Court stays hiring of 450 stenotypists

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

The Punjab government’s move to recruit more than 450 stenotypists in the state has hit a roadblock. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state not to issue appointment letters in case these were yet to be given out.

“In case, appointment letters have not yet been issued pursuant to the selection process, issuance thereof shall remain stayed,” Justice Rajan Gupta ruled. The Bench also set a 10-day deadline for the government to seek instructions from the state Chief Secretary before specifying whether 10 per cent cap on reservation had been violated during recruitment process in any of its departments or services.

The time limit and order by Justice Gupta came on a petition by Sarabpreet Kaur and other petitioners. Describing themselves as general category candidates, they had challenged the process for selecting steno-typists in the state. Appearing before Justice Gupta’s Bench, their counsel submitted that selection was made in gross violation of the reservation policy. Initially, 421 posts were advertised, out of which 197 were for general category.

As reservation exceeded 50 per cent, the petitioners represented to the authorities. Thereafter, the posts were increased. Out of the total, 215 were shown as general category.

Even in this case the reservation exceeded 50 per cent. At the time of declaration of result, the petitioners noticed that the state had unilaterally increased the posts to 471, out of which only 218 were left for the general category.

He added that the minimum number of posts for the general category ought to have been 235.5, in view of bar on reservation beyond 50 per cent laid down by the apex court.

Putting the state on notice, Justice Gupta accepted Punjab Additional Advocate-General Anu Chatrath’s prayer for time to address the court.