BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LTD. vs. SANDEEP CHOUDHARY

REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8717 OF 2015 Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited & Anr. …Appellants Versus Sandeep Choudhary & Ors. …Respondents J UD G M E N T M.R. SHAH, J. 1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 04.08.2014 passed by the High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur in DBCWP No. 14714/2013, by which the High Court has dismissed the said writ petition preferred by the appellants herein – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (hereinafter referred to as “BSNL”) and has confirmed the judgment and order passed by the Central Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by NEETU KHAJURIA Date: 2022.04.28 15:34:32 IST Reason: Administrative Tribunal, Jodhpur Bench, Jodhpur (hereinafter referred to as the “Tribunal”) in O.A. No. 159 of 2009 by which the learned Tribunal 1 allowed the said application preferred by the respondent No.1 herein – original applicant and directed the appellant herein – BSNL to consider his candidature if sufficient vacancies exist for placement of the candidates of Other Backward Class and his candidature shall be considered against the present or future vacancies on the OBC category after determining the vacancies as per rules, the appellant – BSNL has preferred the present appeal. 2. The facts leading to the present appeal in nutshell are as under:- 2.1 That the private respondent No.1 herein – original applicant applied for the post of Telecom Technical Assistants (TTAs) in pursuance to the notification dated 06.10.2008 issued by BSNL for filling up of TTA posts. The appointment was to be made by way of direct recruitment by open competitive examination in the Rajasthan Telecom Circle. The said advertisement further provided that the unit of recruitment shall be the respective Secondary Switching Area (SSA). The dispute in the present case is relating to the Ajmer SSA. In the Ajmer SSA, the vacancies were as follows:-

2 The recruitment was to be made by conducting a competitive examination of eligible candidates in an objective type paper of 200 marks. Clause 13 of the advertisement provided that:- (i) The minimum Qualifying marks in the paper would be 40% for the candidates of unreserved category candidate, and (ii) 33% for candidates of reserved category. It so happened that in the exam which was conducted no person from general category candidate got more than 40% marks. However, four candidates from OBC category obtained more than 33% marks. The marks obtained by four OBC category candidates are as under:- OBC selected candidates

The original applicant – respondent No.1 herein, who got 68.25 marks was placed at Waiting List No.1 in the OBC category. 2.2 On 01.06.2009, BSNL issued a circular/letter to all heads of telecom circles, inter alia, stating that there has been poor pass percentage of candidates in the TTA examination and number of vacancies had remained unfilled. There was acute shortage of 3 manpower and hence it was decided to relax the qualifying marks by 10% for all candidates. Accordingly, the qualifying marks were refixed at 30% for general category and 23% for reserved category. Clauses (iii) & (v) of the said letter provides as follows:- (iii) Successful candidates, qualifying through normal standards in aggregate will rank enblock senior to those qualifying through relaxed standard in the merit list. However, the provisions of the Recruitment Rules will determine their inter-se seniority in the cadre. (v) The Circles who have already announced the result but have not got adequate number of successful candidates, may further extend the merit/waiting list as per above instructions. 2.3 After relaxation of minimum marks with 30% of general category candidates, the following five candidates in general category became eligible for appointment:- OC selected candidates

2.4 However, it so happened that one Alok Kumar Yadav and Alka Saini, who were found to be more meritorious than the general category candidates subsequently were found eligible to be appointed against the 4 reserved category – OBC. Therefore, the respondent No.1 herein – original applicant, who was wait listed No.1 in OBC category, approached the Tribunal by way of application being O.A. No. 159 of 2009 for a direction to prepare a fresh list for all candidates based on relaxed standard and act on the said combined merit list. It was, inter alia, pleaded that there cannot be two cut-off marks for a single selection. It was submitted that there was an unreasonable classification by providing another set of cut-off marks and the action was discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. 2.5 It was the case on behalf of the original applicant that those two candidates belonging to OBC category, who were having more merit were required to be adjusted against the general category seats and consequently the seats reserved for OBC category were required to be filled in from remaining reserved category candidates on merit. 2.6 The Tribunal, after noticing the judgment of the Rajasthan High Court dated 09.02.2011 in S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.4948 of 2009, disposed of the O.A. and directed BSNL to consider the candidature of the original applicant – respondent No.1 herein, if sufficient vacancies exist for placement of the candidates of OBC and further his candidature shall be considered against the present and future vacancies on OBC category. 5 2.7 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and order passed by the Tribunal, BSNL preferred the writ petition before the High Court and by the impugned judgment and order and by relying upon the decisions of this Court in the case of Indra Sawhney Vs. Union of India, 1992 Supp (3) SCC 217; R.K. Sabharwal Vs. State of Punjab, (2007) 8 SCC 785; and Rajesh Kumar Daria Vs. Rajasthan Public Service Commission, (2007) 8 SCC 785 has dismissed the said writ petition by observing that the BSNL should have given appointment to Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar (candidates belonging to OBC category) against the vacancies which were not reserved vertically in the event of shuffling the said two persons to general category (admittedly both the aforesaid candidates have secured and/or have more merit than the general category candidates, who were appointed). The High Court has further observed that consequently the original applicant could have been selected against the vacancies reserved for the OBC. By observing so, the High Court has dismissed the writ petition. Hence, BSNL has preferred the present appeal. 3. We have heard Dr. Rajeev Dhavan alongwith Shri Gaurav Agrawal, learned Amicus Curiae, Shri Pradeep Kumar Mathur, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the BSNL and Shri Puneet Jain, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.1. 6 4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of BSNL has heavily relied upon the decision of this Court in the case of Union of India Vs. Ramesh Ram, (2010) 7 SCC 234 and submitted that as observed and held by this Court, in a case, where reserved category candidates are selected on merit and placed in the list of general category candidates, they can be adjusted against reserved category vacancies in order to get a service of higher choice at the time of service allocation. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of BSNL has heavily relied upon paragraph 42 of the aforesaid decision. 4.1 Relying upon the above decision, it is vehemently submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the BSNL that the aforesaid two candidates namely Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar were rightly considered in the reserved category pool. 4.2 It is submitted that if the view taken by the High Court is accepted, in that case, the two OBC candidates, who secured more marks than the relaxed cut-off marks of general category candidates are adjusted in general category and thereby vacancies so created in the OBC category would have to be filled in by respondent No.1 herein – original applicant which would result in shuffling of the candidates and would unsettle the entire selection process. It is further submitted by learned counsel appearing on behalf of BSNL that the High Court has failed to take note of the fact that vacancies in the general category were only five and they 7 were already filled in and therefore, insertion of two OBC candidates into the general category select list would expel two already selected candidates of general category who had secured undisputedly more marks than the original claimant thereby unsettling the entire selection process. 4.3 Making above submissions and relying upon the above decisions, it is prayed to allow the present appeal. 5. Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, learned Senior counsel, assisted by Shri Gaurav Agrawal, learned Amicus Curiae and Shri Puneet Jain, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.1 have vehemently submitted that as such the controversy in the matter is squarely covered by the decision of this Court in the case of Indra Sawhney (supra). It is submitted that the reserved category candidates having obtained more marks than the last candidate in general category candidates will have to be adjusted against the general category quota and they were required to be considered in the general category pool, thereby the remaining candidates belonging to the reserved category were required to be appointed against the quota meant for reserved category. It is submitted that in the present case, those two candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, secured more marks than the last of the general category candidates selected and appointed and therefore those two candidates were required to be adjusted and/or considered against 8 the general category pool. The BSNL considered the appointment of the aforesaid two candidates in the reserved category and thereby caused a loss to the reserved category candidates, who could have been appointed if the aforesaid two candidates belonging to the reserved category would have been adjusted and/or appointed in the general pool. It is submitted therefore that the High Court has rightly directed to consider the candidature of respondent No.1 herein – original applicant, being a wait listed candidate in the reserved category. 6. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties at length. 7. The short question which is posed for the consideration of this Court is:- “Whether in a case where the reserved category candidates secured more marks than the general category candidates, such reserved category candidates will have to be first adjusted in the general category pool and they shall be considered for appointment in the general category pool or against the vacancies meant for reserved category candidates? 8. While considering the aforesaid issue, few decisions of this Court on the above point are required to be referred to. 8.1 In the case of Indra Sawhney (supra) in paragraph 812, it is observed and held as under:- “812. We are also of the opinion that this rule of 50% applies only to reservations in favour of backward classes made under Article 16(4). A little clarification is in order at this juncture : all reservations are not of the same nature. There are two types of reservations, which may, for the sake of convenience, be referred to as “vertical 9 reservations” and “horizontal reservations”. The reservations in favour of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes [under Article 16(4)] may be called vertical reservations whereas reservations in favour of physically handicapped [under clause (1) of Article 16] can be referred to as horizontal reservations. Horizontal reservations cut across the vertical reservations — what is called interlocking reservations. To be more precise, suppose 3% of the vacancies are reserved in favour of physically handicapped persons; this would be a reservation relatable to clause (1) of Article 16. The persons selected against this quota will be placed in the appropriate category; if he belongs to SC category he will be placed in that quota by making necessary adjustments; similarly, if he belongs to open competition (OC) category, he will be placed in that category by making necessary adjustments. Even after providing for these horizontal reservations, the percentage of reservations in favour of backward class of citizens remains — and should remain — the same. This is how these reservations are worked out in several States and there is no reason not to continue that procedure.” 8.2 In Rajesh Kumar Daria (supra), in paragraphs 8 to 11, it is observed and held as under:- “8. We may also refer to two related aspects before considering the facts of this case. The first is about the description of horizontal reservation. For example, if there are 200 vacancies and 15% is the vertical reservation for SC and 30% is the horizontal reservation for women, the proper description of the number of posts reserved for SC, should be:“For SC : 30 posts, of which 9 posts are for women.” We find that many a time this is wrongly described thus:“For SC : 21 posts for men and 9 posts for women, in all 30 posts.” Obviously, there is, and there can be, no reservation category of “male” or “men”. 9. The second relates to the difference between the nature of vertical reservation and horizontal reservation. 10

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8.3 In the case of Uttaranchal Public Service Commission Vs. Mamta Bisht, (2010) 12 SCC 204 , the High Court took the view that the reserved category candidate, on her own merit was entitled to be considered in the general category and she could not have been counted against the reserved category. While upholding the judgment of the High Court, this Court observed and held in paragraphs 3, 4, 13 and 15 as under:- “ 3. Out of 42 posts, 26 were filled up by general category and 16 by reserved category candidates. Some women candidates stood selected in the general category while others had been given the benefit of horizontal reservation being residents of Uttaranchal. Respondent 1, being aggrieved preferred Writ Petition No. 780 of 2003 (M/B) in the High Court of Uttaranchal seeking quashment of select list dated 31-7-2003 mainly on the ground that women candidates belonging to Uttaranchal had secured 13

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8.4 In Ritesh R. Sah v. Y.L. Yamul, (1996) 3 SCC 253 after noticing the Larger Bench decision of this Court in the case of Indra Sawhney (supra) and R.K. Sabharwal (supra) , it is observed in paragraph 13 to 16 as under: “ 13. There cannot be any dispute with the proposition that if a candidate is entitled to be admitted on the basis 16

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18 Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the candidates belonging to reserved category but selected/promoted on the rule of merit (and not by virtue of rule of reservation) shall not be counted as reserved category candidates.” 8.5 In a more recent decision this Court in the case of Saurav Yadav Vs. State of U.P., (2021) 4 SCC 542 after referring to all the earlier judgments on vertical reservation has observed and held that it is well settled that candidates belonging to any of the vertical reservation categories are entitled to be selected in “open or general” category and it is also further observed that if such candidates belonging to reserved categories are entitled to be selected on the basis of their own merit, their selection cannot be counted against the quota reserved for the categories that they belong. 8.6 Similar view has been expressed by this Court in another recent decision of this Court in the case of Sadhana Singh Dangi Vs. Pinki Asati, (2022) 1 SCALE 534. By the said decision, it is reiterated that the reserved category candidates securing higher marks than the last of the general category candidates are entitled to get seat/post in unreserved categories. It is further observed and held that even while applying horizontal reservation, merit must be given precedence and if the candidates, who belong to SCs, STs and OBCs have secured higher marks or are more meritorious, they must be considered against the seats meant for unreserved candidates. It is further observed that the 19 candidates belonging to reserved categories can as well stake claim to seats in unreserved categories if their merit and position in the merit list entitles them to do so. 9. Applying the law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid decisions to the facts of the case on hand, it is noted that the aforesaid two candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, belonging to OBC category, were required to be adjusted against the general category as admittedly they were more meritorious than the last of the general category candidates appointed and that their appointments could not have been considered against the seats meant for reserved category. Consequently, after considering their appointments in the general category, the seats meant for reserved category were required to be filled in from and amongst the other remaining reserved category candidates on merit such as respondent No.1 herein. If such a procedure would have been followed, the original applicant – respondent No.1 would have got appointed on merit in the reserved category seats in the vacancy caused due to the above procedure. Therefore, as such the High Court has not committed any error in observing and holding that the aforesaid two candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, will have to be adjusted against the general category candidates and accordingly respondent 20 No.1 being a reserved category candidate and being at Sr. No.1 in the waiting list of reserved category was to be appointed. However, at the same time, it cannot be disputed that by reshuffling and on insertion of two OBC candidates into general category select list, two general category candidates already appointed shall have to be expelled and/or shall have to be removed, who are working since long and it may unsettle the entire selection process. Therefore, to strike a balance and to ensure that the two general category candidates, who are already appointed will not have to be removed and at the same time, respondent No.1 – original applicant being a reserved category candidate also gets accommodated, if he is so appointed, in exercise of the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, we propose to pass an order that on reshuffling and on respondent No.1 – original applicant being appointed now against the reserved category seats and while the aforesaid two candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, belonging to reserved category, to be treated in the general category seats, two candidates already appointed and belonging to general category shall not be removed. However, respondent No.1 shall get the seniority from the date the general category candidates were appointed, who were having lesser merit than the aforesaid two reserved category candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar. 21 10. Now, so far as the decision of this Court in the case of Ramesh Ram (supra) relied upon by learned counsel appearing on behalf of the BSNL is concerned, the aforesaid decision is not applicable to the facts of the case on hand. The said decision is distinguishable on facts. In the said case, this Court was considering Rule 16(2) of Civil Services Examination Rules relating to Civil Services Examination held by the Union Public Service Commission. Rule 16(2) of the Rules reads as under:- “16(2) While making service allocation, the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes recommended against unreserved vacancies may be adjusted against reserved vacancies by the Government if by this process they get a service of higher choice in the order of their preference.” The said case was a case of Civil Services, where the selected candidates were having different preferences and in a given case, it may happen that the general category candidates, who are less meritorious and the reserved category candidates having more marks than the general category candidates and consequently they are to be adjusted against the reserved category and they can possibly secure posts in a service of a higher preference. Therefore, option was given to such candidates belonging to reserved category to consider their candidature against the reserved category only despite having higher merit than General Category Candidates. However, in the present case, there is no 22 question of any such preference. On interpretation of Rule 16(2) in paragraph 42, it was observed and held as under:-

We fail to appreciate how the said decision is applicable to facts of the case on hand and/or of any assistance to the BSNL faced with the decisions of this Court in the case of Indra Sawhney (supra) and other decisions referred to hereinabove . 11. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the present appeal fails and the same deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed. The High Court has rightly observed and held that two reserved category candidates, namely, Mr. Alok Kumar Yadav and Mr. Dinesh Kumar having more marks than the general category candidates appointed, were entitled to the appointment in the general category and the seats reserved for OBC category were required to be filled in from and amongst the remaining candidates belonging to the OBC category. Consequently, respondent No.1 – original applicant was 23 entitled to the appointment on such post. However, at the same time in exercise of the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, it is observed and directed that on reshuffling, the two candidates belonging to general category shall not be removed from service as they are working since long. However, at the same time, the respondent No.1 shall be entitled to the seniority from the date, the general category candidates having lesser marks than the aforesaid two reserved category candidates were appointed. With this, the present appeal stands dismissed. However, in the facts and circumstances, there shall be no order as to costs. 12. Before parting, we would like to deeply appreciate the services rendered by Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, learned Senior Advocate and Shri Gaurav Agrawal, learned Advocate, who have assisted the Court as Amicus Curiae and we are thankful to both of them for their valuable assistance. …………………………………..J. [M.R. SHAH] NEW DELHI; …………………………………..J. APRIL 28, 2022. [B.V. NAGARATHNA] 24