Patna High Court
Md. Saquib Ansari @ Saquib AnsariversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISMISSED
- Bench
- PARTHA SARTHY
Holding
The BPSC is not obligated to relax the age limit, and the petition for mandamus is dismissed.
Summary
Petitioner Md. Saquib Ansari, an EBC candidate born on 15‑02‑1983, sought a mandamus directing the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to allow him to appear in the 2026 Assistant Conservator of Forest examination by relaxing the age limit. The BPSC advertisement stipulated that EBC candidates must be at most 40 years old as of 01‑08‑2025, making the petitioner over‑age (42) on that date. The petition also raised the deadline for filing applications, which had already passed. The Court examined the advertisement clauses and found no legal basis to compel the BPSC to alter the prescribed eligibility criteria. Consequently, the Court held that the petition lacked merit and dismissed the application.
Issues considered
- Whether the Bihar Public Service Commission can be compelled by mandamus to relax the age limit for an EBC candidate in the Assistant Conservator of Forest examination.
Subjects
- age limit
- EBC reservation
- Bihar Public Service Commission
- mandamus
- eligibility
- public service examination
- Assistant Conservator of Forest
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3093 of 2026
======================================================
Md. Saquib Ansari @ Saquib Ansari S/o Md. Nayimuddin, Resident of village
Mahuatola, P.S. and P.O.- Sohsarai, Dist.- Nalanda, (Bihar).
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Additional Chief Secretary, Personnel and
Administrative Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Chairman, Bihar Public Service Commission, Patna.
3. The Secretary, Bihar Public Service Commission Bihar, Patna.
4. The Examination Controller, Bihar Public Service Commission, Patna.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Kumar Jay, Advocate
Mr. Prabhas Ranjan, Advocate
For the State : Dr. Raisul Haque, SC- 10
For the BPSC : Mr. Gyandndra Kumar Shukla, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY
ORAL JUDGMENT
Date : 23-04-2026
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned
counsel for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and
learned counsel for the State of Bihar.
2. The petitioner has filed the instant application for
the following reliefs:
“1. (A) Mandamus
commanding the respondents to
Patna High Court CWJC No.3093 of 2026 dt.23-04-2026
2/3
permit the petitioner to appear in
Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF)
Examination 2026 in the light of
advertisement no. 02/2026 (Published
by Bihar Public Service Commission,
Patna) by accepting his application
form and by relaxing the age.
(B) Any other
relief/reliefs for which petitioner may
be found entitled to in the facts and
circumstances of the present case may
be given to him.”
3. The matter in issue arises out of the respondent
BPSC having came out with Advertisement no.2 of 2026 for
appointment to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forest.
4. The petitioner who belongs to the EBC category
has his date of birth as 15.2.1983 and was thus over 42 years of
age on the cut off date of 1.8.2025 thus making him ineligible
from appearing in the examination because of being over age.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
the respondent Commission be directed to permit the petitioner
to appear in the examination by increasing the eligibility to the
extent enabling the petitioner to appear in the examination.
6. On perusal of the Advertisement no.2 of 2026, a
copy of which has been brought on record as Annexure-P/1 to
Patna High Court CWJC No.3093 of 2026 dt.23-04-2026
3/3
the application, clause 4 thereof deals with the age limit and it
clearly stipulates that in case of the EBC category to which the
petitioner belongs, the candidate/applicant should be at most 40
years on the date 1.8.2025. The date of birth of the petitioner
being 15.2.1983, as on 1.8.2025, he was over 42 years in age.
7. Learned counsel for the BPSC further points out
vide clause 9 of the advertisement that the last date of filing of
the online application was 2.2.2026 which has crossed more
than two months back.
8. In view of the facts and circumstances of the
case, in the opinion of the Court, there is no merit in the
application filed by the petitioner.
9. The application is dismissed.
(Partha Sarthy, J)
sauravkrsinha/-
AFR/NAFR NAFR
CAV DATE NA
Uploading Date 24.4.2026
Transmission Date NA
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