Dr. Surinder Singh Jamwal and Anr. v. the State of Jammu and Kashmir and Ors.

Leave granted, we have heard counsel on both sides. The controversy raised in this case is squarely covered by the judg- H 663 A ment of this Court reported in J.& K Public Se1vice Commission v. Dr. Nwinder Mohan, [1994] 2 SCC 630. It is not in dispute that the appellants were recruited on ad hoc basis and have been continuing as such. It is their contention that since they had put in more than 13 years of service they are entitled to regularisation of service and approached the High Court for direction to regularise their services. The High Court has followed the ratio in the above judgment and dismissed the petition. In the light of the judgment of this Court the settled legal position now is that the recruitment to the service should be governed by the appropriate statutory rules. Under the rules the regular recruitment to the posts shall be made by the Public Service Commission. Consequentially, the ad hoc appointments would be C only temporary appointments de ho"· the rules, pending regular, recruit­ ment without conferring any right to regularisation of service. This Court in Nminder Mohan'.' case (supra) had given the following directions: 11 Accordingly, we set aside the directions issued by the Division Bench of the High Court and confirm those of the Single Judge and direct that State Government of the J & K to notify the vacancies to the PSC which would process and complete the selection, as early as possible, within a period of six months from the date of the receipt of this order. The State Government should on receipt of the recon1mendation, make appointments in the order mentioned in the selection list within a period of two months thereafter. Since the respondents have been continuing as ad hoc doctors, they shall continue till the regularly selected candidates are appointed. They are also entitled to apply for selection. In case any of the respondents are barred by age, the State Government is directed to consider the cases for necessary relaxation under Ruic 9(3) of the age qualification. If any of the respondents are not selected, the ad hoc appointment shall stand terminated with the appointment of the selected candidate. The direction sought for by Dr. Vinay Rampa! cannot be given. His appeal is accordingly dismissed and the State appeal is also dismissed. The appeals of the PSC are accordingly allowed but in the circumstances parties are directed to bear their O\Vn costs. 11 Following the above directions, there shall be a direction to the State Government to notify the vacancies to the Public Service Commission H within a period of two months from today. On notification so made, it DR.S.S.JAMWAL v. STATE 665 would be open lo the appellants to apply for regular recruitment. It would A be for the PSC to consider the respective claims of the candidates who have applied for and lo make necessary selection according to rules. On selection so made and recommendation made to the State Government, the Slate Government will make appointments as per rules within a period of two months from the date of the receipt of the list of the selected B candidates from the PSC. The PSC is directed to complete the process of the selection within a period of three months from the date of the receipt of the requisition. The State Government after receipt of the lists shall make the necessary appointments in accordance with law. Till then the appellants would continue only on ad hoc basis till the regularly selected candidates are appointed. C It is obvious that the appellants have become barred by age for the direct recruitment. It would, therefore, be necessary that the State Govern­ ment would relax the necessary age qualification so as to enable them to apply for and seek recruitment through PSC. The contesting respondents who have come on record have stated that the panel stands expired during the interregnum due to the order of suspension granted by this Court. Under these circumstances, the life of the panel is extended for the period during which the stay order is in operation. The appeal is accordingly disposed of. No. costs. T.N.A. Appeal disposed of.