' Writ petitions Nos.15973, 15974, 16142, 16267, 16452, 17811, 17821 and 20806 of 2002 shall be disposed of with this order.
2. The petitioners have passed Patwar School Examination and are holders of the certificates. They are off-springs of serving Government employees or retired Government employees and were denied the benefit of Notification No.SOR-III-1-22/90, dated 4-6-1997 of the Government of Punjab whereby the children of serving or retired Government employees were to be appointed against 20% quota reserved for such persons. The petitioners, who had passed Patwar School Examination, sought appointment as Patwaris but were not considered aggrieved of which under consideration petitions were submitted.
3. Report and parawise comments were called for from the respondents. The Revenue officials as well as Secretary Regulation, S&GAD, Government of Punjab have submitted report/comments to the petitions.
4. The Secretary Regulation, S&GAD, Government of Punjab submitted that 20% quota reserved for the children of Government employees is covered under the Government Policy and that policy was being adhered to. In comments submitted by the Revenue officials, it was pointed out that 50% of posts of Patwaris were filled after relaxation of ban by the Board of Revenue and the remainder 50% of posts will be filled when ban is lifted by the Government or the Board of Revenue. It has also been admitted by the respondent that 20% of posts were reserved for children of Government employees and that Government Policy in this regard will be followed in subsequent appointments against posts of Patwaris.
5. The petitioners, who are beneficiates of the Punjab Notification No.SOR-III-1-22/90 dated 4-6- 1997 whereby 20% of posts of Patwaris or other employees were reserved for children of Government employees (retired or serving) may apply to the Competent Authority when applications are invited for appointments against posts of Patwaris and as admitted by respondents, their cases will be considered in the light of aforesaid Notification subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria prescribed for the posts by the Competent Authority. If any application filed by any of the petitioners is still pending, that shall be processed in the light of comments submitted by the Secretary (Regulations), S&GAD, Government of Punjab.
6. As, at this stage, a ban stands imposed on recruitment of Patwaris, a specific direction for appointing or for considering each of the petitioners for appointment cannot be given to the respondents. Their cases, however, will be processed in accordance with the observations contained in the preceding paragraph.
7. The petitioners, in case of any grievance, shall be at liberty to approach the Court again.
8. All the petitions are disposed of with the above observations.