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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL  NO.  18020 OF 2017 RABARI PRABHATBHAI GUGUBHAI & ORS.          Appellant(s)

                               VERSUS STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.                   Respondent(s)

WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO. 18021 OF 2017

J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. 1. The appellants approached this Court, aggrieved by the Judgment dated 07.10.2016 passed by the High Court of Gujarat in LPA No. 406 of 2016.  The issue pertains  to  the  appointment  of  Drivers  in  the Subordinate Courts in the State of Gujarat.  There is no  dispute  that  the  appellants  had  already  been selected, five of them in the General category and one  in  the  Socially  and  Economically  Backward Category (SEBC).  However, on account of the peculiar system  of  operation  of  the  option,  the  appellants could not be adjusted since the High Court applied only the first option.    2.  According to the appellants, the very concept of option  is  that,  in  case  the  first  option  is  not

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available,  naturally the consideration should have been given to the second and third, since the three districts were permitted to be opted.

3. When the matter was being heard by this Court, it was noticed that the High Court had initiated a fresh process of selection in respect of 24 vacancies of drivers.   In  that  background,  on  05.04.2018,  this Court passed the following order :-

“Mr.  Nikhil  Goel,  learned  counsel appearing on behalf of the High Court of  Gujarat,  produced  a  statement showing  the  Cadre  and  Categorywise vacancies for the post of Driver on the establishment  of  the  Subordinate Courts, in the State of Gujarat, as on 17.04.2017.   

The said statement shows 24 posts of the Drivers are available.  All the 24 posts are now notified for being filled up.  Having regard to the totality of the facts and circumstances, we are of the  opinion  that  the  interest  of justice would be met if the appellants are adjusted to any of the 24 pots.   

Mr. Goel, learned counsel, seeks two weeks' time to get instruction and to file an affidavit in that regard.

Call on 19.04.2018.”

4.   In response to the order dated 05.04.2018, an affidavit dated 16.04.2018 has been handed over to

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the Court on behalf of the High Court today, which is taken on record.  It is seen from the affidavit that there are vacancies available and the appellants can be suitably adjusted, in case this Court orders so.

5. It is not in dispute that five of the appellants had  originally  been  selected  under  the  General Category  and  one  in  the  Socially  and  Economically Backward Category.  In the above circumstances, these appeals  are  disposed  of  with  a  direction  to  the second  respondent  to  adjust  the  appellants accordingly, by  appointing them as fresh candidates in  their respective  categories.  We make  it clear that this Judgment is passed in the peculiar facts of these  cases  and  it  is  not  to  be  treated  as  a precedent. 6. We direct the High Court to issue a necessary corrigendum regarding the reduction in the number of vacancies, within two weeks.

.......................J.               [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR ]  

.......................J.               [ NAVIN SINHA ]  

New Delhi; April 19, 2018.

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ITEM NO.3               COURT NO.5               SECTION III                S U P R E M E  C O U R T  O F  I N D I A                        RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Civil Appeal  No(s).  18020/2017 RABARI PRABHATBHAI GUGUBHAI & ORS.                 Appellant(s)                                 VERSUS STATE OF GUJARAT . & ORS.                          Respondent(s) WITH C.A. No. 18021/2017 (III)   Date : 19-04-2018 These appeals were called on for hearing today. CORAM :  HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH          HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR          HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN SINHA For Appellant(s) Mr. N. K. Majumdar, Adv.  

Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Adv.  Mr. Binod Kumar Singh, Adv.  

                   Mr. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR                     For Respondent(s) Mr. Nikhil Goel, AOR

Ms. Naveen Goel, Adv.  Mr. Ashutosh Ghade, Adv.  Ms. Hemantika Wahi, AOR Ms. Vishakha, Adv.  Ms. Shodhika Sharma, Adv.                     

                        UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

                            O R D E R The  appeals  are  disposed  of  in  terms  of  the  signed

non-reportable Judgment.   Pending Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand disposed of.

(JAYANT KUMAR ARORA)                              (RENU DIWAN)    COURT MASTER                                ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

(Signed non-reportable Judgment is placed on the file) PS : Affidavit dated 16.04.2018 (in original) handed over by  

counsel in Court is annexed with this Judgment.