Supreme Court of India

MALIK MAZHAR SULT AN AND ANR.versusU.P. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND ORS.

Citation: 2006 INSC 193
Decided: 3 April 2006
Disposal: Appeal(s) allowed
Bench: Y K SABHARWAL

Holding

Age relaxation is permissible only if authorized by the Rules; candidates eligible as of 1 July 2002 under the proviso and those eligible as of 1 July 2004 under the main part of Rule 10 are both eligible, and an advertisement error cannot override the Rules.

Summary

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission was directed to recruit 347 Civil Judges (Junior Division) starting in November 2002, but the examination was delayed until March 2004. The advertisement set the upper age limit as 35 years on 1 July 2004 and also claimed that candidates within the age on 1 July 2001 and 1 July 2002 would be treated as within age. After the exam, the Commission withdrew the age‑relaxation and excluded over‑aged candidates, leading to writ petitions. The High Court held that the recruitment year was 1 July 2002‑30 June 2003 and that candidates younger than the upper limit on 1 July 2003 were eligible. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined Rule 10 and its second proviso together with Rule 4(m), concluding that the main part of Rule 10 fixes the age date as 1 July 2004, while the proviso allows candidates who were eligible as of 1 July 2002 (the recruitment year) to be considered. An error in the advertisement cannot override the Rules, and both sets of candidates – those eligible on 1 July 2002 and those on 1 July 2004 – are eligible. The appeals were allowed and the recruitment process was to be completed.

Issues considered

The correct date for determining age eligibility under the U.P. Judicial Service Rules, 2001 – whether 1 July 2002, 1 July 2003 or 1 July 2004.
Whether an error in the advertisement can create a right for candidates not eligible under the Rules.
How to interpret Rule 10 and its second proviso in conjunction with Rule 4(m) regarding the ‘year of recruitment’ and age relaxation.
Whether candidates within the age on 1 July 2001/2002 are eligible for the recruitment.

Subjects

age limitrecruitmentjudicial servicerule interpretationeligibilitypublic service commissioncivil judge recruitmentage relaxationRule 10Rule 4(m)U.P. Judicial Service Rules

Judgment

MALIK MAZHAR SULT AN AND ANR. A
v.
U.P. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND ORS.

APRIL 3, 2006

[Y.K. SABHARWALCJ. ANDC.K. THAKKER,J.] B

UP. Judicial Service Rules, ,2001 ; Rule 4(m) and IO-Age Limit for
recruitment of candidates to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-State
initially requisitioned State Public Service Commission in November 2002 C
for recruitment of candidates to available posts in phases~<;tate later modified
the requisition in November 2003 by directing the Commission to recruit
candidates for all the posts together-Issue of Advertisement for holding the
examination to select the candidates got delayed by one year and was issued
in November 2003-Age limit specified is that the candidates must not have
attained the maximum age of 35 years as on /st .July 2004-Relaxation of D
maximum age limit was made for the candidates within the age as on I st .July
2001 and /st .Ju~v 2002-Commission later withdrew the relaxation of age
limir after conducting the examination-Writ Petitions filed by excluded
candidares before High Coun-High Court held that the candidates who
were less than the upper age limir as on Ist July 2003 are eligible for E
recruitment-Correctness of-Held, an error in the advertisement cannot
override the Rules a.1d would not create a right in favour of a candidate who
is not eligible under the Rules-On facts, the year of recruitment is July
2002c.June 2003-Jfence, under the main part of Rule IO, candidates who
have 11ot attained maximum age as on I st July 2004 are eligible for
recruitment-Under the second proviso to Rule JO read with Rule 4(m). since p
the examination was held in March 2004, relaxation of age limit is available
for those candidates who have not attained maximum age as on 1st .July
2002-Directions to State Governments, Union Territories and High Courts
lo fix time schedule evel)• year for filling up judicial vacancies in time.

In November 2002, State directed State Public Service Commission to G
conduct examination, make selection of 347 candidates for the post of Civil Judge
(Junior Division) in State Judicial Service in three phases and send its
recommendations to it by March 2003. In July 2003, by a second requisition, the
State informed the Commission to make selection of347 candidates in two phases.
The commission was asked to give advertisement in accordance with the H
689
690 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [20061 3 S.C.R.

A provisions of lJ.P. Judicial Service Rules, 2001 as amended in March 2003. In
November 2003, by a third requisition, the State informed the Commission to
hold selection together for 347 posts.

The Commission accordingly issued an advertisement in November 2003.
With regard to age limit, advertisement stated that the candidates must have
B attained the age of 22 years and must not have attained the age of more than 35
years on 1st July 2004. It was also stated that those candidates who were within
the age on 1st July 2001 and Ist July 2002 shall be treated within age for this
examination.

C The preliminary and main examinations were held and the successful
candidates were called for interview in April 2005. At the instance of the High
Court, the Commission examined the issue of the age relaxation benefit of period
during which examination could not be held under the Rules and came to a
conclusion that the relaxation of the age limit was wrongly given in the
advertisement due to misinterpretation of the Rules. The Com mission took the
D decision of cancellation ofrelaxation of age limit and rejection of those candidates
who were over-aged as on 1st July, 2004.

The result of the examination was declared excluding the candidates who
were over- aged as on 1st July 2004. The excluded candidates filed Writ Petitions
before High Comi. The High Court disposed of the writ petitions by holding that
E the recruitment year is July 2002-June 2003 since the recruitment process was
initiated in November 2002; that all candidates who were less than the upper age
limit as on 1st July 2003 would be eligible for 2003 recruitment; and that the
candidates who had crossed the upper age limit according to their respective
categories upto 30th June, 2003 will not be eligible under the Rules.

F Hence the appeals were filed by the State Public Service Commission, the
candidates who were within the age on 1st July 2001 and 1st July 2002 and by
the candidates who were within the age on 1st July 2004, challenging the
judgment of the High Court

Allowing the appeals, the Court
G
HELD: I.I. The excluded candidates, who were within the age on 1st July,
2001 and 1st July, 2002, were of eligible age as per the advertisement but the
recruitment to the service can only the be made in accordance with the U.P.
Judicial Service Rules, 2001 and the error, if any, in the advertisement cannot
H override the Rules and create a right in favour of a candidate if otherwise not
MALIK MAZHAR SULT AN v U P PUBLIC SER VICE COMMISSION 691

eligible according to the Rules. The relaxation of age can be granted only if A
permissible under the Rules and not on the basis of the advertisement. If the
interpretation of the Rules by the State Public Service Commission when it issued
the advertisement was erroneous, no right can accrue on the basis thereof.
,. . . . 1697-E,FI

1.2. According to the main part of Rule 10 oftbe Rules, the minimum and B
maximum age requirement has to be as on 1st July next following the year in
which the notification for holding the examination by State .Public Service
Commission inviting applications is published. The expression 'Notification' in
the context means issue of advertisement inviting applications. That advertisement
inviting applications was in November, 2003. The next following year is 20!)4. C
Therefore, on a plain reading of the main pa11 of Rule 10 of the Rules, the age
requirement is to be seen as on 1st July, 2004.1698-E, F)

I .3. The second proviso to Rule 10 of the Rules, however, makes eligible
from the viewpoint of age, even those candidates to appear in the next fo?lowing
c~amination, who were eligible in age if examination was held in the year of D
recrui.tmcnt. That is the reason that under the second proviso for determining
age, the relevant fact is not the publication of the notification as in main part of
Rule I 0, but is age of a candidate to appear at the examination in any year of
recruitment in which examination was not held. The candidate ~hall be deemed to
be eligible in age !o appear in the next following examination. The year of
recruitment has been held to be 1st July, 2002 to 30th June, 2003. The E
examination in year of recruitment was not held. The examination was held in
March, 2004. In such a situation, candidates would be entitled to the benefit of
age requirement in terms of second proviso. For the purpose of the proviso, the
recruitment year is 1st Jnly, 2002 to 30th June, 2003 and age requirement
therein would be as on 1st July, 2002 in view of Rule 4(m) read with Rule 10 F
second proviso of the Rules.1699-C-E)

1.4. Though Ruic IO of the Rules is not happily worded, yet it is difficult to
sustain the conclusion of the High Court that the advertisement issued in
November, 2003, can be assumed to be issued before 31st December, 2002. On
harmonious consideration of the Rules, it seems evident that Rule 10, its main (J
part and the second proviso read with Rule 4(m), cater for two category of
candidates. The later makes those eligible who are eligible in the recruitment
year in which process of recruitment is initiated by the appointing authority. In
this category, would fall those who were eligible as on 1st July, 2002. In main
part of Rule 10, those who become eligible on 1st July, 2004, would be eligible.
In this view, those candidates who were eligible on 1st July, 2002 and also those H
692 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006[ 3 S.C.R.

A who were eligible on 1st July, 2004 would be eligible to be considered for
appointment to the posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division). [700-C-F[

2. The Rules postulate the timely determination of vacancies and timely
appointments. The non-filling of vacancies for long not only results in the avoidable
litigation but also results in creeping of frustration in the candidates. Further,
B non-filling of vacancies for long time, deprives the people of the services of the
Judicial Officers. This is one of the reasons of huge pendency of cases in the
courts. It is absolutely necessary to evolve a mechanism to speedily determine
and fill vacancies of Judges at all levels. For this purpose, timely steps are
required to be taken for determination of vacancies, issue of advertisement,
C conducting examinations, interviews, declaration of the final results and issue of
orders of appointments. For all these and other steps, if any, it is necessary to
provide for fixed time schedule so that system works automatically and there is
no delay in filling up of vacancies. The adherence to strict time schedule can
ensure timely filling of vacancies. All State Governments, Union Territories and/
D or High Courts are directed to provide for time schedule for the aforesaid purposes
so that every year vacancies that may occur are timely filled. All State
Governments, Union Territories and High Courts are directed to file within three
months details of the time schedule so fixed and date from which time schedule
so fixed would be operdtional. [697-G, H; 698-A-DI

E CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 186712006

From the Judgment and final Order dated 21.10.2005 of the Allahabad
High Court in C.M.W.P. No. 40058/2005.

F
WITH
Civil Appeal Nos. 1868, 1869. 1870, 1871and1872 of2006.
-
Gopal Subramanium, ASG, Mukul Rohtagi. M.L. Varma. Dr. R.G. Padia,
Ejaz Maqbool, Vikash Singh, Ms. Taruna Singh. Abhijit Sinha, C.D. Singh. Dr.
Indra Pratap Singh, Ms. Kiran Suvarna, Vivek Narayan. G.V. Rao. Shail Kumar
Dwivedi, Sanjay Parikh, A.N. Singh. Chandra Prakash, Lakshmi Raman Singh,
G A.K. Tripathi, Ms. Sangeeta Das, Dharmendra Kumar Sinha, Satya Mitra.
Arvind Kumar Tiwary, Rajiv Ranjan Dwivedi. Awadhesh Kumar Chaudhary,
Ms. Prerna, Ranjan Dwivedi, S. Chander Shekhar, S.W.A. Qadri, Rajeev Kumar
Dubey, Kamlendra Mishra, K.K. Mohan, Soren Uppal, Prakash Kumar Singh,
Ashok K. Srivastava, Saurabh Trivedi and Prashant Chaudhary for the
H appearing parties.
- MAUK MAZHAR SULTAN v.U.P. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION [SABHARWAL, CJ.]

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

Y.K. SABHARWAL, CJ. Leave granted.
693

The main question to be determined in these matters, which relates to
the recruitment to the posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division) under U.P Judicial
Service Rules 2001 (for short 'the Rules'), is as to the eligibility of some B
candidates from the point of view of age.

The High Court by the impugned judgment has held only those
candidates eligible who were of requisite age as on !st July, 2003. Is the
High Court right in its conclusion or !st July, 2001 or !st July, 2002 is the
relevant date for determining the age as a condition of eligibility as contended C
on behalf of those candidates who stand excluded as a result of the impugned
judgment? The other viewpoint urged is that even !st July, 2003 held by
High Court as a date for determining eligibility of age is wrong and on
correct interpretation of the Rules, the relevant date for determining age is !st
July, 2004. The circumstances giving rise to these issues may first be stated. D
The U.P. Public Service Commission (for short 'PSC') was informed
by letter of Government of U.P. dated 23rd November, 2002 that it has been
decided to make appointment of347 candidates on the basis of competitive
examination for recruitment on the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division)
2002 in U.P. Judicial Service in three phases of 100 + 100 + 147 candidates. E
The PSC was requested to take prompt action and after completion of selection,
send its recommendations to the Government by 31st March, 2003. By another
requisition dated 29th July, 2003 the Government informed PSC that the

-- recruitment be conducted in two phases, first for 174 posts and later for 173
posts in second phase for which another requisition will be sent. By this
requisition PSC was asked to advertise 174 posts in accordance with tl:ie F
provisions contained in the Rules as amended. The Rules had been earlier
amended by the Government in terms of its Notification dated 19th March,
2003 whereby the existing requirement of the requisite age as on 'I st day of
January' was substituted by '!st day of July'.
G
By third requisition dated 10th November, 2003 sent by the Government,
PSC was infonned that on the basis of recommendations of the High Court,
it had been decided to hold selection together for 374 posts on the basis of
competitive examination. Thus, the proposal for phased recruitment in the
earlier requisitions was given up.
H
694 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] 3 S.C.R.

A An advertisement dated 22-28th November, 2003 was issued by PSC
for holding examinations to select candidates to till 347 vacancies to the
posts of Civil Judges (Junior Division). In respect of age limit, clause 5 of
the advertisement stated that the candidates must have attained the age of 22
years and must not have attained the age of more than 35 years on !st July,
2004 i.e. they must not have born before 2nd July, 1969 and not later than
B !st July, 1982 but for Scheduled Caste ofU.P., Scheduled Tribe ofU.P. and
Other Backward Class candidates of U.P., the age limit shall be five years
more. In the same manner, it was stated that for dependants of freedom
fighters of U.P., and for Ex-army Personnel of U.P., the age limit would be
five years more. It was further stated in the advertisement that those candidates
C who were within age on 1st July, 2001 and 1st July, 2002 shall be treated
within age for this examination.

Clause I 2 of the advertisement states that the Commission may allow
any candidate provisionally on summary checking of application but in later
stages if it is found that the candidate was not eligible or his application was
D not fit for admission or he should have been rejected at initial stage, his
candidature will be cancelled and his recommendations shall be withdrawn
even if he has been recommended.

The preliminary and the main examinations were held and the successful
candidates were called for interview between 14th April, 2005 and 26th
E April, 2005. A learned Judge of Allahabad High Court who was presiding
over one of the Interview Boards in a letter dated 26th April, 2005 sent to
the Chairman of PSC expressed the opinion that the age requirement benefit
of period during which examination could not be held can be given only if
statutory rules provide determination of vacancies every year on a particular
F date and this issue may be examined before declaration of the result.

The PSC, after examination of the issue, came to the conclusion that
the provision of relaxation in age limit given in the advertisement seems to
have been done due to misinterpretation of Rules and, therefore, on 18th
May, 2005, it took the following decision:
G
(I) Due to non-availability of relaxation in age limit on 1st July,
2004, the candidature of the candidates who are over age on I st
July, 2004 are rejected.
(2) Result of the st:lection from examination be declared excluding
the aforesaid candidates.
H
MALIK MAZHAR SULTAN dl.P. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION [SABHAR WAL, Cl] 69 5

On 2nd May, 2005 the result of the U.P. Judicial Service, Civil judge A
(Junior Division) was declared excluding the candidates in terms of the
aforesaid decision.

The aforesaid decision led to filing of various writ petitions by the
excluded candidates before the High Court. The High Court by the impugned
judgment held that the basic initiation of the recruitment process was when B
the first requisition dated 23rd November, 2002 was sent and thus the
recruitment year would be I st July, 2002 to 30th June, 2003. Further it was
held that for determining whether a candidate was eligible in that recruitment
year it should be assumed that an advertisement pursuant to requisition dated
23rd November, 2002 was issued before 31st December, 2002. In this view, C
it was held that all candidates who were less than upper age limit according
to their category (reserved or unreserved) on 1st July, 2003 would be eligible
to appear at 2003 recruitment. However, the candidates who had crossed the
upper age limit according to their respective categories upto 30th June, 2003
will not be eligible under the Rules.
D
Those who stand excluded from consideration, though within age limit
as per the advertisement, are one set of candidates who have questioned the
correctness of the impugned judgment. The correctness of the judgment has
also been challenged by PSC and those candidates who were eligible from
the age criteria as on !st July, 2004. They contend that on due application of
the rules, the candidates who were less than the upper age limit according to E
their respective categories on I st July, 2004 alone were eligible to appear in
the process of recruitment and that the conclusion of the High Court extending
the benefit to those who were less than the age limit as on !st July, 2003 is
erroneous.
F
The question is as to the interpretation of the Rules framed in exercise
of the power conferred by the Article 234 and proviso to Article 309 of the
Constitution of India, upon the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in consultation
with PSC and the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. The year of
recruitment is defined in Rule 4(m) which states that in these rules unless the
context otherwise require-'year of recruitment' means a period of twelve G
months commencing from the first day of July of the calendar year in which
the process of recruitment is initiated by the appointing authority.

Rule 4 (m) reads as under:

"Rule 4(m) "Year of recruitment" means a period of twelve months H
696 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2006] 3 S.C.R.

A commencing from the first day of July of the calendar year in which
the process of recruitment is initiated by the appointing authority."

The High Court has held recruitment year to be from I st July, 2002 to
30th June, 2003.

B The strength of service is provided in Rule 6 which reads as under:

6. Strength of Service. --( l) The strength of the service and of each
category of posts therein shall be such as may be determined by the
Governor from time to time in consultation with the Court.

C (2) Strength of service and each category of posts therein shall unless
varied by order passed in this behalf under sub-rule ( l) be as specified
in Appendix I.

(3) The Governor may from time to time in consultation with the
Court leave unfilled or hold in abeyance, any post without thereby
D entitling any person to compensation or may create from time to time
additional posts, temporary or permanent as found necessary.

Part III of the Rules relates to recruitment and Rule 7 therein provides
for the source of recruitment. The said Rule reads as under:

7. Source of Recruitment. -Recruitinent to the service shall be made
E
on post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) by direct recruitment on the
basis of competitive examination conducted by the Commission.
Competitive examination shall be held in every year of recruitment,
subject to availability of vacancies.

F The age requirement is contained in Rule I 0 which reads as under:

10. Age-A candidate for direct recruitment to the service must have
attained the age of 22 years and must not have attained the age of
more than 35 years on the first day of July next following the year
in which the notification for holding the examination by the
G Commission inviting Applications, is published.

Provided that the upper age limit shall be higher by five years in the
case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes
and such other categories as may be notified by the Government from
time to time.
H
MALIK MAZHAR SULTAN v.U P PUBLIC SER VICE COMMISSION [SABHARWAL, CJ] 697
Provided further that where a candidate was eligible in age to appear A
at the examination in any year of recruitment in which no such
examination was held, he shall be deemed to be eligible in age to
appear in the next following examination.

Provided also that the maximum number of chances a candidate is
permitted to take will be four. B
, As already noted 'July' was substituted for 'January' by amendment of
19th March, 2003. The afore-noted Rule is as amended.

Part V of the Rules comprising Rules 15 to 19 deals with procedure for
recruitment to the service. We are concerned with Rule 15 which reads as C
under:

15. Determination of vacancies.-The Governor shall, in consultation
with the Court, determine and intimate to the Commission the number
of vacancies in the posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division) to be filled
in during the year of recruitment as also the number of vacancies to D
be reserved for candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled
Tribe and other categories.

The present controversy has arisen as the advertisement issued by PSC
stated that the candidates who were within the-age on !st July, 2001 and !st
July, 2002 shall be treated within age for the examination. Undoubtedly, the E
excluded candidates were of eligible age as per the advertisement but the
recruitment to the service can only be made in accordance with the rules and
the error, if any, in the advertisement cannot override the Rules and create
a right in favour of a candidate if otherwise not eligible according to the
Rules. The relaxation of age can be granted only .if permissible under the p
Rules and not on the basis of the advertisement. If the interpretation of the
Rules by PSC when it issued the advertisement was erroneous, no right can
accrue on basis thereof. Therefore, the answer to the question would turn
upon the interpretation of the Rules.

The Rules postulate the timely determination of vacancies and timely G
appointments. The non-filling of vacancies for long not only results in the
avoidable litigation but also results in creeping of frustration in the candidates.
Further, non-filling of vacancies for long time, deprives the people of the
services of the Judicial Officers. This is one of the reasons of huge pendency
of cases in the courts.
H
698 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [200613 S.C.R.

A It ts absolutely necessary to evolve a mechanism to speedily determine
and fill vacancies of Judges at all levels. For this purpose, timely steps are
required to be taken for determination of vacancies, issue of advertisement,
conducting examinations, interviews, declaration of the final results and issue
of orders of app~intments. For all these and other steps, if any, it is necessary
to provide for fixed time schedule so that system works automatically and
B there is no delay in filling up of vacancies. The dates for taking these steps
can be provided for on the pattern similar to filling of vacancies in some
other services or filling of seats fol' admission in medical colleges. The schedule
appended to the Regulations governing medical admissions sets out a time
schedule for every step to be strictly adhered to every year. The exception
C can be provided for where sufficient number of vacancies do not occur in a
given year. The adherence to strict time schedule can ensure timely filling of
vacancies. All State Governments, Union Territories and/or High Courts are
directed to provide for time schedule for the aforesaid purposes so that every
year vacancies that may occur are timely filled. All State Governments, Union
Territories and High Courts are directed to file within three months details of
D the time schedule so fixed and date from which time schedule so fixed would
be operational.

Now, to the present case, the only dispute is in respect of the age
requirement. The resolution of the dispute would depend upon implementation
E of Rule I0 of the Rules. According to the main part of Rule 10, the minimum
and maximum age requirement has to be as on Ist July next following the
year in which the notification for holding the examination by PSC inviting
applications is published. That publication inviting applications is dated 22-
28th November, 2003. The next following year is '2004'. Therefore, on the
plain reading of the main part of Rule 10, the age requirement is to be seen
F as on 1st July, 2004.

The 'year of recruitment' has been held by High Court as 1st July.
2002 to 30th June. 2-003 after rightly coming to the conclusion that subsequent
second and third requisitions were in continuation of the first requisition
dated 23rd November, 2002. The process of recruitment was initiated by the
G appointing authority on 23rd November, 2002. The year of recruitment has
thus been rightly determined as 1st July, 2002 to 30th June, 2003, having
regard to Rule 4(m).

Now, let us examine the second proviso to Rule 10. It stipulates that
H where candidate was eligible in age to appear at the examination in any year
MALIK MAZHAR SULTAN v.U.P. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION [SAl3HARWAL, CJ.] 699
of recruitment in which no such examination was held, he shall be deemed A
to be eligible in age to appear in the next following examination. The benefit
of proviso comes into operation if examination in any year of recruitment is
not held so as to give relief to those candidates who would have been otherwise
eligible in age but for not holding of the examination. There are two different
categories dealt with under Rule I 0 for the purpose of eligibility from age B
viewpoint. One-under main part of Rule I 0 and two' under second proviso of
Rule I 0. Under first part, the determining factor for age is date of
advertisement. Under second part, determining factor for age is as on year of
recruitment. The age requirement under main part of Rule 10 is on the requisite
date following the year in which Notification for holding examination inviting
application is published. The expression 'Notification' in the context means C
issue of advertisement inviting applications. Under the first part, therefore,
the relevant date for determining age would be 1st July, 2004, the
advertisement having been issued on 22-28th November, 2003. The proviso,
however, makes eligible, from the viewpoint of age, even those candidates to
appear in the next following examination, who were eligible in age if
examination was held in year of recruitment. That is the reason that under D
second proviso for determining age, the relevant fact is not the publication
of notification as in main part of Rule 10, but is age of a candidate to appear
at the examination in any year of recruitment in which examination was not
held. The candidate shall be deemed to be eligible in age to appear in the
next following examination. The year of recruitment has been held to be I st E
July, 2002 to 30th June, 2003. The examination in year of recruitment was
not held. The examination was held in March, 2004. In such a situation,
candidates would be entitled to benefit of age requirement in terms of second
proviso.

According to Rule 4(m), the year of recruitment means a period of F
twelve months commencing from the first day of July of the calendar year
in which the process of recruitment is initiated by the Appointing Authority.
The Appointing Authority within the meaning of the Rules means the Governor
of Uttar Pradesh, in other words, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh. As
already noted above, the process of recruitment was initiated on 23rd G
November, 2002. The determination of vacancies and procedure for
recruitment to the service has been provided for in Rule 15. After the vacancies
are determined, the same are required to be intimated to the Commission to
be filled in during the year of recruitment. ,That process commenced by
sending communication dated 23rd November, 2002. The second and third
communications dated 29th July, 2003 and 1 lth November, 2003 by the H
700 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] 3 S.C.R.
·-
~

A Government to PSC were in continuation of the first one. The advertisement
was published on 22-28th November, 2003 after the third communication.
The relevant year for main part of Rule I0 is the one next following the year
in which the publication for holding the examination is published. It would
be !st July, 2004. For the purpose of the proviso. the recruitment year is !st
July, 2002 to 30th June, 2003 and age requirement therein would be as on
B !st July, 2002 in view of Rule 4(m) read with Rule 10 second proviso. Thus,
those who were of requisite age as on Ist July, 2002 would be eligible under
second proviso and also those who were of requisite age as on 1st July, 2004
as per main part of Rule I0. However, it seems difficult to comprehend how
candidates of requisite age on !st July, 2001 would be eligible for the
C recruitment in question. Though Rule I0 is not happily worded yet we find
it difficult to sustain the conclusion of the High Court that the advertisement
issued on 22-28 November, 2003, can be assumed to be issued before 31st
December, 2002. The interpretation of Rule I0 placed by us is also in accord
with the object of the Rules.

D On harmonious consideration of the Rules. it seems evident that Rule
10, its main part and the second proviso read with Rule 4(m). cater for two
category of candidates. The later makes those eligible who are eligible in the
recruitment year in wh.;ch process of recruitment is initiated by the appointing
authority. In this category, in the present case, would fall those who were
E eligible as on I st July, 2002. In main part of Rule 10, those who become
eligible on !st July, 2004, would be eligible. In this view, those candidates
who were eligible on 1st July, 2002 and also those who were eligible on 1st
July, 2004 would be eligible to be considered for appointment to the posts
of Civil Judge (Junior Division).

F In view of above, the appeals are allowed in the aforesaid terms. The
remaining recruitment process shall be completed at the earliest. No costs.

B.S. Appeals allowed.

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