RICHA MISHRA Vs STATE OF CHHATISGARH .
Bench: A.K. SIKRI,ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE
Case number: C.A. No.-000274-000274 / 2016
Diary number: 18262 / 2010
Advocates: T. G. NARAYANAN NAIR Vs
ANIRUDDHA P. MAYEE
Page 1
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 274 OF 2016
RICHA MISHRA .....APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
STATE OF CHHATTISGARH AND ORS. .....RESPONDENT(S)
J U D G M E N T
A.K. SIKRI, J.
The issue which arises for consideration in the present
appeal pertains to the appointment for the post of Deputy
Superintendent of Police (hereinafter referred to as the 'Dy.S.P.').
Though, the appellant herein had participated in the selection
process and she not only qualified at each stage of the
examination process, her name was still not included in the list of
successful candidates for the said post. The reason given was
that as per the Chhattisgarh Police Executive (Gazetted) Service
Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2000 (hereinafter referred to
as Rules, 2000), upper age limit for appointment to the post of
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Dy.S.P. was 25 years and she had already crossed the said age
limit, and therefore, she was rendered ineligible for the post in
question.
2. This decision of the respondents in not appointing the appellant
as Dy. S.P. was challenged by the appellant by filing the writ
petition in the High Court of Chhattisgarh on the ground that she
was entitled to the benefit of age relaxation on account of being
Government Servant. It may be noted at this juncture that she
was appointed as Excise Sub Inspector, Bilaspur after clearing
the CG combined Competitive Examination, 2003 (which is also
called State Services Examination, 2003). She, thus, claimed
that she was a Government Servant and on that ground she
claimed age relaxation as per Rule 8 of the Rules, 2000.
However, her writ petition was dismissed by the learned single
Judge holding that she entered the Government job vide
appointment order dated 21.04.2006 which was after the cut-off
date as 01.01.2006 for the post of Dy.S.P. and, therefore, was not
entitled to the benefit of age relaxation. The appellant filed the
writ appeal before the Division Bench and claimed benefit of age
relaxation under Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Special
Provision for appointment of women) Rules, 1997 (hereinafter
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referred to as the 'Rules, 1997'). However, even on this ground
she has not succeeded as the High Court vide impugned
judgment dated March 10, 2010 has dismissed the writ appeal.
3. We would like to point out at this stage that number of writ
petitions were filed in the High Court which were taken up by the
learned single Judge analogously and decided by the common
judgment dated November 16, 2009. Whereas some writ
petitions including that of the appellant herein was dismissed and
some other writ petitions were allowed by the learned single
Judge holding that in their cases they were entitled to age
relaxation and, therefore, select list should have been prepared
on the basis of merit treating those persons to be within age limit.
The Government had filed writ appeals challenging outcome of
such writ petitions in favour of those candidates. These appeals
were also taken up by the Division Bench along with the appeal of
the appellant herein. The High Court has allowed those appeals
holding that even such persons were not entitled to the benefit of
age relaxation. We make it clear that we shall be eschewing the
discussion in respect of those cases which obviously is not
necessary.
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4. Coming to the case of the appellant herein, seminal facts which
need to be recorded for deciding the controversy are
recapitulated below:
As mentioned above, the appellant herein was appointed as
Excise Sub Inspector, Bilaspur vide appointment order dated
24.01.2006 and she joined the said post on 07.02.2006. On
27.09.2004, the State Government sent requisition to
Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to
as the 'CPSC') for filling up of various vacancies which included
vacancies to the post of Dy.S.P. as well. This was followed by
fresh requisition dated 22.03.2005. In this requisition, the State
Government also mentioned that the vacancies shall be filled up
in accordance with Rules, 2000. Acting on this requisition, CPSC
issued Advertisement dated 26.08.2005. Relevant to state that
after the requisition by the State Government sent on 22.03.2005
and before the issuance of Advertisement on 26.08.2005,
Chhattisgarh Police Executive (Gazetted) Service Recruitment
and Promotion Rules, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Rules,
2005') came into force which were published in the Official
Gazette on 28.06.2005. The effect of these Rules would be
discussed at the relevant stage.
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5. Appellant herein had applied for the post of Dy.S.P. and appeared
in the preliminary examination which she duly qualified. On that
basis, the appellant filled the form for appearing in main
examination. In this form, she stated that she was entitled to
relaxation of ten years in upper age limit being a woman. Such a
relaxation was claimed on the basis of the Rules, 1997 which
were brought into force w.e.f. 07.02.1997. The Rule 4 thereof
provides for such age relaxation. For our purposes, Rule 2 and
Rule 4 are relevant and are reproduced below:
“2. Scope and application – Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in any service Rules, these rules shall apply to all persons to public service and posts in connection with the affairs of the State.
4. Age Relaxation. - There shall be age relaxation of ten years for women candidates for direct appointment in all posts in the services under the State in addition to the upper age limit prescribed in any service rules or executive instructions.”
6. The appellant was allowed to participate in the main examination
and she qualified that as well. Accordingly, she was called for
interview on 12.04.2007. Final results were declared thereafter.
She obtained 54th position in the merit list. Thereafter, CPSC
prepared the list of selected candidates and sent that list to the
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Government for effecting appointments as per that list. However,
name of appellant was not recommended for Dy.S.P. though two
persons who were below in merit, namely, Tarkeshwar Patel and
Ranu Sahu were recommended. They had obtained 59th and
60th position respectively, in the merit list. Appellant felt
aggrieved thereby and made a representation to this effect.
However, her representation did not elicit any positive response
even when it was followed by a reminder dated 20.05.2007. This
apathy of the respondent forced the appellant to approach the
High Court in the form of writ petition filed under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India. Her plea was that she had not been given
the benefit of age relaxation even when she was an existing
government servant as she was working in the Excise
Department of the State of Chhattisgarh and being a Government
Servant, she was entitled to age relaxation for eight years. This
plea was rejected by the learned single Judge recording that she
has joined the government service after the cut-off date and,
therefore, she was not a government employee on the relevant
date.
7. The appellant challenged the aforesaid order of the learned single
Judge by filing the writ appeal. In this writ appeal, she did not
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pursue her case for age relaxation upto eight years on the ground
that she was a Government Servant. Instead she relied upon
Rule 4 of Rules 1997 wherein relaxation of ten years is available
to women candidates in addition to other relaxation in age. The
Division Bench has held that benefit of Rule 4 of Rules 1997 shall
not enure to her benefit and the entire discussion in support of
this conclusion is contained in paras 52 and 53 of the impugned
judgment which are reproduced hereunder in entirety:
“52. We are unable to accept this argument. The advertisement clearly mentions that for the post of Dy.S.P., minimum and maximum age limit would be 20 and 25 years clearly spelling out the terms and conditions for relaxation of age criteria.
53. From bare reading of Rule 8 of the Rules, 2000, it is clear that age relaxation under the Rules, 1997 is not applicable for recruitment on the post of Dy.S.P. From advertisement also, it is evident that no relaxation in age for recruitment for the post of Dy.S.P. was available to the woman candidates whereas age relaxation under the aforesaid rules have been made applicable in other categories. Since there was no challenge by the appellant to the applicability of the Rules, 2000, she cannot be permitted to assail the impugned judgment on the ground that she was entitled for age relaxation as provided under Rule 4 of the Rules, 1997.”
8. As is clear from the aforesaid reasoning given by the High Court,
Rule 8 of Rules, 2000 would prevail upon Rules, 1997 and,
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therefore, Rules, 1997 are not applicable for recruitment to the
post of Dy.S.P. The High Court has also been persuaded by the
stipulation contained in the advertisement as per which outer age
limit for the post of Dy.S.P. was 25 years. The whole controversy,
therefore, revolves around interplay of Rules, 1997 and Rules
2000 as well as other rules. That was precisely the focus of
arguments of the learned counsel for the parties.
9. We have already reproduced provisions of Rules 2 and 4 of
Rules, 1997. As can be discerned from bare reading of Rule 4
thereof, it provides for relaxation of 10 years for women
candidates for direct appointment 'in all posts' in the services
under the State and this relaxation is 'in addition' to the upper age
limit prescribed in any service Rules or adjective instructions.
Rule 2 of these rules makes it clear that Rules, 1997 shall apply
to all persons to public service and post in connection with the
affairs of the State, without prejudice to the generality of the
provisions contained in any service rules.
10. Insofar as Rules, 2000 are concerned, these are the Rules which
pertain to recruitment and promotion to various categories of post
in State Police Executive (Gazetted) Services. The post of Dy.
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S.P. is admittedly covered by these Rules and, therefore, eligibility
conditions for the aforesaid post and the method of recruitment
etc. as contained in these Rules which govern the post of Dy. S.P.
as well. Since, we are concerned herewith the conditions of
eligibility for direct recruitment, it is Rule 8 of the said Rules which
is relevant. This Rule provides for lower and upper age limit as
well. The relevant portion of the provision relating to age, as
contained in the said Rule, is reproduced below, thereby omitting
the provisions pertaining to other conditions of eligibility with
which are are not concerned:-
“8. Conditions of eligibility for direct recruitment.— In order to be eligible for competing in the examination a candidate shall have to be satisfy following conditions, namely:-
(1) Age.—(a) He must have attained the age as specified in column 4 of Schedule III and not attained the age specified in column 5 of the said schedule, on the first day of January next following the date of commencement of the examination.
(b) The upper age limit shall be relaxable upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Class.
(c) The upper age limit shall also be relaxable in respect of candidates who are or have been employees of the Madhya Pradesh Government, to the extend and subject to the conditions specified below:-
(i) A candidate who is a permanent Government Servant should not be more than 33 years of age.
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(ii) A candidate holding a post temporarily and applying for another post should not be or more than 33 years of age. This concession shall also be admissible to the contingency paid employees, work-charged employees and employees working in the Project Implementation Committee.
(iii) A candidate who is a retrenched Government Servant shall be allowed to deduct from his age the period of all temporary service previously rendered by him upto a maximum of 7 years even if it represents more than one spell provided that the resultant age does not exceed the upper age limit by three years.
Explanation.— The term 'retrenched Government Servant' denotes a person who was in Government Servant of this State or of any of the constituent units for a continuous period of not less than six months and who was discharged because of reduction in the number of employees not more than three years prior to the date of his registration in the Employment Exchange or of application made otherwise for employment in the Government Service.
(d) A candidate who is an ex-serviceman shall be allowed to deduct from his age the period of all defense services previously rendered by him provided that the resultant age does not exceed the upper age limit by more than three years.
Explanation.— The terms 'ex-serviceman' denotes a person who belongs to any of the following categories and who was employed under the Government of India for a continuous period of not less than six months and who was retrenched or declared surplus a s a result of the recommendation of Economy Unit or due to normal reduction in the number of employees not more than three years from the date of his regi9stration and any employment exchange or of application made other wise for employment in Government Service:-
(i) Ex-serviceman released under mustering out concession;
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(ii) Ex-serviceman recruited for the second time and discharge on-
(a) completion of short term engagement; (b) fulfilling the conditions of enrollment;
(iii) Officers (Military and Civil) discharged on completion of their contract (including Short Service regular commissioned officers);
(iv) Officers discharged after working for more than six months continuously against leave vacancies.
(e) General upper age limit shall be relaxable upto five years in respect of widow, destitute or divorced woman candidates.
(f) Upper age limit shall also be relaxable upto two years in respect of green card holder candidates under the Family Welfare Programme.
(g)The General upper age limit shall be relaxable upto five years in respect of awarded superior caste partners of a couple under the inter caste marriage inceptive Programme of the Tribal, Scheduled Castes, and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
(h) The upper age limit shall also be relax able upto five years in respect of candidates holding 'Vikram Award'
(i) The upper age limit shall be relax able upto a maximum of 33 years of age in respect of candidates (who are employees) of Madhya Pradesh State Corporation/Boards.
(j) The upper age limit shall be relaxed in case of voluntary Home-Guards for the period of service rendered by them subject to the limit of 8 years, but in no case their age should exceed 3 years.
Note (1) Candidates who are admitted to the selection under the age concession mentioned in sub-clause(i) and (ii) of clause (c) and clause(i) above shall not be eligible for appointment if after submitting the
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application they resign from the service either before or after the selection. They will however continue to be eligible if they are retrenched from the service or post after submitting the application.
Note (2) In no other case age limits will be relaxed.
Note (3) Department candidates must obtain previous permission of their appointing authority to appear for the selection.”
11. Column (4) of Schedule III prescribes minimum age limit of 20
years and maximum age limit of 25 years for the post of Dy.S.P.
(HQ, Training, JNPA, PTC, PTS, Security, Lines etc.). A reading
of the aforesaid provision, in its entirety, would suggest that
relaxation in age of different periods is provided to the candidates
belonging to the following categories:
(i) Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes.
(ii) Employees of the Madhya Pradesh Government holding
permanent post or temporary post or retrenched Government
Servant.
(iii) Ex-Serviceman
(iv) Widow/destitute or divorced women candidates
(v) Green card holder candidates under the Family Welfare
Programme
(vi) Awarded superior caste partners of a couple under the inter-caste
marriage inceptive programme of the Tribal, Scheduled Castes
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and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
(vii) Those candidates who are holding 'Vikram Award'
(viii) Candidates who are employees of Madhya Pradesh State
Corporation/Boards.
(ix) Candidates who are voluntary Home-Guards
12. Admittedly, case of the appellant does not fall in any of the
aforementioned categories wherein age relaxation is provided. If
one has to go by Rule 8 in isolation, having regard to Note (2),
age limit in the case of appellant cannot be relaxed. In this
context, however, the question arises as to whether Rules, 1997,
which contain special provision for appointment of women, would
still be applicable having regard to the fact that the appellant is a
woman candidate. Whereas, the contention of Mr. Ajit Kumar
Sinha, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant is that
since there are special Rules meant for women candidates in
respect of all posts in the State, this special provision is
applicable. On the other hand, contention of the learned counsel
for the respondents is that having regard to Rule 8(1) of Rules,
2000, which provides for provision relating to 'age' specifically for
the post in-question, it is this Rule which would determine the
eligibility of candidates insofar as prescription of 'age' therein is
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concerned.
13. We may add here that Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha, learned senior
counsel for the appellant had also drawn our attention to States
Service Examination Rules, dated June 9th, 2003 (Examination
Rules, 2003). He submitted that the examination in-question was
conducted as per those Rules. These Rules are applicable to the
post of Dy.S.P. as well and Rule 5 thereof deals with eligibility
conditions. Apart from prescribing nationality, minimum
educational qualification etc., It specifically lays down provision
relating to age of the candidates. Though, the minimum of age of
21 years and maximum of age 30 years as on first January next
following the date of commencement of the competitive
examination is stipulated therein, proviso to this provision of age
empowers the State Government to vary the lower and upper
age limits for any of the services included in these Rules looking
to the exigencies of services. This Rule also makes provision for
relaxation in the upper age limit in certain cases. What is relevant
for us is that for women candidates, a provision is specifically
made providing that as per Rules, 1997, 10 years age relaxation
would be given to women candidates, as is clear from the said
provision which reads as under:
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“(xiv) up to maximum 10 years: for women candidate: As per Rajpatra (Asadharan) dated 7.2.1997, Published rule C.G. Civil Service (Special provision of appointment for women) Rule 1997, 10 years age relaxation will be given to women candidate.”
Taking advantage of this provision, Mr. Sinha argued that since
examinations were conducted under the aforesaid Rules, in view of the
said specific provision, the appellant was entitled to age relaxation, as
per Rules, 1997.
14. Another submission of Mr. Ajit Kumar Sinha was that in any case
it was not permissible for the respondents to make recruitment
in-question on the basis of Rules, 2000 in view of the fact that in
the State of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh Police Executive
(Gazetted) Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2005 were
promulgated vide Notification dated June 28, 2005 issued by the
Governor of the State in exercise of proviso to Article 309 of the
Constitution of India and, these Rules specifically repealed Rules,
2000. He pointed out that in these Rules specific provision has
been made under Rule 8(f) for giving relaxation upto 10 years to
women candidates, in terms of Rules, 1997. The said provision is
as follows:
“8(f) The upper age limit for women candidates shall be relaxable upto 10 years as per Chhattisgarh
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Civil Service (special provision for appointment of women) Rules, 1997. this relaxation shall be in addition to the other age relaxation.”
15. He submitted that in the instant case, advertisement for the post
in-question, in which the appellant participated, was issued on
August 26, 2005, i.e. after the promulgation of Rules, 2005 which
became effective from June 28, 2005 and, therefore, it is Rules,
2005 which were applicable and as these Rules contain specific
provision for relaxation for women candidates on the applicability
of Rules, 1997.
16. Learned counsel for the respondents countered the aforesaid
submissions by arguing that the first requisition in the instant case
was sent by the State on September 27, 2004 which was followed
by 2nd requisition on March 23, 2005. These requisitions were in
respect of post which had fallen vacant at that time and as on the
dates of these requisitions, Rules 2000 were applicable. It is for
this reason that even in the requisition it was specifically
mentioned that post in-question shall be filled up in accordance
with Rules, 2000. The learned counsel, therefore, argued that
since the process was initiated under Rules, 2000, it was clearly
saved in Rules, 2005 as is evident from proviso to Rule 27
dealing with repeal and saving. It reads as under:
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“27. Repeal and Saving :
Provided that any order made or action taken under rules so repealed, shall be deemed to have been made or taken under the corresponding provisions of these rules.”
17. It was argued that precisely for this reason even in the
advertisement, it was mentioned that the post will be filled up as
per Rules, 2000. It was further contended that this advertisement
was never challenged by the appellant and, therefore, recruitment
made under Rules, 2000 in respect of vacancies which were for
the period when Rules, 2000 were applicable, could not be
faulted with. In this very line of submission, it was further argued
that once it is accepted that Rules, 2000 govern the field,
admittedly as per these Rules there is no provision for relaxation
for women candidates and, therefore, High Court rightly held that
the appellant was not entitled to any such age relaxation and was,
therefore, suffered from age bar.
18. From the arguments noted above, the questions that fall for
consideration and need the answers are the following:
(a) Whether the recruitment to the post of Dy.S.P. was governed by
Rules, 2005 or it was rightly done under the Rules, 2000?
It may be pointed out at this stage itself that if Rules, 2005 are
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applicable then the outcome of the case would clearly be in
favour of the appellant inasmuch as rules specifically provided for
relaxation upto 10 years for women candidates. However, if
answer to the aforesaid question is that recruitment process was
rightly carried under Rules, 2000 then further question would
arise for consideration, viz.:
(b) Notwithstanding the fact that Rules, 2000 do not contain any
provision for relaxation qua women candidates, whether a
relaxation would still be available to women candidates under
Rules, 1997?
There are two incidental facets of question no. (b), which are as
follows:
(i) Whether Rules, 1997 are applicable, which make special
provision for relaxation in upper age limit by 10 years in respect of
women candidates?
(ii) Whether Examination Rules, 2003 which specifically contain a
provision for applicability of Rules, 1997 would be treated as
applicable for the examination in-question?
19. Question No. 1
The High Court held that first and second requisitions to commence
recruitment process against the vacant seats to the post of Dy.S.P. was
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made when Rules, 2000 were in force. Therefore, recruitment was
rightly undertaken under Rules, 2000.
The admitted facts are that the process of selection started before
Rules, 2005 were promulgated with the requisitions dated September
27, 2004 and March 26, 2005 sent by the State Government to the
CPSE. At that time, Rules, 2000 were in vogue. For this reason, even in
the requisition it was mentioned that appointments are to be made
under Rules, 2000. Further, it is also an admitted fact that the
vacancies in-question which were to be filled were for the period prior
to 2005. Such vacancies needed to be filled in as per those Rules, i.e.
Rules, 2000. This is patent legal position which can be discerned from
Y.V. Rangaiah and Others v. J. Shreenivasa Rao1. As per the facts of
that case a panel had to be prepared every year of list of approved
candidates for making appointments to the grade of Sub-Registrar
Grade-II by transfer according to the old rules. However, the panel was
not prepared in the year 1976 and the petitioners were deprived of their
right of being considered for promotion. In the meanwhile, new rules
came into force. In this factual background, it was held that the
vacancies which occurred prior to the amended rules would be
governed by the old rules and not by the amended rules. The judgment
1 (1983) 3 SCC 284
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in the case of B.L. Gupta and Another v. M.C.D.2 also summarises
the legal position in this behalf. The judgment in P. Ganeshwar Rao
and Others v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Others3 is also to the
same effect. Para 9 of the judgment laying down the aforesaid
proposition of law, is reproduced below:
“9. When the statutory rules had been frame din 1978, the vacancies had to be filled only according to the said Rules. The Rules of 1995 have been held to be prospective by the High Court and in our opinion this was the correct conclusion. This being so, the question which arises is whether the vacancies which had arisen earlier than 1995 can be filled as per the 1995 Rules. Our attention has been drawn by Mr. Mehta to a decision of this Court in the case of N.T. Devin Katti v. Karnataka Public Service Commission [(1990) 3 SCC 157]. In that case after referring to the earlier decisions in the cases of Y.V. Rangaiah1, P. Ganeshwar Rao3, and A.A. Calton v. Director of Education [(1983) 3 SCC 33] it was held by this Court that the vacancies which had occurred prior to the amendment of the Rules would be governed by the old Rules and not by the amended Rules.”
20. No doubt, under certain exceptional circumstances, Government
can take a conscience decisions not to fill the vacancies under
the old Rules and, thus, there can be departure of the aforesaid
general rule in exceptional cases. This legal precept was
recognised in the case of Rajasthan Public Service
Commission v. Keilla Kumar Palliwal and another4 in the
2 (1998) 9 SCC 223 3 1988 (Supp) SCC 740 4 (2007) 10 SCC 260
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following words:
“There is no quarrel over the proposition of law that normal rule is that the vacancy prior to the new Rules would be governed by the old Rules and not by the new Rules. However, in the present case, we have already held that the Government has taken conscious decision not to fill the vacancy under the old Rules and that such decision has been validly taken keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the cases.”
21. This position is reaffirmed in State of Punjab v. Arun Kumar
Aggarwal5.
22. However, as far as present case is concerned, the State sent the
requisition specifically mentioning that the recruitment has to be
under Rules, 2000. This was so provided even in the
advertisement. The appellant never challenged the
advertisement and contended that after the promulgation of
Rules, 2005 the recruitment should have been under Rules, 2005
and not Rules, 2000. Therefore, the appellant is even precluded
from arguing that recruitment should have been made under
Rules, 2005.
23. Thus, we answer question no. (i) by holding that recruitment was
rightly made as per Rules, 2000.
5 (2007) 10 SCC 402
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24. Question No. (ii) – As noted above, Rue 8 of Rules 2000, which,
inter alia, deals with age criteria that has to be fulfilled by the
candidate, does not make any provision for age relaxation insofar
as women candidates are concerned. On the other hand, we
have Rules, 1997 which also have statutory force as they are also
framed under proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India.
These Rules contain special provisions for appointment of women
candidates and are made applicable to the public service and
posts in connection with the affairs of the State. The question is
as to whether these Rules would not be applicable in those cases
where recruitment is made under Rules, 2000 which not only
contains specific provision for age relaxation but does not make
any provision for age relaxation in favour of women candidates
and on the contrary categorically provides under Note (2) that 'in
no other case age limits will be relaxed'. Significantly, this
omission in Rules, 2000 has taken note of when Rules, 2005
were framed and, therefore, the situation was remedied in Rule 8
of Rules, 2005 by specifically providing under sub-rule (f) of Rule
8 that relaxation in the upper age limit would also be available to
women candidates as per Rules, 1997 as noted above.
However, we have already come to a conclusion that Rules,
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2005 are not applicable in respect of selection in question.
Therefore, position will have to be considered keeping in view
Rules, 2000 in juxtaposition with Rules, 1997 and other relevant
provisions which were applicable as on that date.
25. No doubt, Rule 8 of Rules, 2000, which, inter alia, lays down the
provision pertaining to upper and lower age of the candidates,
does not make any specific provision for relaxation of age in
respect of women candidates. We also are conscious of the fact
that Note (2) appended to Rule 8 provides that in no other case,
age limit will be relaxed. However, that is not the end of the
matter. The legal position is to be examined in conjunction with
all other rules which occupy the field and all relevant to determine
the issue. We are of the opinion that Rules, 1997 read with State
Services Examination Rules, 2003 would get attracted and as
these Rules make a specific provision for providing of age
relaxation upto ten years that is to be given to women candidates,
the appellant herein shall be entitled to the said benefit. The
reasons for arriving at this finding are explained hereinafter:
26. In the first instance, it is to be borne in mind that Rules, 1997 are
specific Rules, specially meant to give benefit of age relaxation to
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women in public service and post in connection with the affairs of
the State. These Rules are statutory in nature framed under
proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India. Such a special
provision is made in favour of females in consonance with the
Constitutional spirit contained in Article 15(3) of the Constitution of
India which empowers the State to make any special provision for
women and children. The salutary purpose and objective behind
promulgating Rules, 1997 is manifest and can be clearly
discerned. It is to encourage women, hitherto known as weaker
section, to become working women, by taking up different
vocations, including public employment. It would naturally lead to
empowerment of women, which is the need of the hour. Women
in this world, and particularly in India, face various kinds of gender
disabilities and discriminations. It is notwithstanding the fact that
under the Constitution of India, women enjoy a unique status of
equality with men. In reality, however, they have yet to go a long
way to achieve this Constitutional status. It is now realised that
real empowerment would be achieved by women, which would
lead to their well-being facilitating enjoyment of rights guaranteed
to them, only if there is an economic empowerment of women as
well. Till sometime back, the focus was to achieve better
Civil Appeal No. 274 of 2016 Page 24 of 38
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treatment for women and for this reason, the concentration was
mainly on the well-being of women. Now the focus is shifted to
economic empowerment. Such objectives have gradually
evolved or broadened to include the active role of women when it
comes to development as well. No longer the passive recipients
of welfare-enhancing help, women are increasingly seen, by men
as well as women as active agents of change: the dynamic
promoters of social transformation that can alter the lives of both
women and men. It is now realised that there is a bidirectional
relationship between economic development and women's
empowerment defined as improving the ability of women to
access the constituents of development-in particular health,
education, earning opportunities, rights, and political participation.
This bidirectional relationship is explained by Prof. Amartya Sen
by propounding a theory that in one direction, development alone
can play a major role in driving down an equality between men
and women; in another direction, continuing discrimination
against women can hinder development. In this scenario,
empowerment can accelerate development. From whichever
direction the issue is looked into, it provides justification for giving
economic empowerment to women. It is, for this purpose, there is
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much emphasis on women empowerment (as it leads to
economic development) by United Nations World Bank and other
such Bodies. Interestingly, the 2012 World Development Report
(World Bank 2011) adopts a much more nuanced message.
While it emphasizes the “business case” for women
empowerment, it mainly takes it as given that the equality
between women and men is a desirable goal in itself, and policies
should aim to achieve that goal. Poverty and lack of opportunity
breed inequality between men and women, so that when
economic development reduces poverty, the condition of women
improves on two counts: first, when poverty is reduced, the
condition of everyone, including women, improves, and second,
gender inequality declines as poverty declines, so the condition of
women improves more than that of men with development.
Economic development, however, is not enough to bring about
complete equality between men and women. Policy action is still
necessary to achieve equality between genders. Such policy
action would be unambiguously justified if empowerment of
women also stimulates further development, starting a virtuous
cycle. Empowerment of women, thus, is perceived as equipping
them to be economically independent, self-reliant, with positive
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esteem to enable them to face any situation and they should be
able to participate in the development activities.
27. Keeping in view all the aforesaid and other relevant
considerations, when such affirmative actions are taken by
lawmaker, in the form of subordinate legislation, they need to be
enforced appropriately so that the purpose that is intended is
suitably achieved. Seen in this context, Rule 4 of Rules, 1997 is
to be interpreted to have universal application when it comes to
women candidates seeking appointment in public service and
post in connection with the affairs of the State of Chhattisgarh.
After all, that is the primary purpose behind enacting the aforesaid
Rule having statutory character.
28. In order to gather the intention of the lawmaker, the principle of
'purposive interpretation' is now widely applied. This has been
explained in the case of Shailesh Dhairyawan v. Mohan
Balkrishna Lulla6 in the following words:
“9. The aforesaid two reasons given by me, in addition to the reasons already indicated in the judgment of my learned Brother, would clearly demonstrate that provisions of Section 15(2) of the Act require purposive interpretation so that the aforesaid objective/purpose of such a provision is achieved thereby. The principle of 'purposive
6 2015 (11) SCALE 684
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interpretation' or 'purposive construction' is based on the understanding that the Court is supposed to attach that meaning to the provisions which serve the 'purpose' behind such a provision. The basic approach is to ascertain what is it designed to accomplish? To put it otherwise, by interpretative process the Court is supposed to realise the goal that the legal text is designed to realise. As Aharan Barak puts it:
“Purposive interpretation is based on three components: language, purpose, and discretion. Language shapes the range of semantic possibilities within which the interpreter acts as a linguist. Once the interpreter defines the range, he or she chooses the legal meaning of the text from among the (express or implied) semantic possibilities. The semantic component thus sets the limits of interpretation by restricting the interpreter to a legal meaning that the text can bear in its (public or private) language.”
10. Of the aforesaid three components, namely, language, purpose and discretion 'of the Court', insofar as purposive component is concerned, this is the ratio juris, the purpose at the core of the text. This purpose is the values, goals, interests, policies and aims that the text is designed to actualize. It is the function that the text is designed to fulfil.
11. We may also emphasize that the statutory interpretation of a provision is never static but is always dynamic. Though literal rule of interpretation, till some time ago, was treated as the 'golden rule', it is now the doctrine of purposive interpretation which is predominant, particularly in those cases where literal interpretation may not serve the purpose or may lead to absurdity. If it brings about an end which is at variance with the purpose of statute, that cannot be countenanced. Not only legal process thinkers such as Hart and Sacks rejected intentionalism as a grand strategy for statutory interpretation, and in its place they offered purposivism, this principle is now widely applied by the Courts not only in this country but in
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many other legal systems as well.”
29. Even if any doubt arises about the applicability of Rules, 1997
because of absence of any specific provisions in Rules, 2000,
that is taken care of by State Services Examination Rules, 2003.
It is not disputed by the respondents that competitive examination
for recruitment to the post of Dy.S.P. was conducted under the
aforesaid Rules. As already noted above, Rule 5 of the said
Rules deals with eligibility conditions. Apart from prescribing
nationality, minimum educational qualification etc., it specifically
lays down provision relating to age of the candidates. After
prescribing minimum and maximum age limits as eligibility
condition for appearing in the examinations, proviso to this
provision of age empowers the State Government to vary the
lower and upper age limits for any of the services included in
these Rules looking to the exigencies of services. This Rule also
makes provision for relaxation in the upper age limit in certain
cases. What is relevant for us is that for women candidates, a
provision is specifically made providing that as per Rules, 1997,
10 years age relaxation would be given to women candidates, as
is clear from the said provision which reads as under:
“(xiv) up to maximum 10 years: for women candidate: As per Rajpatra (Asadharan) dated
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7.2.1997, Published rule C.G. Civil Service (Special provision of appointment for women) Rule 1997, 10 years age relaxation will be given to women candidate.”
30. It can, therefore, be clearly inferred that incorporation in the
manner aforesaid Rules, 1997 were made applicable for the
examination in question and in this way the lacuna in Rules, 2000
also got filled up. It would not be too much presumptuous to say
that omission of Rules, 1997 in Rule 8 of Rules, 2000 was merely
accidental and it was not a case of casus omissus. Because of
this reason, said omission was also rectified while enacting Rules,
2005 by making a specific provision in Rule 8(f) of Rules, 2005.
Therefore, the intention of the rule making authorities had always
been to give benefit of relaxation in age to women candidates.
After all, we are called upon to interpret subordinate legislation
salutary aim whereof is to achieve social purpose and
consequently social justice. What should be the approach in
interpreting such laws is explained in Badshah v. Sou. Urmila
Badshah Godse and Anr.7 in the following words:
“13.3. Thirdly, in such cases, purposive interpretation needs to be given to the provisions of Section 125, Code of Criminal Procedure While dealing with the application of destitute wife or hapless children or parents under this provision,
7 (2014) 1 SCC 188
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the Court is dealing with the marginalized sections of the society. The purpose is to achieve "social justice" which is the Constitutional vision, enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. Preamble to the Constitution of India clearly signals that we have chosen the democratic path under rule of law to achieve the goal of securing for all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It specifically highlights achieving their social justice. Therefore, it becomes the bounden duty of the Courts to advance the cause of the social justice. While giving interpretation to a particular provision, the Court is supposed to bridge the gap between the law and society.
14. Of late, in this very direction, it is emphasized that the Courts have to adopt different approaches in "social justice adjudication", which is also known as "social context adjudication" as mere "adversarial approach" may not be very appropriate. There are number of social justice legislations giving special protection and benefits to vulnerable groups in the society. Prof. Madhava Menon describes it eloquently:
It is, therefore, respectfully submitted that "social context judging" is essentially the application of equality jurisprudence as evolved by Parliament and the Supreme Court in myriad situations presented before courts where unequal parties are pitted in adversarial proceedings and where courts are called upon to dispense equal justice. Apart from the social-economic inequalities accentuating the disabilities of the poor in an unequal fight, the adversarial process itself operates to the disadvantage of the weaker party. In such a situation, the judge has to be not only sensitive to the inequalities of parties involved but also positively inclined to the weaker party if the imbalance were not to result in miscarriage of justice. This result is achieved by what we call social context judging or social justice adjudication.
15. The provision of maintenance would definitely fall in this category which aims at empowering the
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destitute and achieving social justice or equality and dignity of the individual. While dealing with cases under this provision, drift in the approach from "adversarial" litigation to social context adjudication is the need of the hour.
16. The law regulates relationships between people. It prescribes patterns of behavior. It reflects the values of society. The role of the Court is to understand the purpose of law in society and to help the law achieve its purpose. But the law of a society is a living organism. It is based on a given factual and social reality that is constantly changing. Sometimes change in law precedes societal change and is even intended to stimulate it. In most cases, however, a change in law is the result of a change in social reality. Indeed, when social reality changes, the law must change too. Just as change in social reality is the law of life, responsiveness to change in social reality is the life of the law. It can be said that the history of law is the history of adapting the law to society's changing needs. In both Constitutional and statutory interpretation, the Court is supposed to exercise direction in determining the proper relationship between the subjective and objective purpose of the law.
17. Cardozo acknowledges in his classic
...no system of jus scriptum has been able to escape the need of it", and he elaborates: "It is true that Codes and Statutes do not render the Judge superfluous, nor his work perfunctory and mechanical. There are gaps to be filled. There are hardships and wrongs to be mitigated if not avoided. Interpretation is often spoken of as if it were nothing but the search and the discovery of a meaning which, however, obscure and latent, had none the less a real and ascertainable pre-existence in the legislator's mind. The process is, indeed, that at times, but it is often something more. The ascertainment of intention may be the least of a judge's troubles in ascribing meaning to a stature.
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Says Gray in his lecture
The fact is that the difficulties of so-called interpretation arise when the legislature has had no meaning at all; when the question which is raised on the statute never occurred to it; when what the judges have to do is, not to determine that the legislature did mean on a point which was present to its mind, but to guess what is would have intended on a point not present to its mind, if the point had been present.
18. The Court as the interpreter of law is supposed to supply omissions, correct uncertainties, and harmonize results with justice through a method of free decision-"libre recherche sceintifique" i.e. "free Scientific research". We are of the opinion that there is a non-rebuttable presumption that the Legislature while making a provision like Section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure, to fulfill its Constitutional duty in good faith, had always intended to give relief to the woman becoming "wife" under such circumstances. This approach is particularly needed while deciding the issues relating to gender justice. We already have examples of exemplary efforts in this regard. Journey from Shah Bano, AIR 1985 SC 945 to Shabana Bano, AIR 2010 SC 305 guaranteeing maintenance rights to Muslim women is a classical example.
19. In Rameshchandra Daga v. Rameshwari Daga, AIR 2005 SC 422, the right of another woman in a similar situation was upheld. Here the Court had accepted that Hindu marriages have continued to be bigamous despite the enactment of the Hindu Marriage Act in 1955. The Court had commented that though such marriages are illegal as per the provisions of the Act, they are not 'immoral' and hence a financially dependent woman cannot be denied maintenance on this ground.
20. Thus, while interpreting a statute the court may not only take into consideration the purpose for
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which the statute was enacted, but also the mischief it seeks to suppress. It is this mischief rule, first propounded in Heydon's Case (1854) 3 Co. Rep. 7a, 7b which became the historical source of purposive interpretation. The court would also invoke the legal maxim construction ut res magis valeat guam pereat, in such cases i.e. where alternative constructions are possible the Court must give effect to that which will be responsible for the smooth working of the system for which the statute has been enacted rather than one which will put a road block in its way. If the choice is between two interpretations, the narrower of which would fail to achieve the manifest purpose of the legislation should be avoided. We should avoid a construction which would reduce the legislation to futility and should accept the bolder construction based on the view that Parliament would legislate only for the purpose of bringing about an effective result. If this interpretation is not accepted, it would amount to giving a premium to the husband for defrauding the wife. Therefore, at least for the purpose of claiming maintenance under Section 125, Code of Criminal Procedure, such a woman is to be treated as the legally wedded wife.
21. The principles of Hindu Personal Law have developed in an evolutionary way out of concern for all those subject to it so as to make fair provision against destitution. The manifest purpose is to achieve the social objectives for making bare minimum provision to sustain the members of relatively smaller social groups. Its foundation spring is humanistic. In its operation field all though, it lays down the permissible categories under its benefaction, which are so entitled either because of the tenets supported by clear public policy or because of the need to subserve the social and individual morality measured for maintenance.
22. In taking the aforesaid view, we are also encouraged by the following observations of this Court in Capt. Ramesh Chander Kaushal v. Veena Kaushal (1978) 4 SCC 70:
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The brooding presence of the Constitutional empathy for the weaker sections like women and children must inform interpretation if it has to have social relevance. So viewed, it is possible to be selective in picking out that interpretation out of two alternatives which advances the cause - the cause of the derelicts.”
31. When all the aforesaid Rules are seen in juxtaposition and in
conjunction with each other, intention of rule making authority
becomes apparent and is clearly ascertained. The intention of
rule making authority was, and it continues to be so, to give
benefit to age relaxation to women candidates. That, according
to us, represents the true intention. Otherwise the very purpose
of such Rules is defeated. The rule making authority has
manifest its intention by removing the ambiguity and providing a
specific provision even in Rules, 2005 which, according to us, is
by way of abundant caution so that such kinds of disputes or
situations with which we are confronted here, are eliminated.
32. Thus, in ultimate analysis, we hold that the appellant was entitled
to age relaxation as per Rule 4 of Rules, 1997 read with State
Services Examination, 2003. She was, therefore, eligible to be
considered for the post of Dy.S.P. The facts narrated above
reveal that she participated in the selection process and in the
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merit list prepared, she was placed at Serial No.54. Persons
below her in the merit list have been appointed. She was
excluded only because of alleged age bar since we find that this
impediment would not come in her way, the present appeal
warrants to be allowed. The direction is issued to the
respondents to appoint the appellant as Dy.S.P. w.e.f. the date
her juniors in the merit list, namely, Tarkeshwar Patel and Ranu
Sahu are appointed. Her seniority and pay shall be fixed on that
basis. However, she will not be allowed to make any claim for
salary for the intervening period otherwise the intervening period
shall count for all other purposes.
This appeal is allowed with costs, in aforesaid terms.
.............................................J. (A.K. SIKRI)
.............................................J. (ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE)
NEW DELHI; FEBRUARY 08, 2016.
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Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL No. 274 OF 2016
Richa Mishra …….Appellant(s)
VERSUS
State of Chhatisgarh & Ors. ……Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.
1. I have had the benefit of reading the elaborate, well considered and
scholarly written draft opinion of my learned Brother.
2. Having gone through the opinion, I entirely agree with the reasoning
and the conclusion arrived at by my learned Brother.
3. In my considered opinion also, the appellant is entitled to claim age
relaxation as provided to women candidates in Rule 4 of Rules of 1997 read
with proviso to clause (xiv) of Rule 5 of the States Services Examination
Rules, which has application to the case of the appellant while considering
her case for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police. I, however, need
not elaborate my conclusion since I entirely agree with the reasoning of my
learned Brother on this issue.
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4. I also concur with the subtle observations made by my learned Brother
in Para 26 where His Lordship has observed that the very object of
promulgating the Rules of 1997 and especially Rule 4 is to encourage
women’s participation in various State services. In my view, denial of such
benefit to a woman candidate while considering her case for the post in State
services would make the Rule wholly nugatory. Such can never be the
intention of the Legislature being against the spirit of Articles 15 and 16 of the
Constitution of India.
5. With these few words of my own, I fully agree with my learned Brother.
…...……..................................J. [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE]
New Delhi; February 08, 2016
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