescribes reservation percentages for SC, ST and OBC at the stage of direct recruitment, and section 3(5) directs the State Government to issue a roster to be continuously applied until it is exhausted.
- The State Government had issued a roster by notification dated 29.3.1994 specifying roster points for particular categories (for the first eleven posts, certain numbered post slots were allocated to SC, OBC or General Category candidates).
- The court acknowledged the general rule that roster points reserved for SC or OBC can only be filled by persons of those categories while the roster operates.
The court then addressed the competing contentions. It rejected the RHEO's position that the very first appointment after the Act's enforcement must, by definition, follow the roster point for that vacancy. The court observed that such an approach ignored the overarching constraint in section 3(1): reservation cannot result in exceeding fifty percent of the total sanctioned posts for reserved categories.
The court relied on the Supreme Court authorities (R.K. Sabharwal and Bhup Singh) to identify the settled principle that the roster's operation is to be continued until its objective — achieving the reserved quota in the cadre — is attained, and that once the total number of posts in a cadre have been filled in accordance with the roster (i.e., the quota has been achieved), there is no justification to continue operating the roster in a way that would displace the balance achieved.
Applying those principles to the present facts, the court noted that all 11 posts in the cadre had been filled and that eight incumbents from reserved categories were still working — a figure that, on the material before the court (including the supplementary affidavit of the Principal, which was not denied by the RHEO), constituted more than the permissible reservation percentage. The Principal had averred that the eight incumbents had been appointed in the reserved category (and not placed in the General Category on merit), and that averment remained unchallenged.
Consequently, the court concluded that the roster point did not require the vacancy to be filled by a reserved-category candidate; instead, the vacancy should be filled by a General Category candidate. The court therefore found the RHEO's refusal to approve the petitioner's appointment (on the ground that the roster point required a reserved-category appointment) to be erroneous.
Holding and Implications
Holding:
The writ petition is allowed; the impugned order dated 30.3.2002 is quashed.
Directions and immediate consequences imposed by the court:
- The Principal of Arya Kanya Pathshala Post Graduate College is directed to file an affidavit before the RHEO within one month from receipt of a certified copy of the order, indicating that the eight SC and OBC employees working were appointed in the reserved category and not in the General Category.
- On receipt of that affidavit, the RHEO shall accord approval to the appointment of the petitioner as a General Category candidate on a Class-IV post within four weeks.
- The petitioner shall be entitled to payment of salary from the State Exchequer only from the date on which the RHEO accords the approval.
Implications beyond the parties: The judgment applies established principles (as stated in the cited Supreme Court decisions) about the operation and cessation of roster operation once the reserved quota is achieved in a cadre. The opinion does not purport to create a new legal precedent; it applies existing authorities to the facts and provides relief limited to the parties (quashing the administrative order and directing specific administrative steps to effect the petitioner's appointment).
Petition Allowed.
Tarun Agarwala, J.:— On the retirement of an employee, a vacancy occurred on a Class-IV post in a Post Graduate College, which is affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The Principal of the institution sought permission from the Regional Higher Education Officer, Meerut to fill up the vacancy. The authority by an order dated 5.12.2000 accorded approval to the college authority to fill up the post. It transpires that the college advertised the vacancies in two newspapers pursuant to which, 223 candidates appeared and the selection committee recommended the name of the petitioner. The college issued an appointment letter to the petitioner and also forwarded his papers to the Regional Higher Education Officer, Meerut, for grant of financial approval.
2. The Regional Higher Education Officer by its letter dated 14.5.2001 directed the Principal to intimate as to whether the vacancy was filled up after applying the roster as required under the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the Act of 1994). Pursuant to the aforesaid direction, the Principal of the College vide letter dated 21/23.4.2001 and 27.6.2001 intimated the authority that there were 11 sanctioned Class-IV post in which four employees were Scheduled Caste (SC), four employees belonged to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and two employees were from the General Category and, therefore, the application of the roster did not apply.
3. It transpires that based on the aforesaid information, the authority by its order dated 30.7.2001 refused to accord approval to the appointment of the petitioner on the ground that the roster was not applied. On the basis of the aforesaid order, the Principal terminated the services of the petitioner by an order dated 20.11.2001
4. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 43425 of 2001, which was disposed off by an order dated 25.1.2002 directing the petitioner to make a fresh representation which would be decided again by the authority concerned. Pursuant to the aforesaid direction, the petitioner made a representation which was again rejected by the authority by its order dated 30.3.2002 on the ground that the post was required to be filled up by a candidate belonging to the reserved category as per the roster indicated under the Act of 1994.
5. The petitioner has now again filed the present writ petition praying for the quashing of the order of the Regional Higher Education Officer dated 30.3.2002 and has further prayed that the respondents by directed to permit the petitioner to work as a Class-IV employee.
6. Heard Sri Vinod Sinha, the learned Counsel for the petitioner, Sri Suresh Singh, the learned Counsel for the Regional Higher Education Officer and Sri Dinesh Rai, the learned Counsel appearing for the educational institution.
7. The stand taken by the Regional Higher Education Officer is that since the vacancy had occurred in the institution for the first time after the enforcement of the Act of 1994, the first vacancy, as per the roster, had to be filled up by a candidate who was to a Scheduled Caste.
8. On the other hand, the stand of the educational institution is, that out of 11 posts, 8 posts had already been filled up by Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates and therefore their quota had already been filled up. The Regional Higher Education Officer however insisted that the vacancy was required to be filled up as per the roster indicated in the Act of 1994.
9. In order to appreciate the rival submission of the parties, it is essential to take a look at the provisions of the Act of 1994. Section 3 of the Act of 1994 states as under:
“3. Reservation in favour of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes:
(1) In public services and posts, there shall be reserved at the stage of direct recruitment, the following percentages of vacancies to which recruitments are to be made in accordance with the roster referred to in sub-section (5) in favour of the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes of citizen.
(a)in the case of Scheduled Castes20%(b)in the case of Scheduled Tribes2%(c)in the case of Other Backward Classes of citizens27%:
Provided that the reservation under Clause (c) shall not apply to the category of Other Backward Classes of citizens specified in Schedule 11.
(2) If, even in respect of any year of recruitment, any vacancy reserved for any category of persons under sub-section (1) remains unfilled, special recruitment shall be made for such number of times, not exceeding three, as may be considered necessary to fill such vacancy from amongst the persons belonging to that category.
(3) If, in the third such recruitment referred to in sub-section (2) suitable candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes are not available to fill the vacancy reserved for them, such vacancy shall be filled by persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste.
(4) Where, due to non-availability of suitable candidates any of the vacancies reserved under sub-section (1) remains unfilled even after special recruitment referred to in sub-section (2) it may be carried over to the next year commencing from first of July, in which recruitment is to be made, subject to the condition that in that year total reservation of vacancies for all categories persons mentioned in sub-section (1) shall not exceed fifty percent of the total vacancies.
(5) The State Government shall, for applying the reservation under sub-section (1), by a notified order, issue a roster which shall be continuously applied it is exhausted.
(6) If, a person belonging to any of the categories, mentioned in sub-section (1) gets selected on the basis of merit in an open competition with general candidates, he shall not be adjusted against the vacancies reserved for such category under sub-section (1).
(7) If, on the date of commencement of this Act, reservation was inforce under Government Orders for appointment to posts to be filled by promotion, such Government Orders shall continue to be applicable till they are modified or revoked.
10. From a perusal of section 3(1) read with section 3(5) of the Act, it is clear that the recruitment is required to be made in accordance with the roster. The State Government by a notification dated 29.3.1994 has issued a roster indicating the particular post which is required to be filled up by a S.C/S.T or O.B.C or a General Category candidate. For example, for the first eleven posts, post Nos. 5 and 11 is required to be filled up by a S.C Candidate, post Nos. 3, 7 and 9 are required to be filled up by an O.B.C Candidate and post Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are required to be filled up by a general category candidate. Therefore, the aforesaid roster point which is reserved for a S.C Category or an O.B.C Category can only be filled up by way of an appointment from a person of that category alone. No person from the General Category could be appointed against a post reserved in the roster which is reserved for a S.C or an O.B.C candidate.
11. The stand taken by the Regional Higher Education Officer that since this is the first appointment after the enforcement of the Act of 1994, the vacancy is therefore, required to be filled up as per the roster by a candidate belonging to a reserved category, is patently misconceived.
12. It must not be lost sight of the fact that under section 3(1) of the Act, 50% of the total number of sanctioned post could only be filled up by the candidates belonging to the reserved category. At no point of time the number of post occupied by candidates from the reserved category could exceed 50%. In the light of the aforesaid, the roster issued under section 3(5) of the Act has to be applied. The Supreme Court in R.K Sabharwal v. State of Punjab . 1995 70 FLR 985 SC. held that once the total number of post are filled up as per the roster, the said roster comes to an end and does not survive any longer and that the roster could not be used any further. The Supreme Court further held—
“Therefore, the only way to assure equality of opportunity to the Backward Classes and the General Category is to permit the roster to operate till the time the respective appointees/promotees occupy the post meant for them in the roster. The operation of the roster and the “running account” must come to an end thereafter. The vacancies arising in the cadre, after the initial posts are filled, will pose no difficulty. As and when there is a vacancy whether permanent or temporarily in a particular post the same has to be filled from amongst the category to which the post belong in the roster. For example the Scheduled Caste person holding the posting at roster points 1, 7, 15 retire then these slots are to be filled from amongst the person belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Similarly, if the persons holding the post at points 8 to 14 or 23 to 29 retire then these slots are to be filled from among the General Category. While following this procedure there shall neither be shortfall nor excess in the percentage of reservation.”
13. The Supreme Court held that when the total number of posts in a cadre has filled up by operation of the roster, then the result envisaged by the roster was achieved and there was no justification to operate the roster thereafter.
14. In Bhup Singh v. State of Haryana,2 the facts were that in a cadre strength of 44 posts of Labour Inspectors, 9 posts were required to be filled up by way of promotion or by direct recruitment from Scheduled Caste candidates. 9 persons belonging to S.C category were already working as Labour Inspector. However, when the vacancy at roster point No. 68, which was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate, was required to be filled up, the same was filled up by a candidate from the General Category. The High Court took the view that since the prescribed quota of Scheduled Caste candidates had already been attained, the roster point lost its utility. The High Court held that the candidate selected from the General Category could not be displaced on the ground that the roster point indicated the vacancy to be filled up by a Scheduled Caste candidate. The Supreme Court affirmed the view of the High Court and held that once the quota had been achieved, the roster point could not be followed thereafter. The Supreme Court further held:
“Utility of a roster is to provide a guideline for filling up the reserved quota for different groups vis-a-vis the candidates from the General Category. Once the quota is achieved as for one or the other group of communities entitled to reservation, the roster will cease to have utility for that community because the guideline would already have been followed.”
15. In view of the aforesaid, the stand of The Regional Higher Education Officer that the roster has to be applied is erroneous. In the present case, admittedly, all the 11 posts were filled up. Eight persons from the reserved category are still working which is more than 50% of the permissible limit. The Principal in the supplementary affidavit has submitted that the eight persons, in the past, had been appointed as candidates belonging to the reserved category and that none of these eight persons were appointed on merit in the General Category. The averments in the supplementary affidavit has not been denied by the Regional Higher Education Officer. Consequently, the vacancy was required to be filled up by a General Category candidate.
16. Consequently, the petitioner is entitled to the relief claimed. The writ petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 30.3.2002 is quashed. A writ of mandamus is issued commanding the Principal of Arya Kanya Pathshala Post Graduate College, Khurja, district Bulandshahr, to file an affidavit before the Regional Higher Education Officer within one month from the date of the receipt of a certified copy of this order, indicating therein, that the eight S.C and O.B.C employees working were appointed in the reserved category and were not appointed in the General Category. On the receipt of this affidavit, the Regional Higher Education Officer shall accord approval to the appointment of the petitioner as a General Category on a Class-IV post within four weeks thereafter. The petitioner shall be entitled for the payment of the salary from the State Exchequer only from the date of approval accorded by the Regional Higher Education Officer, Meerut.
Petition Allowed.
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