1. In the present writ petition, the petitioner is praying for issuance of a direction to the respondents to issue appointment letter to the petitioner for the post of Hostel Assistant Female reserved for Scheduled Caste Category.

2. The brief facts of the case are that respondent no.2 i.e Director Medical Education and Research, Government of Punjab through respondent no.3-Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot advertised 36 vacant paramedical posts on 18.5.2023 (Annexure P-7) to be filled in various colleges and attached hospitals under respondent no.2. Out of 36 posts advertised, 07 posts were reserved for Hostel Assistant Female. Out of seven posts reserved for female category, two posts were reserved for SC (M&B) category. The petitioner in pursuance to the above said advertisement, applied for consideration for appointment to the post of Hostel Assistant in Female Category reserved for SC (M&B). As per the petitioner, as the petitioner had secured 17 marks and was at serial no.1 in the merit list dated 19.3.2024 (Annexure P-10), as such, she was entitled to be called for verification of documents. As the petitioner was not called for verification of documents, the petitioner approached the office of respondent no.3 in the month of October 2024 to know about the status of the recruitment. The petitioner also submitted a representation dated 28.10.2024 (Annexure P-11), wherein, a request was made by the petitioner to know her status in regard to the recruitment which was initiated in pursuance to the advertisement issued by respondent- University. In pursuance to the representation submitted by the petitioner dated 28.10.2024 (Annexure P-11), the respondent no.2 vide reply dated 18.12.2024 (Annexure P-12), informed the petitioner that the petitioner was not entitled to be considered for appointment on the post of Hostel Assistant Female reserved for SC (M&B) Category. A perusal of the abovesaid reply would show that as per respondent no.2, candidates were called for verification of documents by the Committee on 01.07.2024 to 02.07.2024 through public notice displayed on the website of the Department and through telephonic messages on mobile number, petitioner was given another chance on 04.07.2024 to appear before the Committee for verification of documents but the petitioner did not participate before the Committee for the purpose of verification of documents, hence, due to non-appearance of the petitioner, the petitioner’s case has not been considered for appointment on the post in question.

3. Aggrieved against the above said action of the respondent in not considering the case of the petitioner for appointment on the post of Hostel Assistant Female under the SC(M&B) category, petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

4. Notice of motion.

5. Ms. Neha Sonawane, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State.

6. The only contention raised by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner is that as there is one post still lying vacant and the petitioner being higher in merit than the last selected candidate, as such, her case should be considered for appointment on the post in question and a Committee should be again reconstituted for the purpose of verification of documents and thereafter the case of petitioner should be considered for appointment.

7. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner at length.

8. A perusal of the facts of the present case would show that as per the reply dated 18.12.2024 (Annexure P-12), it is the specific stand of the respondent-department that a public notice was displayed on the website of the Department for the purpose of verification of documents. The counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner does not dispute in regard to the public notice displayed on the website of respondent for verification of documents. As the petitioner did not appear before the Committee for the purpose of verification of the documents, the case of the petitioner was not considered for appointment. In regard to the contention raised by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner that as one post is still lying vacant and the petitioner is higher in merit than the last selected candidate, as such, the Committee should be reconstituted for the purpose of verification of documents and thereafter the case of the petitioner should be considered for appointment on the post of Hostel Assistant Female under the SC (M&B) category. In regard to this contention raised by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is concerned, a perusal of the facts of the present case would show that public notice was displayed on the website of the respondent-department for the purpose of verification of documents, it is an admitted fact that the petitioner did not appear before the Committee for the same. As the petitioner did not appear before the Committee for the purpose of verification of documents, in pursuance to the public notice issued by the respondents, even if the petitioner is higher in merit than the last selected candidate, the case of the petitioner has rightly not been considered by the respondent-department for the purpose of appointment on the post of Hostel Assistant Female under the SC (M&B) Category. It is settled law that a candidate, who fails to appear before the authority for the purpose of verification of documents in such case, the candidate is not entitled to be considered for appointment. Even otherwise also, at this stage, the process of selection is complete and the appointments have been made, as such, no direction can be given to the respondents to reconstitute a Committee for the purpose of verification of documents and consider the case of the petitioner for appointment.

9. In view of the above, this Court finds no merit in the present writ petition and the same is hereby dismissed.

10. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of accordingly.