Punjab PCS recruitment advertisement stayed by High Court over eligibility cut-off date dispute
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has temporarily halted the Punjab Civil Services (PCS) Executive Branch recruitment process after a dispute arose over the eligibility cut-off date mentioned in the recruitment advertisement. The court has issued a notice to the Punjab Government and directed it to file its response by August 24.
The recruitment drive was announced on June 5, 2026, to fill five PCS Executive Branch posts through Register-C quota.
These posts are reserved for eligible Group A and Group B officers already serving in different departments of the Punjab Government. The petitioners in the case are serving as Junior Engineers (Electrical) in the Punjab Water Resources Department.
The recruitment advertisement fixed November 1, 2025, as the cut-off date for determining eligibility. The petitioners argued that they completed the required eight years of regular government service shortly after that date and became fully eligible well before the advertisement was issued on June 5, 2026.
However, because of the cut-off date, they were excluded from the recruitment process despite meeting the eligibility conditions by the time the advertisement was published.
According to the petitioners, using a cut-off date that is seven months older than the advertisement date is unfair and has prevented several eligible candidates from applying. They also argued that the decision violates the principles of equality and equal opportunity guaranteed under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
The petitioners further alleged that the cut-off date may have been fixed in a way that benefits certain candidates while excluding others.
However, the Punjab Government defended the recruitment process, stating that the cut-off date was fixed according to the provisions of the Punjab Civil Services rules. The government maintained that the eligibility criteria were determined as per existing regulations.
After hearing both sides, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar issued a notice to the Punjab Government seeking its response.
The court also stayed the June 5 recruitment advertisement until the next hearing.
The matter will now be taken up again on August 24, when the government is expected to submit its reply.
- PTC NEWS
