SUBORDINATE SERVICES SELECTION BOARD v. BIR SINGH AND ANR./RAM NIWAS AND ORS.

The following Order of the Court was delivered : F Leave granted.

The only question is whether the respondents are eligible to be considered for appointment as Clerks in 'A' Class offices on the admitted-~ position that they are not matriculates with first division. The High Court ' G in W.P. No. 11553/93 by judgment dated 14.7.94 found them to be eligible. Admittedly, the respondents are dependents of ex-servicemen. The Government while reserving the posts for ex-servicemen, have prescribed qualifications for the posts in Class 'A' offices, as under :-

"Qualifications of the posts of Clerks, Steno-typists and Stenog- H raphers in all 'A' class offices.

I

S.S.S.B. v. BIR SINGH 1147

Name of the Post Qualifications A Clerks 1. Matric 1st. Div./Higher Secondary Ilnd Divi- sion/lntermediate Ilnd Div./Graduates or equivalent (For Ex-servicemen Matric only)

2Copy pinpoint2. Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric standard. B

3Copy pinpoint3. Hindi/English typing at a speed of 25/30 words per minute respectively. { ( Steno-typist 1. Matric 1st Div. Higher Secondary Second Division/Graduate or equivalent (For Ex- c Servicement Matric only)

2. Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric Standard.

3. English shorthand at 80 w.p.m. and transcrip- tion thereof at 11 w.p.m. D

4Copy pinpoint4. Hindi shorthand at 64 w.p.m. and transcrip- tion thereof at 11 w.p.m.

Stenographer 1. Matric 1st Div./Hr. Sec. Ilnd Div.linter- mediate Ilnd Div./Graduate or equivalent E (For Ex-servicemen Matric only)

2. Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric standard.

3. English shorthand at 100 wpm and transcrip- tion thereof at 20 wpm. F / ,--

4. Hindi shorthand at 80 wpm and transcription thereof at 15 wpm." 1·

For class 'B' offices, it was prescribed thus: G "Qualification for the post of Clerks, Stenotypists and Stenog- rapher in all offices other than 'A' class offices :

Name of the Post Qualifications

Clerks 1. Matric/Higher Secondary or equivalent. H=

\

p. 1148

A 2. Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric standard.

3. Hindi or English typing at a speed of 25/30 -< wpm respectively.

Steno-typist 1. Matric/Hr. Secondary or equivalent. B 2~ Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric Standard.

3. Hindi shorthand at 64 w.p.m. and transcrip- ( tion thereof at 11 w.p.m. ) c OR

," English shorthand at 80 w.p.m. and transcrip- tion thereof at 15 w.p.m.

Stenographer 1. Hindi : Hr. Secondary or equivalent. D

2. Knowledge of Hindi upto Matric standard.

3. Hindi shorthand at 80 wpm and transcription thereof at 15 wpm.

E OR

English shorthand at 100 wpm and transcrip- tion thereof at 20 wpm.

In the year 1979 while giving benefit of reservation to the children of F Ex-Servicemen, by proceedings dated March 21, 1979, it was stated thus: "It has been observed that due to non-availability of suitable candidates for the reserved quota, the recruitment of Ex-ser- vicemen to the civil posts is not being made to the desired extent. In view of this, it has been decided that the dependent sons and G daughters of Ex-servicemen, who fulfill all the conditions of qualifications, age etc. prescribed for various posts, should also be considered on merits for the posts reserved for the Ex-servicemen to the extent of non-availability of suitable Ex-servicemen. This entit- lement would be available to one dependent child only." (Em- H phasis supplied)

I S.S.S.B. v. BIR SINGH 1149

A reading of these conditions would clearly indicate that if the ex-servicemen are considered for appointment in 'A' Class offices, they may be mere Matriculate only. The qualification of First Division in Secondary or Second Division in Intermediate is necessary for general candidates. With regard to the appointments in 'B' Class offices this condition was not incorporated. For children of ex-servicemen, they are required to fulfill all the conditions of qualifications prescribed for the posts and be considered on merits for appointment to the unfilled posts reserved for ex-servicemen.

Respondents contend that since the advertisement, Annexure R-1, f dated 7.9.91, does not prescribe any distinction between 'A' class and 'B' c class offices and had only mentioned about Matriculation as the respon- dents had secured Matriculation, they are eligible on par with the ex-ser- vicemen for appointment in 'A' class posts. We find no force as the advertisement dealt with Clerks in general; it did not say about Clerk in 'A' class office. It has already been seen that in case ex-serviceman is not available and there exists vacancy reserved for ex-serviceman, the depend- D ent i.e. son or daughter of ex-exservicemen, is eligible for consideration to appointment but subject to the candidates possessing qualifications prescribed for the posts. One of the conditions is that in case of the dependent, he shall also be required to be a Matriculation with First Division or Intermediate:: with Second Division. Such candidate alone is E eligible for appointment in 'A' class office. The benefit of mere Matricula- tion is available to the ex-servicemen only. Dependent's son or daughter cannot be considered to be an Ex-serviceman. The be~efit of giving reser- vation to the dependents is only to see that the posts reserved for ex-ser- vicemen may not be allowed to be lapsed for non-availability of ex-servicemen. F

Considered from this perspective, we are of the view that the respon- dents are not entitled for appointment in 'A' class offices since they do not have First Division in Matriculation nor that they are ex-servicemen. G The appeals are accordingly allowed but in the circumstances without costs. The writ petitions filed in the High Court stand dismissed.

R.A. Appeals allowed.