The petitioners further argued that the validity of the 2018 rules had already been questioned before the High Court in an earlier writ petition filed by the HCS Officers Association.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday dismissed two review petitions seeking reconsideration of its earlier judgment directing the appointment of candidates under the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons Recruitment and Conditions of Service Rules, and imposed costs of Rs 25,000 each on the petitioners, terming the litigation vexatious.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry rejected one review petition filed by the Haryana Government and another filed by serving Haryana Civil Service officers who claimed that their seniority would be adversely affected by such appointments.
What Haryana Civil Service officers and govt said
During the hearing, counsel for the serving officers argued that they were necessary parties to the original proceedings, as they were already in service and would lose seniority if appointments were made under the 2018 rules. They contended that the rules allowed direct recruitment of outstanding sportspersons to Group A posts by bypassing the Haryana Public Service Commission process and that such appointments also carried the benefit of retrospective seniority.
According to the petitioners, this would result in newly appointed officers being placed above those already serving, even though the latter had entered service through the regular competitive process.
The petitioners further argued that the validity of the 2018 rules had already been questioned before the High Court in an earlier writ petition filed by the HCS Officers Association. In that case, the court made observations expressing concern about direct recruitment to senior posts without the prescribed qualifications and selection process, and asked the state to reconsider the rules. Acting on those observations, the Haryana Government later repealed the 2018 Rules, and framed fresh Rules in 2021.
On this basis, the petitioners submitted that once the rules themselves had been repealed, no appointments could be directed under them. They also claimed that the earlier writ petition challenging the rules had been disposed of on the state’s statement that no appointments had been made under the 2018 framework, which, according to them, created an anomalous situation when the court later ordered appointments. The review petitions were filed seeking the recall of the judgment on these grounds.
The Haryana Government adopted a similar line of argument, contending that the repeal of the 2018 Rules and the framing of new rules should have been taken into account, and that no enforceable right could flow from a rule that the state itself had withdrawn.
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What Punjab and Haryana HC said
Rejecting these submissions, the bench held that all the grounds now raised in review had already been urged and considered in the letters patent appeals, which had been dismissed earlier. The court said a review petition could not be used as a second round of arguments on issues that had already been adjudicated.
Chief Justice Nagu also reiterated the settled legal principle governing service matters. “Once the game has begun, the rules of the game cannot be changed midway,” he said, while explaining that the claims of the candidates had to be examined with reference to the rules in force at the time their candidature was rejected in November 2018.
Chief Justice Nagu observed that the subsequent repeal of statutory rules could not be used to deny consideration that had accrued under the existing framework.
“There does not seem to be any palpable error in the order under review. The review petitions appear to be frivolous and vexatious and have consumed enough time of this court, which could have been utilised in more pressing matters,” the Chief Justice said while dictating the order.
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The bench also declined to accept the apprehension of the serving officers regarding loss of seniority, noting that such concerns were speculative at this stage and could not justify reopening a concluded judgment.
Holding that the review petitions amounted to an attempt to reargue the matter, the court dismissed both pleas and imposed costs of Rs 25,000 each to discourage repetitive and unnecessary litigation.
Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US.
With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath.
Professional Background & Expertise
A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius
Her key focus areas include:
Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights.
International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila.
Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance:
1. Environment & Governance
"‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land.
"High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections.
2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare
"HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019.
"Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling.
"HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits.
3. Human Rights & Identity
"As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament.
"Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices.
Signature Beats
Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context.
Contact
@grewal_sharma on X
manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More
