IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 232(2) CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision:- 27.07.2026 Priyanka and another … PeƟƟoners Versus State of Haryana and others ... Respondents CWP-3736-2025 (O&M) Naveen ....... PeƟƟoner Versus State of Haryana and others ... Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE NIDHI GUPTA Present:- Mr. Jasbir Mor, Advocate for the peƟƟoners. Ms. Komal Sharma, DAG, Haryana. ***** NIDHI GUPTA, J . CWP-2071-2025 Present Civil Writ PeƟƟon under ArƟcles 226/227 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India has been ﬁled by the peƟƟoners for issuance of a writ in the nature of cerƟorari for quashing the impugned orders dated 02.07.2024 and 03.07.2024 (Annexures P/10 and P/11) whereby claim of the peƟƟoners for appointment to a Group B and C post under the Haryana Government Sports Policy dated 05.09.2018 (Annexure P/6) has been rejected, being arbitrary, discriminatory and violaƟve of ArƟcles 14 and 16 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India; NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 2 - and to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus direcƟng the respondents to appoint the peƟƟoners to a suitable Group B or Group C post under the Haryana Government, out of turn under the Sports Quota, in terms of the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson (Recruitment and CondiƟons of Service) Rules, 2018, noƟﬁed on 05.09.2018 (Annexure P/6), on the basis of their sports achievements, namely, Gold Medal in Kabaddi at the 17th Asian Games, 2014 held at Incheon, South Korea by peƟƟoner Nos. 1 and 2, and Gold Medal in the Asian Games by peƟƟoner No. 2 (Annexures P/1 to P/2), whose sports merit cerƟﬁcates have been duly veriﬁed by the Indian Olympic AssociaƟon vide leƩer dated 30.04.2024 (Annexures P/13 to P/14, respecƟvely); and grant them parity with other similarly situated persons who parƟcipated in the Asian Games and have been appointed to Group B and C posts under the Sports Policy of the State Government in diﬀerent departments. CWP-3736-2025 Present Civil Writ PeƟƟon under ArƟcles 226/227 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India has been ﬁled by the peƟƟoner for issuance of a writ in the nature of cerƟorari to quash the impugned order dated 03.07.2024 (Annexure P/9) rejecƟng the claim of the peƟƟoner for appointment to a Group B and C post under the Haryana Government Sports Policy dated 05.09.2018 (Annexure P/5), being arbitrary, discriminatory and violaƟve of ArƟcles 14 and 16 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India; and to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus direcƟng the respondents to appoint the peƟƟoner to a suitable Group B or Group C post under the Haryana Government, out of turn under the Sports Quota, in terms of NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 3 - the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson (Recruitment and CondiƟons of Service) Rules, 2018, noƟﬁed on 05.09.2018 (Annexure P/5), on the basis of the peƟƟoner's sports achievements by obtaining the Gold Medal in the game of Kabaddi at the 15th Asian Games, 2006, held at Doha, Qatar, and the Gold Medal in other Asian Games (Annexure P/1), whose sports merit cerƟﬁcate has been duly veriﬁed by the Indian Olympic AssociaƟon vide leƩer dated 16.04.2024 (Annexure P/11); and grant the peƟƟoner parity with other similarly situated persons who parƟcipated in the Asian Games and have been appointed to Group B and C posts in diﬀerent departments of the State Government under the Sports Policy of the State Government. 2. Both the above-said two writ peƟƟons are being disposed of by this common order as the facts, issues and points for consideraƟon involved in both the peƟƟons are idenƟcal. For the sake of convenience and brevity, facts are being drawn from CWP-2071-2025. 3. It is inter alia submiƩed by ld. counsel for the peƟƟoners that all the 3 peƟƟoners in both the above-said writ peƟƟons are gold medalists in various games played at internaƟonal level as detailed in the peƟƟons respecƟvely, against their names. In view of their achievements in the Sports ﬁeld, Sports Merit CerƟﬁcates were issued to the peƟƟoners. Learned counsel contends that as the peƟƟoners had earned gold medals in InternaƟonal Tournaments, then, as per Policies dated 20.08.2013 (Annexure P-3) and 15.07.2014 (Annexure P-4), peƟƟoners were enƟtled to out-of-turn appointment. NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 4 - 4. It is submiƩed that State of Haryana had adverƟsed the posts vide adverƟsement dated 12.04.2017 (Annexure P/5); and online applicaƟons were also invited by the Sports Department, Haryana. The peƟƟoners had applied and provided the enƟre documents for veriﬁcaƟon to the State Government. Ld. counsel submits that even in terms of the Sports Policy dated 05.09.2018 (Annexure P-6) whereby policy dated 15.7.2014 was rescinded; as also the Haryana Sports and Physical Fitness Policy (Annexure P-7), peƟƟoners are enƟtled to appointment. But nothing was done by the respondents to ﬁnalise the said selecƟon vide adverƟsement dated 12.4.2017. 5. As needful was not being done, peƟƟoners had approached this Court by way of CWP-12641-2020 Ɵtled as Priyanka vs. State of Haryana and others. The said writ peƟƟon was allowed vide order dated 09.10.2023 (Annexure P-9) in terms of judgment dated 05.09.2023 (Annexure P-8) rendered in CWP-19244-2019 Ɵtled as Arvind and others versus State of Haryana and others. 6. Ld. Counsel submits that accordingly, in terms of the above-said judgment/orders dated 05.09.2023 (Annexure P-8) and 09.10.2023 (Annexure P- 9), claims of peƟƟoners were required to be considered in terms of the Sports Policy dated 05.09.2018. Yet, vide the impugned orders dated 03.07.2024 the claims of peƟƟoners were rejected primarily on the ground that peƟƟoners had not submiƩed all necessary documents with their applicaƟon forms and had not aƩached the veriﬁcaƟon cerƟﬁcate of achievement, and veriﬁcaƟon report regarding 50% parƟcipaƟon in the matches played by their team in the 17th NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 5 - Asian Games; which informaƟon was to be veriﬁed by the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India/AKFI. Thus, as the AKFI had “not veriﬁed the achievement and the fact regarding parƟcipaƟon in 50% matches of the peƟƟoner. Therefore, in the absence of requisite informaƟon/relevant documents, the applicaƟon form of the peƟƟoner is incomplete and liable to be rejected.” 7. Accordingly, peƟƟoners had got served jusƟce demand noƟce dated 10.10.2024 (Annexure P-12) upon the respondents, but to no avail. Ld. Counsel submits that the respecƟve impugned orders dated 03.07.2024 rejecƟng the applicaƟon forms of the peƟƟoners for appointment under the Sports Policy in the Govt. Job are illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory, violaƟve of ArƟcles 14 and 16 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India. It is contended that the case of the peƟƟoners has been rejected on totally spurious ground that the achievements of the peƟƟoners had not been got veriﬁed from the AKFI. In this regard, ld. Counsel points out that as per sports policy of 2014 as well as new policy dated 5.9.2018, the signature of respondent no.4/AKFI is required at the applicaƟon form of the peƟƟoners and veriﬁcaƟon report regarding 50% parƟcipaƟon in the matches shall be got done by the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. However, admiƩedly, respondent No.4-Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India was not funcƟonal due to the elecƟon process going on and an Administrator had been appointed to look into the day-to-day aﬀairs of the FederaƟon. Therefore, the peƟƟoners had approached the Administrator of the FederaƟon to get his signatures on the applicaƟon form, veriﬁcaƟon report on achievements sports and parƟcipaƟon of 50% in the game of the team but the Administrator has NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 6 - shown his inability to get the signature on the applicaƟon form as well as issue the veriﬁcaƟon report to the peƟƟoners for parƟcipaƟon of the peƟƟoners in the said tournament because there are no speciﬁc orders/direcƟons from the authority to get the same veriﬁed from the record. Therefore, it is beyond the control of the peƟƟoners, and the peƟƟoners could not be allowed to suﬀer for the same. However, respondent No.3-Director of Sports has already veriﬁed the internaƟonal compeƟƟon played by peƟƟoners and the Govt. had already paid the cash awards to the peƟƟoners for the said achievement therefore, now they can not raise the objecƟon that the said achievement of the peƟƟoners is not veriﬁed by the FederaƟon. Such reasoning is wrong and out of context. Thus, the applicaƟon forms of the peƟƟoners have wrongly and erroneously been rejected by the respondent department. Moreover, the respondents have failed to appreciate that the sports cerƟﬁcates submiƩed by the peƟƟoners were duly got veriﬁed from the Indian Olympic AssociaƟon in accordance with the rules. The said veriﬁcaƟon was also brought to the noƟce of the respondents. Yet case of the peƟƟoners has been rejected on the ground, that sports cerƟﬁcates were not veriﬁed. 8. It is further submiƩed that in idenƟcal cases, respondents have granted appointment to similarly situated persons. Whereas out of turn appointment in conformity with the relevant policies has been denied to the peƟƟoners. The impugned orders are therefore discriminatory and unsustainable being violaƟve of ArƟcles 14 and 16 of the ConsƟtuƟon of India. NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 7 - 9. Accordingly, prays that the present writ peƟƟon be allowed and the impugned orders 02.07.2024 and 03.07.2024 (Annexures P/10 and P/11) be set aside. 10. Per contra ld. State counsel has vehemently opposed the submissions of the peƟƟoners and contended that upon examinaƟon, it is found by the respondent department that the applicaƟon forms of the peƟƟoners were not duly signed/veriﬁed by the President/Secretary of the concerned NaƟonal FederaƟon, i.e. Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India (AKFI). Accordingly, original applicaƟon of peƟƟoners was returned by the respondent department with the direcƟon to get the same signed/veriﬁed in the appropriate column from the President/Secretary AKFI in terms of provision of Rule 9(1) of Rules 2018; and thereaŌer submit the applicaƟon form to the Directorate. 11. However, in the meanƟme, the peƟƟoner had ﬁled aforesaid CWP- 12641-2020 Ɵtled as Priyanka versus State of Haryana and Others. In the said writ peƟƟon, interim order dated 06.08.2021 came to be passed wherein it was noted that case of the peƟƟoners had been recommended favorably to the oﬃce of Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana on 18.09.2020 for her appointment on the post of Group A Oﬃcer. As no formal ﬁnal decision had been taken on the said recommendaƟon, respondent No.1 was directed to take a ﬁnal decision thereupon within six weeks. 12. ConsequenƟally, respondents had passed speaking order dated 04.10.2021 (Annexure R-1). It is submiƩed that taking into consideraƟon the NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 8 - said order dated 04.10.2021 passed by respondent No.1, the above-said CWP- 12641-2020 came to be allowed by this Court vide order dated 09.10.2023 (P-9). Even the Civil Writ PeƟƟon No. 17405 of 2021 Ɵtled as Parveen Vs. State of Haryana ﬁled by peƟƟoner no.2 was disposed of by this Court vide order dated 09.10.2023 in terms of the judgment/order dated 05.09.2023 passed in Civil writ PeƟƟon No. 19244 of 2019 Ɵtled as Arvind and others Vs. State of Haryana and others. 13. Ld. Counsel further refers to the averments made in paras 15, 16 and 17 of the short reply dated 8.12.2025 ﬁled on behalf of respondent no.1 to 3, wherein it is stated as follows: – “15. …… It is perƟnent to menƟon here that the State Government, in order to avoid any adverse order from the contempt Court, passed a speaking order dated 03.07.2024 (Annexure P-11). Besides, the State Government challenged the order dated 05.09.2023 passed by the Ld. Single Judge by way of ﬁling LeƩer Patent Appeal No. 442 of 2024 Ɵtled as State of Haryana and another vs. Arvind and others. The said LeƩers Patent Appeal was disposed of on 08.08.2025. It is relevant to menƟon here that the Division Bench of the Hon'ble High Court has stayed the operaƟon of the order dated 05.09.2023 passed by the Ld. Single Judge vide interim order dated 16.05.2024. 16. That on 10.09.2020, the PeƟƟoner No.2 applied for a government job in the department under the Rules, 2018 on the basis of his sports achievement i.e. Gold Medal in the 17th Asian Games 2014 held in Incheon, South Korea. On examinaƟon of the applicaƟon form dated 05.10.2018 & 10.09.2020 of the peƟƟoner No.2 in accordance with the Hon'ble Court order dated 09.10.2023, it NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 9 - is found that the peƟƟoner has not submiƩed all the necessary documents along with his applicaƟon form. The peƟƟoner No.2 has not aƩached the applicaƟon form, the veriﬁcaƟon cerƟﬁcate of his achievement, and the veriﬁcaƟon report regarding 50 percent parƟcipaƟon in the matches played by his team in the Asian Games 2014. The said informaƟon was to be veriﬁed by the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. It is perƟnent to menƟon here that in order to verify the achievement of the peƟƟoner, the Sports Department sent a leƩer dated 10.09.2020 to the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. Vide Annexure-A & B of the leƩer dated 21.09.2020, the said FederaƟon informed about the achievement of the peƟƟoner, the relevant part of such leƩer is as under:- Annexure -A Annexure-B It is clear from the above that the above said federaƟon has not veriﬁed the achievement and facts regarding parƟcipaƟon in 50% matches of the peƟƟoner No.2. Therefore, in the absence of NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 10 - requisite informaƟon/relevant documents, the applicaƟon form of the peƟƟoner No. 2 is incomplete and vide speaking order dated 03.07.2024 (Annexure P-11) rejected by the competent authority. 17. Therefore, the peƟƟoners are not eligible for a government job under the Rules, 2018 and their applicaƟon dated 05.10.2018, 08.09.2020 and 05.10.2018 & 10.09.2020 has already been rejected by the competent authority by passing the speaking order on 03.07.2024 (Annexure P-8). It is perƟnent to menƟon here that the LeƩers Patent Appeal No. 442 of 2024 Ɵtled as State of Haryana and another Vs. Arvind and others has been disposed of on 08.08.2025.” Ld. State counsel, accordingly, prays for the dismissal of the present writ peƟƟon. 14. No other argument is made on behalf of learned counsel for the parƟes. I have heard ld. counsel and perused the case ﬁle and record in detail. I ﬁnd no merit in the arguments raised on behalf of the respondent-State. The previous writ peƟƟons ﬁled by the peƟƟoners were allowed by this Court vide order dated 9.10.2023 (Annexure P-9), operaƟve part of which, reads as under: - “Learned counsel for the peƟƟoners submits that the only quesƟon of law raised in the present peƟƟons is as to whether the policy which was applicable on the date of submiƫng the applicaƟon forms by the peƟƟoners to claim beneﬁt of appointment will be applicable or the subsequent amended policy will be applicable and the said quesƟon of law has already been decided by this Court by passing order in CWP-19244-2019- 'Arvind and others NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 11 - v. State of Haryana and others', decided on 05.09.2023 and the quesƟon of law raised in the present peƟƟons is also the same. Learned State counsel on the other hand submits that the said quesƟon is already pending consideraƟon before the Division Bench Court in LPA No. 691 of 2022. Keeping in view of the fact that a detailed order has already been passed on the same issue as raised in the present peƟƟons, mere the pendency of the LPA in another case will not take away the right of the peƟƟoners to claim the beneﬁt under the judgment of this Court In CWP-19244-2019 Arvind and others v. State of Haryana and others'. Further, no LPA has been ﬁled so far against the judgment passed in Arvind's case (Supra), hence, the present peƟƟons are also allowed in the same terms as in CWP-19244-2019- 'Arvind and others vs. State of Haryana and others'. All the writ peƟƟons stand disposed of in above terms." 15. As noted above, the issue as to whether the 2019/2021 Policy will apply to candidates who are eligible in 2018 had come up for consideraƟon before this Court in aforemenƟoned CWP-19244-2019 Ɵtled as Arvind and Others versus State of Haryana and Others; which came to be decided on 05.09.2023 (Annexure P-8), in favor of the applicants/peƟƟoners. 16. It may be pointed out that against the above said order dated 5.9.2023, the respondent-State had preferred an LPA-442-2024 Ɵtled as ‘State of Haryana and another versus Arvind and others’ which came to be dismissed by a Division Bench of this Court vide order dated 8.8.2025, as follows: – NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 12 - “The controversy raised in the present set of appeals, stands adjudicated by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in LPA-691-2022, Ɵtled as ‘State of Haryana and others versus Abhishek Verma’, decided on 17.7.2025. Since the facts in the abovesaid appeals are covered by the adjudicaƟon aforesaid, this bunch of appeals also stands disposed of in the same terms.” The following scathing observaƟons made by the Division Bench of this Court against the respondent-State in order dated 17.07.2025 passed in LPA-691-2022 Ɵtled as State of Haryana and others vs. Abhishek Verma and LPA-692-2022 Ɵtled as State of Haryana and others vs. Ankur MiƩal, are relevant: - “4.1 State of Haryana appears to be labouring under a misconcepƟon by turning a Nelson's-eye to the seƩled principle of Service Jurisprudence that once the process of recruitment commences, the Rules of recruitment cannot be changed midway. This principle is founded upon the fact that ArƟcle 16 of the ConsƟtuƟon extends fundamental right to every person for being considered for public employment. This right cannot be curtailed by any statutory provision. However, it cannot be stretched to the extent of claiming fundamental right to appointment. The reason being that consideraƟon for public employment for all persons eligible under the Recruitment Rules is a fundamental right but that by itself cannot mature into fundamental right of appointment because for consideraƟon to mature into an appointment requires saƟsfacƟon of various terms and condiƟons and provisions laid down in the Recruitment Rules or execuƟve instrucƟons framed for the purpose of tesƟng the suitability of a parƟcular eligible candidate. NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 13 - 4.2 TesƟng the factual matrix of these cases on the anvil of the aforesaid principles of service jurisprudence, the learned Single Judge rightly found that the peƟƟoners, who had applied when 2018 Rules were in vogue, ought to be considered under the said 2018 Rules and not under the amended Rules which came into existence on 09.03.2019 (notwithstanding having been given eﬀect to retrospecƟvely). 4.3 The act of the State in making amendment on 09.03.2019 to have eﬀect retrospecƟvely from 05.09.2018 appears to be a deliberate act to scuƩle the legiƟmate claim of the peƟƟoners (respondents herein), which had matured made under the 2018 Rules. RetrospecƟvity of the amendment in 2018 Rules cannot dilute the fundamental right acquired by the peƟƟoners of being considered for public employment under the Rules of 2018 exisƟng at the Ɵme of making applicaƟons. XXXXX 6. Before parƟng, it would be appropriate to note that despite the peƟƟoners' case being based on sound and Ɵme-tested principles of Service Jurisprudence, the acƟon of the funcƟonaries of the State of Haryana appears to be not bona ﬁde. This liƟgaƟon ought not to have arisen in the very ﬁrst place had the State of Haryana and its funcƟonaries obtained proper legal advice. The acƟon of the appellants herein appears to be merely to scuƩle the genuine claim of the peƟƟoners. Thus the appellant-State of Haryana is liable to be saddled with cost of Rs.50,000/- out of which Rs.10000/- each shall be paid to both the peƟƟoners, namely, Abhishek Verma and Ankur MiƩal and the remaining amount of Rs.30,000/- shall be credited in the account of Punjab & Haryana Bar AssociaƟon, Chandigarh for having wasted precious Ɵme of this Court in pursuing this avoidable piece of liƟgaƟon.” NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 14 - 17. IdenƟcal is the situaƟon in the present case. The respondents in para-No. 15 of their wriƩen statement dated 08.12.2025, have duly admiƩed that even in case of Arvind (supra), the respondent State had ﬁled LPA-442-2024 Ɵtled as State of Haryana versus Arvind and Others, which was also dismissed by Division Bench of this Court vide order dated 08.08.2025 in terms of LPA-691- 2022 and LPA-692-2022. AdmiƩedly, even Special Leave PeƟƟon (Civil) Diary No.25361-2026 Ɵtled as State of Haryana and others vs. Ankur MiƩal against the order dated 17.7.2025 has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 29.05.2026. 18. Thus, respondent-State, despite acknowledging that afore-referred LPA-442-2024 stands dismissed vide order dated 8.8.2025, is yet insisƟng that peƟƟoners are not eligible for appointment. Whereas the said quesƟon already stands seƩled by the abovesaid judgments/orders dated 5.9.2023; and aﬃrmed by the Division Bench vide order dated 8.8.2025; upto the Hon’ble Apex Court. 19. Even otherwise, the impugned orders dated 3.7.2024 issued respecƟvely in respect of the three peƟƟoners, are not sustainable. It is an undisputed fact that as per the Sports Recruitment Rules (SRR) i.e. Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons (Recruitment and CondiƟons of Service) Rules, 2018 dated 05.09.2018 (Annexure P-6), in case peƟƟoners win a medal in internaƟonal games, then peƟƟoners are enƟtled for appointment to Group A and Group B posts in Haryana Government. AdmiƩedly, all peƟƟoners are gold medalists in various internaƟonal tournaments as menƟoned against their names in their writ peƟƟons. However, by the impugned order dated NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 15 - 03.07.2024, appointment has been refused to the peƟƟoners on account of the following reasons: “Having gone through the ﬁle and relevant record it is found that on 08.09.2020, Ms. Priyanka applied for government job in the department under the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson (Recruitment and CondiƟon of Service) Rules, 2018 noƟﬁed on 05.09.2018 (herein aŌer referred to as 2018, Rules) on the basis of her sports achievement i.e. Gold Medal in 17th Asian Games 2014 held in Incheon, South Korea. On examinaƟon of the applicaƟon forms dated 08.09.2020 of the peƟƟoner, in accordance with the Hon'ble Court order dated 09.10.2023, it is found that the peƟƟoner has not submiƩed all the necessary documents along with her applicaƟon form. The peƟƟoner has not aƩached with the applicaƟon form the veriﬁcaƟon cerƟﬁcate of her achievement, and veriﬁcaƟon report regarding 50 percent parƟcipaƟon in the matches played by her team in the 17th Asian Games. The said informaƟon was to be veriﬁed by the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. It is perƟnent to menƟon here that in order to verify the achievement of the peƟƟoner, the Sports Department sent leƩers dated 10.09.2020 to the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. Vide leƩer dated 21.09.2020, the said FederaƟon informed about the achievement of the peƟƟoner, the relevant part of such leƩer is as under:- Annexure-A NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 16 - Annexure-B It is It is clear from the above that the said federaƟon has not veriﬁed the achievement and fact regarding parƟcipaƟon in 50% matches of the peƟƟoner. Therefore, in the absence of requisite informaƟon/relevant documents, the applicaƟon form of the peƟƟoner is incomplete and liable to be rejected.” 20. Similar leƩers of rejecƟon have been issued in respect of the other peƟƟoners as well. The applicaƟons of the peƟƟoners were rejected by saying that the peƟƟoners have not aƩached with the applicaƟon form the veriﬁcaƟon cerƟﬁcate of their achievement and veriﬁcaƟon report regarding 50 percent parƟcipaƟon in the matches played by them in team in the tournament Asian Games. The said informaƟon was to be veriﬁed by the Amateur Kabaddi FederaƟon of India. However, as noted above in the impugned order itself, AKFI has clariﬁed that the said events were not sponsored/conducted by the AKFI and, therefore, AKFI cannot verify it. Thus, necessary veriﬁcaƟon was required to be got done by the respondents from the Indian Olympic AssociaƟon. 21. In this regard, the respondents have also ignored that the Indian Olympic AssociaƟon vide respecƟve cerƟﬁcates dated 30.4.2024 (Annexures P- 13 and P-14), has veriﬁed that the peƟƟoners have parƟcipated from India in the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea; from 19th Sept. to 4th Oct. NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 17 - 2014 and they were members of the Kabaddi Team and played all the matches. The team of Men and Women won the Gold Medal in the games. The said cerƟﬁcates were duly supplied to the Sports Department Haryana vide diary no.9984 and 9983 dated 2.5.2024 by the peƟƟoners. However, the same have been totally ignored by the respondents. While passing the impugned orders dated 02.07.2024 and 03.07.2024 (Annexures P/10 and P/11), the said documents have not been at all considered by the respondents. For reasons best known to the respondents, the peƟƟoners' documents were sent for veriﬁcaƟon to the wrong authority. In any event, even when the correct veriﬁcaƟon was supplied to the respondents, the same was not considered while passing the impugned order dated 03.07.2024 (Annexure P-10). 22. Even further, it is not denied that similarly situated persons had approached this Court in the case CWP no. 30268/2018 Ɵtled as Kavita Devi vs. State of Haryana and others and in CWP No. 30265/2018 Ɵtled as Surjeet Kumar Vs. State of Haryana and others decided on dated 13.12.2018 (Annexure P/15 and P/16). On the direcƟon of this Court the applicaƟon forms of the other sportsperson were veriﬁed. However, there was delay again by the respondents in geƫng the forms veriﬁed and a contempt peƟƟon was iniƟated and thereaŌer the forms were veriﬁed personally by the department. This order was never challenged by the respondent State and same was complied. During the contempt proceedings,both Surjeet and Kavita have been appointed on the post of Deputy Director class "A" Post and now they are working on the said post. Therefore, the peƟƟoners are also enƟtled parity with Surjeet and Kavita and NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh CWP-2071-2025 (O&M) CWP-3736-2025 - 18 - they are enƟtled on the post of Group B or C under the special quota of the sports person. 23. Keeping in view the aforesaid noted factual and legal posiƟon, both the peƟƟons i.e. CWP-2071-2025 and CWP-3736-2025 are allowed. RespecƟve impugned orders dated 03.07.2024 are set aside. 24. A direcƟon is issued to the respondents to consider the cases of the peƟƟoners and oﬀer appointment to them by taking into consideraƟon the peƟƟoners' opƟon commensurate with their achievements at internaƟonal level in accordance with the unamended 2018 Rules as they were in force before their amendment vide noƟﬁcaƟon dated 09.03.2019. Necessary exercise be carried out within 90 days of receipt of cerƟﬁed copy of instant order/judgment. 25. Pending applicaƟon(s), if any, also stands disposed of. ( NIDHI GUPTA ) 27.07.2026 JUDGE Neelam Whether speaking /reasoned Yes / No Whether Reportable Yes / No NEELAM KUMARI 2026.08.01 14:29 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

PRIYANKA AND ANOTHER v. STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS

Judgment text