P&H High Court Disposes Of Plea Challenging BBMB Secretary Selection Criteria After It Withdraws Impugned Letters On Eligibility Criteria

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has disposed of a writ petition challenging the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) July 2025 communication inviting applications for the post of Secretary, after the respondents informed the Court that the impugned orders had been withdrawn.

Justice Sandeep Moudgil was hearing a plea filed by the Superintending Engineers in Punjab's Water Resource department, alleging that the application that called for the post of Secretary "arbitrarily excluded eligible officers of Punjab Cadre." Consequently, earlier the Court had stayed the appointments.

The petition, sought quashing of letters, which invited applications for appointment as Secretary, BBMB.

The eligibility conditions — restricting applicants to only those already working in BBMB, fixing a minimum of 20 years' service, and allowing even Executive Engineers (XENs) to apply — are arbitrary and designed to benefit a particular officer from the Haryana cadre (Power Wing), who despite 20 years of service remains only an XEN, the plea alleged.

It was submitted in the petition that, Senior officers of the Punjab Irrigation Wing, many of whom have attained higher ranks (SE/Chief Engineer) in shorter time due to merit and efficiency, have been unfairly excluded. This exclusion is discriminatory and undermines Punjab's role as the principal stakeholder in BBMB.

The petitioner alleged that the criteria specified in the invitation were arbitrary, tailor-made, and contrary to Section 79 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966 and the BBMB Rules, 1974. It was further contended that the eligibility norms were crafted to favour Respondent No. 3, an officer from the Power Wing, and that the Chairman BBMB had issued the conditions without placing them before the Board for approval, amounting to a colorable exercise of power.

When the matter came up for hearing, senior counsel for the respondents submitted that the impugned letters dated 25.07.2025  had since been withdrawn, rendering the petition infructuous.

Taking note of this submission, the Court disposed of the writ petition as infructuous. 

Mr. Karanyog, Advocate the petitioners.

Mr. Rajesh Garg, Sr. Advocate with Ms. Neha Matharoo, Advocate and

Mr. Mandeep Singh, Advocate for the respondent-BBMB

Title: RAMANDEEP SINGH BAINS AND OTHERS v. BHAKRA BEAS MANAGEMENT BOARD AND OTHERS

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