1 ( 2025:HHC:39851 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.7196 of 2025 Decided on: 25th November, 2025. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sourabh …..Petitioner Versus H.P. State Electricity Board Limited and others .....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Sumesh Raj, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Rahul Thakur, Advocate, for respondents No. 1 & 2. Mr. Vishwadeep Sharma, Additional Advocate General, Mr. Sikander Bhushan, Deputy Advocate General and Mr. Rajat Choudhry, Assistant Advocate General for respondents No. 3 and 4. Mr. Shiv Pal Manhas, Advocate, for respondent No.5. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Following order was passed in this writ petition on 02.05.2025 whereby after noticing gist of the petitioner’s grievance, an interim direction was issued to the respondents to keep one post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) under sports quota vacant: “Notice. Mr. Piyush Rathore, learned counsel, Mr. Rajat Choudhary, learned Assistant Advocate General and Mr. Shiv Pal Manhans, learned counsel, accept notice on behalf of respondents No.1, 2, & 3, 4 and 5 respectively. 2. Petitioner’s case is that he had applied for post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) under sports quota on contract 1 Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes. 2 ( 2025:HHC:39851 ) basis with the respondent-HPSEBL. Vide office communication dated 12.11.2024 (Annexure P-5), petitioner was directed to remain present before the Departmental Selection Committee on 25.11.2024 alongwith original documents mentioned in the said office communication. Petitioner complied with the direction, however, he was not informed by the respondent-HPSEBL about the fate of his application/selection against the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical). Pursuant to information supplied to the petitioner under Right to Information Act on 18.03.2025 (Annexure P6) he became aware of the fact that since his name had been sponsored by respondent No.5 against “Wushu C-IV(V) game”, but the same was not covered under the instructions issued by the State Personnel Department in its letter dated 22.10.2018 as adopted by HPSEBL, therefore, he was not eligible for appointment of Junior Engineer post under the sports quota. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that reason for not considering petitioner eligible for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) under the sport quota as assigned in the information supplied to him on 18.03.2025 are factually incorrect. Learned counsel has referred to an office circular dated 02.08.2008 (Annexure P-7) that provides reservations to the distinguished sport persons in various services under the State Government. As per Annexure P-7, Wushu figures at serial No.42 of the list of the games/sports, which qualify for consideration for appointment to Class-I to IV posts/services under the State Government/Boards/ Corporations, etc. Attention was further invited to office communication/circular dated 22.10.2018, whereby some amendments were carried out in the list appended with office circular dated 02.08.2008 inasmuch as in place of game “Karate-Do” figuring at serial No.22 in Annexure-A attached with the said communication/circular, the word ‘Karate’ was to be substituted. Serial No.42 ‘Wushu’ had not been ordered to be taken away from the list of games recognized for the purpose of appointment in the services. 4. There is force in the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner. Prime facie, at this stage, it appears that Annexure-A appended with communication/circular dated 22.10.2018 (Annexure P-9) has some typographical errors and for that reason it stops at serial No.41 and does not include serial Nos.42 & 43, which otherwise were included in the instructions/circular dated 3 ( 2025:HHC:39851 ) 02.08.2008 and for deletion of which, there is no order passed by any authority. In view of above, petitioner has made out a case for grant of interim relief. Accordingly, it is ordered that till the next date, one post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) under sports quota, shall not be filled up by the respondents. Reply be filed within two weeks. List thereafter.” The above interim order has continued to remain in force. 2. During course of hearing of this writ petition, learned Assistant Advocate General placed on record office instructions dated 22.11.2025 from the Director, Youth Services & Sports, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, conveying as under:- “In this regard, it is submitted that the meeting of the Council of Ministers was taken place on 25.10.2025 and the matter for inclusion of Wushu Game in the list of games/sports which qualify meritorious sports persons for consideration for appointment/engagement to Group A, B,C & D posts/services under the State Government, has approved by the Council of Ministers. Accordingly, the Department of Personnel, Govt. of H.P. has issued letter in this regard on 12.11.2025 vide No. PER(AP)-C-F(1)/2025 and uploaded the same on its website on 13.11.2025 which is enclosed herewith as Annexure “A” and the Wushu game is appeared at Serial No.58.” Copy of the office circular dated 12.11.2025 referred in the aforesaid office instructions has also been appended with the office instructions. 3. Learned Assistant Advocate General submits that since ‘Wushu’ Game has now been included in the list of games/sports, 4 ( 2025:HHC:39851 ) which qualify for consideration for appointment/engagement to Group A, B,C & D posts/ services under the State government, the case of the petitioner shall be considered accordingly. 4. Taking note of the office instructions and the submissions made by learned Assistant Advocate General, this writ petition is disposed of with directions to respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for the post of Junior Engineer (Electrical) under sports quota in terms of office instructions dated 22.11.2025 and office circular dated 12.11.2025. This exercise be carried out within four weeks. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. Jyotsna Rewal Dua November 25, 2025 Judge yogesh