103+217 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 06.07.2026 1. CWP-10646-2020 (O&M) SUKHPREET SINGH AND OTHERS ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 2. CWP-10086-2020 (O&M) JARMANJIT SINGH AND ORS ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 3. CWP-17095-2020 (O&M) JAGDEEP SINGH JOHAL AND ANR ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 4. CWP-19859-2020 (O&M) ANIL BANSAL ........Petitioner VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 5. CWP-8753-2020 (O&M) NEERAJ YADAV AND OTHERS ........Petitioners SAPNA GOYAL 2026.07.15 15:02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-10646-2020 (O&M) and other connected cases -2- VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 6. CWP-11472-2020 (O&M) RAJ KUMAR AND OTHERS ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 7. CWP-12138-2020 (O&M) SARJIVAN KUMAR AND OTHERS ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents 8. CWP-24106-2021 (O&M) MANOJ KUMAR AND OTHERS ........Petitioners VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMARINDER SINGH GREWAL Present: Mr. Bikramjit Singh Patwalia, Advocate with Mr. Gaurav Jagota, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP No.10646 of 2020. Mr. Rajiv Atma Ram, Senior Advocate with Mr. Arjun Pratap Atma Ram, Advocate and Mr. Brijesh Khosla, Advocate For the petitioners in CWP No.11472 of 2020. Mr. Sanjay Kaushal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Arjun Shukla, Advocate SAPNA GOYAL 2026.07.15 15:02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-10646-2020 (O&M) and other connected cases -3- For the petitioner(s) in CWP No.37332 of 2025 and CWP No.2628 of 2025, CWP No.5780 of 2025 and CWP No.6094 of 2026. Ms. Alka Chatrath, Advocate with Ms. Jyoti Pandey, Advocate for the petitioner(s) in CWP No.12138 of 2020 and CWP No.24106 of 2021. Mr. Gunjan Mehta, Additional Advocate General, Punjab for the respondent-State assisted by Ms. M.V Kanchan Sharma, Asstt. Division/Education Secondary. Mr. Amit Jhanji, Senior Advocate with Mr. Abhishek K. Premi, Advocate for the respondents Nos. 12 and 13 in CWP No.10464 of 2020. Mr. Gurminder Singh Gill, Senior Advocate with Mr. J.S Gill, Advocate for the respondents. Mr. Navdeep Chhabra, Advocate for respondent Nos.4 to 9 in CWP -11020-2020, for respondent Nos.5 and 6 in CWP-10646-2020, for respondent Nos.5 and 6 in CWP-10656-2020, for respondent No.7 in CWP-11472-2020. Ms. Anu Chatrath, Senior Additional A.G., Punjab with Mr. Ritik Kapur, Advocate and Mr. Shreesh Kakkar, Advocate for the respondent-State. Mr. Sunny Singla, Advocate for respondent Nos.11 to 15 in CM-10384-2026 in/and CWP No.37332 of 2025 (O&M). *** HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI, J. (Oral) 1. Present are a bunch of eight petitions, the details whereof are mentioned in the heading, involving a common question of law arising in the context of a common set of facts. Accordingly, the same are being decided by this common order. 2. In the present bunch of petitions, the challenge is to Rule 5 of the Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection Cadre General) SAPNA GOYAL 2026.07.15 15:02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-10646-2020 (O&M) and other connected cases -4- Group A Service (First Amendment) Rules, 2020, as well as Rule 1 of Appendix B of the Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection Cadre General) Group B Service (First Amendment) Rules, 2020, on the ground that the posts of Principal in the Government Schools in question have been reserved exclusively for candidates who are in service with the State of Punjab as per the amendment to the 2018 Rules, as done in 2020. 3. At the outset, learned counsel for the respondent-State of Punjab submits that the grievance raised by the petitioner(s) has already been redressed by the State by issuing Notification dated 12.09.2025, whereby the 2018 Rules have been amended in the year 2025. As of now, as per the interpretation of the said 2018 Rules by the respondent-State, experience gained in any Government School within the Union of India shall be valid for considering the eligibility of the candidates to the 173 posts of Principal (Group-A) in Advertisement No.2025. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner(s) submits that, in view of the statement made by learned State counsel, the present bunch of petitions challenging the said Rules have been rendered infructuous and may kindly be disposed of as such. 5. At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner(s) submits that the issue with regard to the advertisement dated 22.10.2020 is not being pressed in the present petitions, keeping in view the fact that the said advertisement, which was also under challenge, has already been withdrawn by the respondent-State. Hence, in view of the amendment of the 2018 Rules SAPNA GOYAL 2026.07.15 15:02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-10646-2020 (O&M) and other connected cases -5- in the year 2025 and withdrawal of the advertisement dated 22.10.2020, the present petitions may be treated as having been rendered infructuous and disposed of accordingly. 6. Ordered accordingly. 7. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. 8. A photocopy of this order be placed on the files of other connected cases. (HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI) JUDGE 06-07-2026 Sapna Goyal (AMARINDER SINGH GREWAL) JUDGE NOTE: Whether speaking/ reasoned: YES Whether reportable: NO SAPNA GOYAL 2026.07.15 15:02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document