A 100% visually impaired candidate who applied to Punjab Civil Services Examination had his form entered in General Category, allegedly by a cybercafé operator. The Division Bench found no illegality in the Single Judge's dismissal: category once selected is sacrosanct, no IP/MAC evidence proved cybercafé filing, and LPA dismissed.
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LPA-877-2026 (O&M)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
146
LPA-877-2026 (O&M) Date of Decision: 30.03.2026
Tejpal Singh ......Appellant
Versus
State of Punjab and another ......Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANOOP CHITKARA HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUKHVINDER KAUR
Present: Mr. Mandeep Kumar Dhot, Advocate for the appellant.
Ms. Pooja Nayar Sharma, D.A.G., Punjab.
ANOOP CHITKARA J.
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ANJU RANI 2026.04.06 16:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh
LPA-877-2026 (O&M)
provided with a scribe for the writing examination and Annexure P4-Admit Card issued to him. From the very initiation of the process, the petitioner was a candidate of the reserved category. Ld. Counsel for the appellant also submits that the appellant filed a representation for a change of category, which was rejected by the authority without proper consideration.
“4. That it is imperative to mention here that the petitioner while filling online application form entered his main category i.e. Category Name for the Posts as General Category, Category Code 71 and petitioner also entered Category Name for Fee Calculation as General with regard to the ibid posts, which is clearly mentioned in the application form (Annexure P-3) of the petitioner. However, petitioner filled the Physically Handicapped Details in his online application form (Annexure P-3) for extra time and requirement of scribe regarding ibid posts, As petitioner filled the main category as General Category (Code 71) while submitting his online application form (Annexure P-3), therefore, petitioner has been considered under General Category (Code 71) only and not under the Physically Handicapped Category. Accordingly, Admit Card (Annexure P-5) was also issued to the petitioner in the General Category (Code 71) only. Consequently, result of the petitioner has also been declared in the General Category (Code 71)….
5. That it is also noteworthy to mention here with regard to the representation dated 12.01.2026 (Annexure P-8) sent by the petitioner regarding change of category, Commission office provided detailed reply to the petitioner via email dated 30.01.2026 (Annexure R-2) wherein it is clarified that after due consideration of your email/representation regarding change of category, the Commission has decided that the category once filled cannot be changed under any circumstances. Therefore, in light of clauses mentioned in the 'General Information for the candidates' in the advertisement, your category cannot be changed at this stage.”
“As per the settled principle of law, the terms and conditions of the employment notice are sacrosanct and are to be strictly complied with by all competing candidates and no change can be allowed in the applied category, once the said category has been duly filled by the candidate himself/herself. In the present case, the petitioner had applied
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ANJU RANI 2026.04.06 16:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh
LPA-877-2026 (O&M)
under the General category. As per the 'General Information for the Candidates' mentioned in the advertisement, Note 5 of point No.2.1 provides as under: -
“The candidates are advised to select their category carefully and with due diligence, as the category once selected by a candidate will not be changed under any circumstances and if found ineligible under that category will have their candidature rejected."
Point No.6.2 stipulates thus: -
"Candidates are advised to fill their details in the online application form carefully e.g., Name, Father's Name, Date of Birth, Category for post, Qualification, Experience, Photo and Signature, Category for fee, etc. After the final submission of online application form by the candidate, NO CHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED, and the candidate will be responsible for any mistake in the data filled in the online application form. CATEGORY ONCE SELECTED BY A CANDIDATE WILL NOT BE CHANGED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES."
Point No.6.9 provides that no change will be allowed after submission of the application. Same reads as under: -
"Candidate should carefully fill the details in the Online Application Form and click on the "SUBMIT" button at the, end of the Online Application Format. Before pressing the "SUBMIT" button, candidates are advised to verify every detail filled in the application. NO CHANGE/EDIT WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FORM.
Further, Note (1c) of point No.11 of the advertisement provides as under: -
"CATEGORY ONCE FILLED BY THE CANDIDATE SHALL BE SACROSANCT AND NO CHANGE SHALL BE PERMITTED AT ANY STAGE OF THE EXAMINATION."
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ANJU RANI 2026.04.06 16:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh
LPA-877-2026 (O&M)
from his home with the assistance of family members, it was incumbent upon him to annex the internet IP address and the computer's MAC address. Needless to say, a computer has a unique identity through its MAC address, and when it is connected to the internet, it is also assigned an IP address. To demonstrate that the form was filled out through a cyber cafe, it is incumbent upon the appellant to have mentioned not only the MAC address but also the IP address so that the Geolocation tagging could have been done to establish that the form was filled out from a cafe and not from any other place. Nor has any affidavit of the computer operator concerned been annexed to the writ petition by the appellant. However, this Court cannot take the evidence in LPA; it was for the candidate to establish his prima facie case. This is for the reason that there is no way to find out the stand of the appellant, as the form was filled out through a cafe where assistance was sought from a stranger.
(ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE
(SUKHVINDER KAUR) JUDGE
30.03.2026 Jyoti Sharma/ Anju rani
Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes Whether reportable: No .
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ANJU RANI 2026.04.06 16:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh
2 issues framed by the court
Whether a blind candidate whose online form was filled under General Category could be permitted to change category after examination results.
Whether the LPA made out grounds to interfere with the Single Judge's dismissal of the writ petition.
Tejpal Singh
State of Punjab
Punjab Public Service Commission
Anoop Chitkara
Sukhvinder Kaur
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
