Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Punjab and Haryana HC Dismisses Review Pleas on HCS Sportsperson Appointments
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently dismissed two review petitions.
One was filed by the Haryana Government, and the other by some officers who were already working in the Haryana Civil Service.
They were unhappy because the court had earlier ordered the appointment of new officers under special rules for outstanding sportspersons.
These new officers would get seniority over the existing ones, which the current officers didn't like.
The court said the rules can't be changed once the process has started.
It also said the review petitions were unnecessary and imposed a fine on the petitioners to discourage such repeated legal actions.
Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed review petitions by Haryana Government and serving officers challenging appointments under 2018 sportsperson rules.
Court imposed Rs 25,000 costs on each petitioner, calling the litigation vexatious.
Serving officers argued that new appointments would adversely affect their seniority and bypassed regular selection processes.
Court reiterated that rules in force at the time of candidature rejection must be considered, and subsequent repeal of rules cannot deny consideration under the existing framework.
Bench declined to accept speculative concerns about loss of seniority and dismissed both pleas to prevent rearguing concluded matters.
- Who
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, Haryana Government, serving Haryana Civil Service officers
- What
- Dismissal of review petitions challenging appointments of sportspersons under 2018 rules
- When
- Tuesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Why
- To uphold the original judgment and prevent frivolous litigation
- Petitioners
- Haryana Government and serving Haryana Civil Service officers
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Costs Imposed
- Rs 25,000 each on the petitioners
- Rules in Question
- Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, 2018
- Key Legal Principle
- Rules of the game can't be changed midway
- Bench Composition
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry
- Original Judgment
- Directed appointments under 2018 rules
- Petitioners' Argument
- Repeal of 2018 rules should prevent appointments