Summary
The prohibition on waiting lists in the applicable 1997 Government Order operated after appointment letters were issued. It did not prevent Telangana power corporations from moving down the merit list to complete certificate verification and fill advertised vacancies where overlapping selections meant candidates chose another corporation. The Court upheld the 2016 clarification and restored the corporations’ ability to complete recruitment.
Issues
- Whether the no-waiting-list Government Order barred movement down the merit list before appointment letters.
Held
- The order required later recruitment for fallout vacancies caused by relinquishment or non-joining after appointment orders. Before such orders, an unfilled advertised post was not that kind of fallout vacancy. (¶ 10–15)
- Overlapping selections across corporations left candidates able to take only one appointment. Allowing the merit list to operate downwards before appointment letters was consistent with the order and the public interest in filling advertised posts without another selection. (¶ 12–18)
Result
Appeals allowed; Single Judge and Division Bench judgments set aside and writ petitions dismissed. Corporations permitted to fill posts under the clarification as interpreted.