Full Judgment
D.K. Seth, J.
1. The petitioner claims appointment under the Dying-in-Harness Rules and has accordingly applied for.
2. Shri R. C. Sinha, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner's case has been refused by order dated 13.11.1998 which is Annexure-8 to the writ petition. In the said order, it has been pointed out that the petitioner did not possess the educational qualification for being appointed in the post, however, his case may be considered for appointment against a Class IV post. He further submits that at the time when the petitioner had submitted his application, his qualification was intermediate but subsequent thereto the qualification has been upgraded. According to him. subsequent amendment cannot be applied in the case of the petitioner. He relies on the decision in the case of Kripa Shankar Yadav v. State of U. P. and others, 1998 (3) ESC 2237 (All). In the said decision, it was held that a candidate must possess the minimum qualification on the date of submission of application form. Any subsequent amendment in the statute/regulations granting any relief to the candidate with regards to exemption/curtailment of minimum qualification after submission of application form cannot stand in the way of right of the candidate for being considered.
3. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned standing counsel at length.
4. The decision in the case of Kripa Shankar Yadav (supra) was rendered on the basis of application made pursuant to an advertisement published for recruitment whereas in the present case, the application was for appointment under the Dying-in-Harness Rules which is a distinct and separate question from a regular selection process. In the present case, the application is for grant of appointment under the Dying-in-Hamess Rules which is not through a regular selection process. The appointment under the Dying-in-Harness Rules is an exception to and relaxation of the principles enunciated under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution to save the familyof an employee from immediatedestitution. It stands altogether on adifferent footing from regularrecruitment system. In the case ofUmesh Kumar Nagpal v. State ofHaryana and others, 1994 (2) SLR677, the Apex Court had held thatDying-in-Harness Rules does notconfer any vested right to claimappointment. Therefore, it does notconfer any absolute legal right at parwith the process of regularrecruitment subject to theRecruitment Rules. Recruitment underthe Dying-in-Harness Rules are dehors the recruitment Rules on theprinciple laid down in the Dying-in-Harness Rules itself. The principle ofapplication of subsequentamendment cannot apply in suchcase. The question would bedetermined on the date ofconsideration. The candidate mustpossess the relevant qualification ason the date of consideration.
5. In such circumstances. I am unable to agree with the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner. The writ petition fails and is accordingly dismissed. However, this order will not prevent the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner which is contained as Annexure-3 to the writ petition and the same may be considered by respondent No. 3.