Khetrabasl Blswal v. Ajaya Kumar Baral and Ors.

On 17.6.1996 the Orissa Public Service Commission (for short 'the Commission') issued an advertisement No. 5 of 1996-97, inviting application in the prescribed form for 25 posts of Temporary Munsif (Emergency Recruitment) in Class II of Orissa Judicial Service. The appellants herein and the respondents along with the others submitted an application before the Commission. A written examination was held by the Commission and in terms thereof, a list of the successful candidates was prepared. The selectees were later on interviewed by the Commission and in the said proceeding a sitting G Judge of the High Court acted as an expert. Thereafter the select list has been prepared on the basis of merit, which contained 39 names. The names of the appellants, admittedly, found place therein. The said list was sent to the State Government for its approval. The State Government, however, on receiving the said list, prepared another list. The name of Khetrabasi H 10 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [:2003] SUPP. 6 S.C.R. A Biswal also found place therein. The names of the appellants, namely, Dipali Chand and Govinda Chandra Parida and another were omitted: Several wrif applications were filed by Ajaya Kumar Baral, Pradipta Kishore Bhuyan, Krushna Chandra Jena, Bijaya Kumar Patra and Govinda Chandra Parida and Anr. filed petitions bearing O.J.<::;_. Nos; 14,380' of B 1996, 5566, 6040, 6041 and 6088 of 1997 respectively. It is also n'ot in'. dispute that one of the appellants, namely, Dipali Chand· in Civil Appeaf Nos. 5986 and 5987of1998 also filed a Writ Petition No. 13687-of1997, which it still pending. By reason of the impugned judgment, the High Court­ purporting to interpret the s~rvice rules prepared the list of the candidates, who should have been selected. Pursuant to and in furtherance of the C directions issued by the High Court, offers of appointment were issued bt the State Government in terms of the list prepared by the High Court. The appellants herein were not party to the writ applications. The High Court, while preparing its own list, did not think it fit to issue notices to other candidates like the appellants herein, who had suffered prejudice by reason D of the directions issued by the High Court. The appellants, therefore, were necessary parties. The State Government after receiving the list from the Commission, prepared another list out of the list prepared by the Commission. In this E list of the State Government, names of certain persons, who were in merit list did ~ot find place. One of such situated person filed a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India before the Orissa High Court," challenging the list prepared by the State Governme~t. It is not disputed that the appellants herein were not parties to the writ petition. F It is against the said judgment of the High_ Court, the appellants are in appeal before us. The procedural law as well as the substantive law both mandates that in- the absence of a necessary party, the order passed is a nullity and does G not have a binding effect. . It is true that the successful candidates have not been parties before us, but it appears that the appellants herein proceeded to implead only Ajaya Kumar Baral, who was also a writ petitioner before the High Court. Having regard to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we are H of.the opinion that in exercise of our jurisdictio~. under Artide 142 of the l - KHETRABASI BISWAL v. A.K. BARAL 11 Constitution of India and ~ith a view to do complete justice to the parties, A the matters may be remitted to the High Court for a fresh decision on merits and after giving opportunity to the writ petitioners to implead all the necessary parties therein. The writ petition filed by Dipali Chand should be heard along with the other writ petitioners. In our opinion a writ of or in the nature of mandamus could not have been issued, directing the State B Government to appoint the selectees in terms of the select list prepared by the High Comt. The High Court should have, if such a case was made out, relegated the matters to the Commission. The writ petitioners before the High Court and the other persons, who have been appointed pursuant to or in furtherance of the judgment of the High Court, would continue to hold C the post till a final decision is rendered in the matters by the High Cuort. In that view of the matter, we set aside tohe order under challenge and remit the matter to the High Court for decision on merits after giving an oppo1tunity to the writ petitioners to implead all the necessary parties in the writ petition. The appeals are allowed with the aforementioned directions. There shall be no order as to costs. Let the records be sent forthwith. Since the matters relate to the vacancies in the year 1996-97, it requires expeditious hearing. The High Court may dispose of the matters as early as possible. R.P. Appeals allowed.