In Brief
Four power and transmission corporations in Telangana invited separate recruitment for Assistant Engineer positions with advertisements stating no waiting list would be maintained as per an old Government Order. After simultaneous tests, many top candidates qualified for multiple Corporations but could only join one. The Government clarified that Corporations could fill leftover vacancies by operating merit lists downwards. Writ petitioners challenged this, arguing the no-waiting-list policy barred such downward operation. The High Court upheld the challenge. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the no-waiting-list policy applies only after appointment letters are issued and candidates fail to join, not before. Operating merit lists downwards before appointments to fill advertised vacancies is lawful and serves public interest by preventing large-scale vacancies.
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