Gulchaman v. The State of U.T. Chandigarh and Another

CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-1-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o

1.o o o o o o CWP-11620-2023o o Gulchamanoo o o o o o o ooooooooo....Petitionero o Versuso o TheoStateoofoU.T.oChandigarhoandoanotheroo o oooooo....Respondento o o 2o o o o o o CWP-11639-2023o o o ShikhaoShuklaoandootherso o o o o ooo,..Petitionerso o Versuso o TheoStateoofoU.T.oChandigarhoandoanothero o Dateoofodecision:o-oo28.07.2023o o o o CORAMo:ooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVIKASoBAHLo o o Present:-oo Mr.oGauravoDatta,oAdvocate,o o o Mr.oVikasoSharma,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oGurkiratoS.oKherwal,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner(s).o o o o Mr.oAravoGupta,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentoNo.1oinoCWP-11620-2023.o o o o Mr.oAshishoRawal,oAdvocateo o o andoMr.oRakeshoSobti,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentoNo.1oinoCWP-11639-2023.oo oo o o Mr.oSaurabhoGoel,oAdvocateo o o andoMs.oShivanioSahni,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentoNo.2oinobothopetitions.o ****o VIKASoBAHL,oJ.oo

1.oo o Thisoorderowillodisposeoofotwoowritopetitionsoi.e.oCWP-11620-2023otitledoaso'GulchamanoVs.oTheoStateoofoU.T.oChandigarhoandoanother'o NARESH KUMAR andoCWP-11639-2023otitledoaso'ShikhaoShuklaoandoothersoVs.oTheoStateoofo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-2-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o U.T.oChandigarhoandoanother',oasocommonoquestionsoofolawoandofactsoareo involvedoinobothotheowritopetitions.oo

2.o o Witho theo consento ofo learnedo counselo foro theo parties,o CWP-11620-2023oisobeingotakenoupoasotheoleadocaseoandotheopleadingsoofotheosaido caseoareobeingoconsideredoforotheoadjudicationoofotheocase(s).oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso submittedo thato theo petitioneroGulchamanoisoaoqualifiedoStenographeroandoisodoingohisoprivateo workoforotheolasto9oyearsoandohadoappliedoforotheopostoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIoinopursuanceoofotheoadvertisement/employmentonoticeodatedo05.05.2023o (Annexureo P-1),o video which,o theo Societyo foro Centralizedo Recruitmento ofo StaffoinoSubordinateoCourtsounderotheoHighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoono behalfoofotheoDistrictoandoSessionsoJudge,oChandigarh,ohadoinvitedoonlineo applicationsofromoeligibleocandidatesoforofillingouposevenovacantopostsoofo StenographeroGrade-IIIoofodirectoquota.oLearnedocounseloforotheopetitionero haso highlightedo Clauseo 11o ofo theo saido advertisement/employmento noticeo (AnnexureoP-1),owhichoprovidesoforomodeoofoselectionoandohasosubmittedo thatoasoperotheosame,otheocandidatesoareorequiredotootakeoaoComputeroBasedo Testoofo60omarks,ocomprisingoofo60oobjectiveotypeomultipleochoiceoquestionso ono EnglishoCompositiono ando Generalo Knowledge,o eachoquestiono carryingo oneomark.oItoisoarguedothatotheosaidoclauseofurtherostatesothatotheonumberoofo candidateso equivalento too fifteeno timeso theo advertisedo vacancieso wouldo beo shortlistedoforoEnglishoShorthandoandoSpreadsheetoTestsoandothatotheomarkso obtainedobyoaocandidateoinotheoComputeroBasedoTestowouldonotobeocountedoino determiningotheofinalomerit.oItoisoarguedothatotheomodeoofoappointmentoando qualificationotootheopostoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo(English),oevenoasoperotheo saido advertisement/employmento noticeo iso prescribedo ino theo Chandigarho 2023.08.02 18:08 Uniono Territoryo Subordinateo Courtso Establishmento (Recruitmento ando CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-3-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o GeneraloConditionsoofoServices)oRules,o1997o(foroshorto'Rulesoofo1997'),oaso amendedofromotimeotootimeoandoasoperotheosaidorules,othereoisonooprovisionoforo aowrittenotest/computerobasedotestotoobeoconductedoinotheorecruitmentoofotheo Stenographers.oLearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoreferredotooRuleo7(vi)o ofotheoRulesoofo1997otooshowothatowithorespectotootheomodeoofoappointmentotoo theopostoofoStenographeroGradeoIIIo(English),otheoonlyorequirementoisothatoao candidateo shouldo possesso ao degreeo ofo Bacheloro ofo Artso oro Bacheloro ofo Scienceooroequivalentotheretoofromoaorecognizedouniversityoandopassotheotesto ofotypingoatoaospeedoofo80ow.p.m.oinoEnglishoShort-handoando20ow.p.m.oino Transcriptiono ofo theo sameo ando iso requiredo too beo proficiento ino computerso (wordoprocessingoandospreadosheets).oItoisosubmittedothatotheopetitionersoareo seekingotoochallengeotheoadvertisement/employmentonoticeo(AnnexureoP-1)o tootheoextentothatoaoComputeroBasedoTestohasobeenoprescribedoinotheosameo primarilyo ono twoo counts.o Ito iso arguedo thato onceo theo entireo modeo ofo appointmentoandoqualificationotootheopostohasobeenoprescribedoinotheostatutoryo rules,othen,otheosameocannotobeosupersededobyoanoadministrativeoactionobyo incorporatingoaoComputeroBasedowrittenotestowithoutotheosameohavingobeeno providedo ino theo saido rules.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo provisiono ofo theo saido writtenotestoinotheoadvertisement/employmentonoticeowouldoinoeffectoamounto too ano amendmento ofo theo ruleso byo ano administrativeo actiono whicho iso impermissibleoinolaw.oTheosecondogroundoforochallengeoisothatotheostipulationo requiresotheocandidatesotootakeotheosaidoComputeroBasedoTestoofo60omarksoino whichoquestionsoareobasedoonoEnglishoCompositionoandoGeneraloKnowledgeo whichohasonoonexusowithotheoobjectosoughtotoobeoachieved,oinasmuchoas,oao persono whoo iso desirouso ofo beingo appointedo aso Stenographero Grade-IIIo (English)oisoonlyorequiredotoobeoaopersonowhoocanotypeowelloandohe/sheoisonoto 2023.08.02 18:08 requiredotoobeoanoexpertoinoEnglishoLanguageoorohaveoaohigholeveloofoGeneralo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-4-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o Knowledge.o Ito iso submittedo thato ito iso ao mattero ofo settledo lawo thato theo advertisement/employmento noticeo cannoto beo giveno precedenceo overo theo statutoryorulesoandoitois,othus,oprayedothatotheowritopetitionsobeoallowedoando theoclauseoinotheoadvertisement/employmentonoticeostipulatingotheocandidateso tootakeopartoinotheoComputeroBasedoWrittenoTestoofo60omarksobeostruckodown.o Itoisosubmittedothatobyoconductingotheosaidotestothereoisoaopossibilityoofotheo mosto proficiento Stenographerso ofo beingo excludedo fromo theo finalo zoneo ofo selection.oo

4.o o LearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.2ohasovehementlyo opposedobothotheowritopetitions.oItoisosubmittedothatoitoisosettledolawothatotheo employer/recruitmento agencyo haso ao righto too provideo foro ao writteno test/ComputeroBasedotestooroanyootherocriterionoforotheopurposeoofoshort-listingotheocandidates,omoreoso,owhenotheonumberoofocandidates,owhoohaveo appliedoforoaoparticularotest,oareoveryolargeoasocomparedotootheonumberoofo vacanciesoadvertised.oItoisosubmittedothatotheostipulationoinotheoadvertisemento requiringotheocandidatesotooappearoforotheoComputeroBasedoWrittenoTestoiso forotheopurposeoofoshort-listingoandoisoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oItoisofurthero submittedo thato ino theo presento case,o theo numbero ofo applicantso whoo haveo appliedoforotheosevenovacantopostsoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo(English)oareo considerablyo large,o inasmucho as,o theo respondentso haveo receivedo 2092o applicationsowhichoareoabouto300otimesotheoadvertisedopostsoandothatoinocaseo nooshort-listingoofotheocandidatesoisoundertaken,oitowouldobeoveryolengthy,o tediouso ando timeo consumingo too takeo Englisho Shorthando Testo ando theo TranscriptionoTestoasowelloasoSpreadoSheetoTestofromoallotheo2092oapplicantso asotheo sameo wouldo requireo givingopropero dictationoofopassagesotoo allotheo candidatesowithoproperopronunciationoandothus,otheoComputeroBasedoWritteno 2023.08.02 18:08 Testoofo60omarksowhichoisobasedoonorationalocriteria,owouldohelpoinoshort-CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-5-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o listingo 105o candidateso i.e.o candidateso 15o timeso theo advertisedo posts.o Ito iso submittedo thato sinceo theo posto ino questiono iso ofo Stenographero Grade-IIIo (English),otheocandidatesoapplyingoforotheopostsomustohaveoaoreasonablyogoodo commandooverotheoEnglisholanguageoandothus,otheorequirementoofohavingoao Computero Basedo Testo containingo 60o objectiveo typeo questionso basedo ono EnglishoCompositionoandoGeneraloKnowledgeohasoaoreasonableonexusotootheo objecto soughto too beo achievedo i.e.,o short-listingo theo candidateso whoseo understandingo ofo Englisho Languageo iso reasonablyo goodo beforeo theo cumbersomeoprocessoofodictationoandotypingoandospreadsheetoexaminationoiso conducted.oItoisosubmittedothatotheocandidatesoareoalsoorequiredotoohaveoao certainoleveloofogeneraloawarenessoandothus,otheodecisionotooprovideoforotheo Computero Basedo Testo containingo multipleo typeo choiceo questiono basedo ono EnglishoCompositionoandoGeneraloKnowledgeocannotobeostatedotoobeoeithero irrationalo oro arbitraryo oro havingo noo nexuso witho theo objecto soughto too beo achieved.oItoisocontendedothatonoocandidateohasobeenodiscriminatedoagainstoaso allotheocandidatesowouldobeorequiredotooappearoinotheosaidoComputeroBasedo Test.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoasowello aso variouso othero Higho Courts,o whileo recruitingo candidateso too theo posto ofo Stenographer,oPersonaloAssistant/SenioroPersonaloAssistantoalsooundertooko short-listedo candidateso ono theo basiso ofo ao similaro Computero Basedo Test,o although,otheosameowasonotoprescribedoinotheorulesoforotheosaidopostsoandotheo requiremento ofo theo saido testo hado beeno providedo ino theo respectiveo advertisement/employmento noticeo ando theo saido testo alsoo providedo foro multipleochoiceoobjectiveotypeoquestionsobasedoonoGeneraloKnowledgeoando EnglishoCompositionoasohasobeenodoneoinotheopresentocase.oInosupportoofohiso argument,olearnedocounselofororespondentoNo.2ohasoreferredotooAnnexureoR-2023.08.02 18:08 2/1,o whicho iso ano advertisemento datedo 24.09.2019o issuedo byo theo Registraro CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-6-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o Generalo ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto invitingo onlineo applicationso foro preparationoofotwooseparateopanelsoforofillingoupo35oando23ovacanciesoforotheo postoofoSenioroPersonaloAssistantoandoPersonaloAssistantoandoevenoinotheosaido advertisementowithorespectotooselectionotootheopostoofoPersonaloAssistant,oao writtenotestoofodurationoofo1ohouro45ominutes,owhichowouldobeoanoobjectiveo typeoquestionopaperowithomultipleochoiceoanswersocontainingo100oquestionso hasobeenoprescribedoandooutoofotheosaido100oquestions,o50oquestionsoareobasedo onoGeneraloEnglish,o25oquestionsoonoGeneraloAptitudeoando25oquestionsoono GeneraloKnowledge.oItoisofurtheroprovidedoinotheosaidoadvertisementothatotheo candidateso wouldo firsto beo subjectedo too Objectiveo Typeo Writteno Testo ando ComputeroKnowledgeoTestoandoonlyotheocandidatesowhooqualifyobothotheo objectiveotypeotestsowouldobeocalledoforotheoskillotestoinostenographyoando typingospeedotestoonoaoComputeroandothatotheocandidatesowhooqualifyoinoallo theo testso wouldo theno beo calledo foro theo interview.o Learnedo counselo foro respondentoNo.2ohasofurtheroreferredotootheoscheduleoappendedowithotheosaido advertisemento whicho provideso thato theo basico qualificationso foro beingo appointedo too theo posto ofo Personalo Assistanto iso degreeo fromo ao recognisedo universityoandoproficiencyoinoEnglishoshorthandowithoaospeedoofo100ow.p.m.o alongwithoaoworkingoknowledgeoofocomputerooperationsowithoaospeedoofo40o w.p.m.oandothus,oitoisoapparentothatothereoisonoomandateoforoaocandidateotoo passoanoObjectiveoTypeoQuestionopaper,oyet,oinotheoadvertisementoissuedobyo theoRegistraroofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndia,otheosaidotestohasobeeno prescribed.oItoisostatedothatotheoprocedureoadoptedobyotheorespondentsoinotheo presentocaseoisoakinotootheoprocedureoadoptedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.o LearnedocounselofororespondentoNo.2ohasofurtherohighlightedothatoevenotheo HighoCourtoofoChhattisgarhohasoprescribedoaowrittenotestoandoskillotestoforo 2023.08.02 18:08 recruitmentotootheopostoofoStenographeroandoevenotheosaidotestoconsistsoofo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-7-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o questionsobasedoonoEnglishoLanguage,oCurrentoAffairsoandoReasoningoando otheroaspectsoandotheosaidowrittenotestoisonotoprescribedoinotheorulesogoverningo theoappointmentotootheosaidopostoofoStenographeroasotheorequirementoasopero theorulesoisothatotheocandidateoisoonlyorequiredotoohaveocompletedograduationo fromoaorecognisedouniversity.oo

5.o o ItoisostatedothatoevenotheoHighoCourtoofoTelanganaohasoprovidedo foroanoonlineoComputeroBasedoExaminationoforobeingoappointedotootheoposto ofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo(pageo134oofotheopaper-book).ooFurtheroreferenceo hasobeenomadeotoopageo140oofotheopaperbookotooshowothatoevenotheoofficeoofo theo Districto ando Sessionso Judgeo (Headquarters)o Tiso Hazario Courts,o Delhio haveo mandatedo ao writteno test,o basedo ono Englisho Grammar,o Generalo Knowledge,oQuantitativeoAptitudeoandoreasoning,owhichohasotoobeopassedobyo aocandidateodesirousoofobeingoappointedotootheopostoofoStenographeroGrade-III.oLearnedocounselofororespondentoNo.2ohasoreferredotooClause-7oofotheo impugnedoadvertisementotoohighlightotheofactothatotheodecisionoofotheoCentralo RecruitmentoCommitteeoinoallomattersorelatingotooacceptanceoandorejectionoofo ano application,o criteriao ofo selectiono shallo beo finalo ando bindingo ono theo applicantsoandoitoisoopenotootheoCentraloRecruitmentoCommitteeotooshortlisto candidateso ato anyo stageo ofo theo recruitmento processo ono theo basiso ofo someo criterionoandothatoinotheopresentocase,otheodecisionorequiringotheocandidatesotoo appearoinotheoComputeroBasedotest,ohasobeenotakenobyotheosaidocommittee.oIto isosubmittedothatotheosaidoClauseo7oofotheoadvertisement/employmentonoticeo iso noto undero challenge.o Learnedo counselo foro respondento No.2o haso furthero submittedothatotheopleasoraisedobyotheopetitionersoareomisconceivedoandotheo sameoisoalsooapparentofromotheofactothatoalthough,othereoareo2092oapplicationso whichohaveobeenoreceivedoagainsto7ovacancies,obutoonlyo26opersonsohaveo 2023.08.02 18:08 choseno too challengeotheoimpugnedo Clauseo inotheo advertisemento ando thus,o CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-8-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o majorityo ofo theo candidateso haveo noto questionedo theo same.o Ito iso furthero submittedothatoitohasobeenorepeatedlyoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino variousojudgmentsothatoaomethodoofoshortolistingocanobeovalidlyoadoptedobyo theoemployer/theorecruitmentoagencyoandoevenoifothereoisonooruleoprovidingo foroshortolisting,othenoalsootheosaidoprocedureocanobeoresortedotooifothereoareoao largeonumberoofocandidatesowhoohaveoappliedotooaoparticularopostoandoitoisonoto possibleoforotheoauthoritiesotooconductotypingotest/spreadosheetotestoforoeacho ando everyo candidate.o Ino supporto ofo hiso arguments,o learnedo counselo foro respondentoNo.2ohasoreliedouponotheojudgmentsoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ofoIndiaoinocaseotitledoaso"B.oRamakichenino@oBalagandhioVs.oUnionoofo Indiaoandoothers",oreportedoaso2008(1)oSCCo362oandoinocaseotitledoaso"M.P.o Publico Serviceo Commissiono Vs.o Navnito Kumaro Potdaro ando another",o reportedoaso1994(6)oSCCo293.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatoitohasoalsoobeeno repeatedlyo heldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto thato ano administrativeo decisionotakenoshouldonotobeointerferedowithoinoaoroutineomanneroandothatotheo CourtoisonototooactoasoaoCourtoofoappealooverosuchodecisions.oItoisosubmittedo thatotheoshort-listingowhichoisobeingodoneoinotheopresentocaseoisoinoaccordanceo withosettledolawoandotheocriteriaoadoptedoforotheosameohasoaoreasonableonexuso withotheoobjectiveosoughtotoobeoachievedoandotheosameoisoequaloforoallotheo candidates.oo

6.o o LearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.1ohasoalsooprayedo forodismissaloofobothotheowritopetitionsoandohasoadoptedotheoargumentsoraisedo byolearnedocounselorespondentoNo.2oandohasofurtheroreiteratedothatoitoisoopeno tootheoemployer/recruitmentoagencyotooshort-listocandidatesoandoalsoostipulateo aowrittenotestotoobeoclearedobyotheocandidates,omoreoso,owhenotheonumberoofo candidateso areo almosto 300o timeso theo numbero ofo postso advertised.o Ito iso 2023.08.02 18:08 submittedo thato ino theo presento case,o eveno aso pero theo advertisement,o 105o CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-9-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o candidatesowouldobeocalledoforotheotypingotestoandotheospreadosheetotestoaftero theowrittenoobjectiveotypeoexaminationoandotheosameowouldoalsoobeo15otimeso theo numbero ofo vacancieso whicho haveo beeno advertisedo ando thus,o theo respondentoauthoritiesowouldobeoableotoochooseotheobestocandidatesoforobeingo appointedotootheopostoofoStenographerowho,oapartofromopossessingoessentialo qualificationsoandohavingopassedotheotypingotestowould,oalsoobeoaopersonowhoo wouldohaveoaoreasonableounderstandingoofotheoEnglishoLanguageoandohaveo generaloawareness.o

7.o o ThisoCourtohasoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaso perusedotheopaper-book.o

8.o o AdvertisementoNo.33S/SSSC/2023odatedo05.05.2023,oissuedobyo theoSocietyoforoCentralizedoRecruitmentoofoStaffoinosubordinateoCourtsoundero theoHighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryana,oChandigarh,oonobehalfoofotheoDistricto andoSessionsoJudgeoinotheoStateoofoUT,oChandigarhocallingoforoapplicationso fromoeligibleocandidatesoforofillingoupo7ovacantopostsoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIoofodirectoquota,ohasobeenoannexedoalongwithotheopresentowritopetitionoaso AnnexureoP-1.oClauseo11oofotheosaidoadvertisementohasobeenochallengedobyo theopetitionersoinobothotheowritopetitionsoandotheosaidoclauseoisoreproducedo hereinobelow:o-oo "11.oooooMODEoOFoSELECTION:-ooo oTheoCandidateoshallohaveotootakeoComputeroBasedoTestoofo60o marks,ocomprisingoofo60oobjectiveotypeomultipleochoiceoquestionsoono Englisho Compositiono ando Generalo Knowledge.o Eacho questiono willo carryo1omarkowithonoonegativeomarkingoandotestowillobeoofo1ohouro duration.oTheomeritoofoComputeroBasedoTestoshallobeopreparedoonotheo basiso ofo normalizedo markso (refero too pageo No.o 5o foro detailso ono normalizationoofomarks)oinocaseotheosaidotestoisoheldoinomultipleoshiftso ando candidateso equivalento too fifteeno timeso ofo theo advertisedo vacancieso (ino ordero ofo merit)o wouldo beo shortlistedo foro Englisho Shorthando ando Spreadsheeto Tests.o Ifo twoo oro moreo candidateso areoNARESH KUMAR authenticity of this havingoequalomarksotootheolastoshortlistedocandidateocalledoforoEnglisho CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-10-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o ShorthandoandoSpreadsheetoTests,othenoallosuchocandidatesowilloalsoo beocalledoforoEnglishoShorthandoandoSpreadsheetoTests.oItoisoclarifiedo thatomereoparticipationoinoComputeroBasedoTestowillonotogiveoanyorighto tootheocandidateotooparticipateoinoEnglishoShorthandoandoSpreadsheeto Tests.oFurther,oitoisoclarifiedothatotheomarksoobtainedobyoaocandidateoino Computero Basedo Testo willo noto beo countedo ino determiningo theo finalo merit.o oTheocandidatesoshortlistedoonotheobasisoofoComputeroBasedoTesto shallobeorequiredotootakeotheofollowingotests:o

1.oo EnglishoShorthando&oTranscriptionoTesto-oTheocandidatesoshallo takeo downo dictationo ato theo speedo ofo 80o w.p.m.o ino Englisho Shorthandoandothenotranscribeotheosameoonotheocomputeroatotheo speedoofo20ow.p.m.oNoocandidateoshallobeoconsideredotoohaveo qualifiedotheotest,oifohe/sheocommitsomoreothano8%omistakes.o o2.oo SpreadsheetoTest-oThisotestoshallobeoonlyoofoqualifyingonature,oofo 10omarksoandoofo10ominutesoduration.oTooqualifyoSpreadsheeto Test,oaocandidateoshallohaveotoosecureo40%ooromoreoi.e.o4ooro moreomarks.o oTheo numbero ofo candidateso aso decidedo byo Hon'bleo Centralo Recruitmento Committee,o whoo qualifyo theo Englisho Shorthando &o TranscriptionoTestoandoSpreadsheetoTest,owillobeocalledoforocheckingo ofoOriginaloTestimonials/Interaction.o oThereafter,o Selecto Listo ofo theo qualifiedo candidateso willo beo preparedostrictlyoonotheobasisoofomeritoinotheoEnglishoShorthando &o TranscriptionoTestoonly.oNameoofoeligibleocandidateo(s)ohigheroinomerito (i.e.o thoseo committingo lesso mistakes)o wouldo beo recommendedo foro appointmentoasoperotheonumberoofovacanciesotoobeofilled.oInocase,oifo twoooromoreocandidatesohaveocommittedosameono.oofomistakes,othenotheo candidateo eldero ino ageo amongo theo sameo scorerso beo kepto highero ino merit.o Stillo further,o ino case,o anyo sucho eveno scoringo candidateso areo havingotheosameodateoofobirth,othenotheyobeoplacedoalphabeticallyo(A-Z)o inotheoconcernedomeritolist."o o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aboveo wouldo showo thato theo candidateso areo requiredo too takeo Computero Basedo Testo ofo 60o marks,o comprisingo ofo 60o objectiveotypeomultipleochoiceoquestionsowhichoareotoobeobasedoonoEnglisho Compositiono ando Generalo Knowledgeo ando theo numbero ofo candidateso equivalento too fifteeno timeso theo numbero ofo advertisedo vacancieso wouldo beo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-11-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o shortlistedoforotheoEnglishoShorthandoandoSpreadsheetoTests.oItohasofurthero beeno stipulatedo thato theo markso obtainedo byo ao candidateo ino theo Computero BasedoTestowouldonotobeocountedowhileodeterminingotheofinalomerit.oItoisotheo conditionoinotheoadvertisementorequiringotheocandidatesotootakeotheoComputero Basedo Testo ofo 60o marks,o thato theo petitionerso areo aggrievedo witho ando areo seekingotoochallenge.oo

10.o o ItoisonotoinodisputeothatoRuleo7(vi)oofotheoRulesoofo1997ogovernso theo modeo ofo appointmento ando qualificationo too theo posto ofo Stenographero Grade-IIIo(English)oandotheosaidoRuleoisoreproducedohereinobelow:o-o o "7.o ModeoofoAppointmentoandoQualificationsotootheoPosts:oo o (vi)o[StenographeroGradeoIIIo(English).-oooAppointmentotootheoposto ofo Stenographero Gradeo IIIo shallo beo madeo byo directo recruitmento from:oo CandidatesowhoopossessoaodegreeoofoBacheloroofoArtsooroBacheloroofo Scienceooroequivalentotheretoofromoaorecognizedouniversityoandopassoaotesto ato ao speedo ofo 80o W.P.M.o o ino Englisho Shorthando ando 20o W.P.M.o ino Transcriptiono ofo theo sameo ando haveo proficiencyo ino computerso (Wordo ProcessingoandoSpreadoSheets).oTheoselectolistosoopreparedoonootheobasiso ofomeritoshalloremainoinoforceoforooneoyearofromotheodateoofodeclarationoofo result."o o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveowouldoshowothatoessentialoqualificationso forobeingoappointedotootheosaidopostoareoaodegreeoofoBacheloroofoArtsooro BacheloroofoScienceooroequivalentotheretoofromoaorecognizedouniversityoando passingoofoaotypingotestoatoaospeedoofo80ow.p.m.oinoEnglishoShort-handoando20o w.p.m.oinoTranscriptionoofotheosameoandoalsooproficiencyoinocomputerso(wordo processingoandospreadosheets).oo

9.o o Grievanceo raisedo byo theo petitionerso too theo effecto thato theo Computero Basedo Testo mentionedo ino theo advertisemento (Annexureo P-1)o supersedeso ando replaceso theo ruleso governingo theo appointmento ando qualificationotootheopostsoandothatotheostipulationoprovidingoforoaoComputero BasedotestohasonoonexusowithotheoobjectiveosoughtotoobeoachievedoandothatoNARESH KUMAR CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-12-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o becauseoofotheosaidoprocess,otheobestocandidatesowouldobeoexcludedofromotheo finalozoneoofoconsideration,oisomisconceivedoandodeservesotoobeorejectedoino viewoofotheofollowingofactors:o-oo

(i)o Itoisoundisputedothatotheonumberoofoapplicants,owhoohaveoappliedoforo theosevenovacantopostsoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo(English)oareo2092,o whichoisoabouto300otimesotheoadvertisedovacancies.oAsoperosettledo law,oitoisopermissibleoforotheorespondentoauthoritiesotooshort-listotheo candidateso wheno theo numbero ofo candidateso iso mucho largero aso comparedotootheoadvertisedoposts,omoreoso,owhenotheoprocessoofofinalo selectiono iso veryo lengthyo aso ino theo presento caseo asotheo processoofo dictationo andotypingo aso welloaso spread-sheeto examinationo involveso givingo propero dictationo ofo passageso too theo candidateso witho propero pronunciationo ando completingo theo saido processo wouldo consumeo ao considerableo amounto ofo timeo ando thus,o theo actiono ofo respondento authoritiesoofointroducingoaoComputeroBasedoTestoforoshort-listingotheo candidatesocannotobeofalteredowith.oAoperusaloofotheoadvertisement,o whicho haso beeno reproducedo herein-aboveo wouldo showo thato theo numbero ofo candidateso equivalento too fifteeno timeso theo advertisedo vacancieso (ino ordero ofo merit)o areo too beo shortlistedo ando thus,o ao sufficiento numbero ofo candidateso wouldo fallo ino theo finalo zoneo ofo considerationoforobeingoappointedotootheopost.oItohasobeenorepeatedlyo heldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoasowelloasootheroCourtsothatotheo processo ofo short-listingo cano beo validlyo adoptedo byo theo employer/selectiono body/recruitmento agencyo ando theo sameo cano beo doneoevenoinocaseothereoisonooruleoprovidingoforoshort-listingoandotheo saidoprocessocannotobeostatedotoohaveoalteredoorochangedotheocriteriao 2023.08.02 18:08 prescribedoinotheorule,oasotheosameoisoonlyoaopartoofotheoselectiono CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-13-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o process.o Referenceo ino thiso regardo iso madeo too theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoM.P.oPublicoServiceoCommissionocaseo (supra),otheorelevantoportionoofowhichoisoreproducedohereinobelow:o-oo o "3.o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo InoviewoofoSectiono8(3)(c)oofotheo Actoinotheoadvertisementoitowasoprescribedothatotheoapplicantoshouldohaveo practisedoasoanoadvocateooroaopleaderoforoaototaloperiodoofonotolessothano fiveoyears.oItoappearsothatoinoviewoofotheolargeonumberoofoapplicationso receivedofromotheogeneralocategoryocandidatesoagainsto4oposts,oaodecisiono wasotakenobyotheoCommissionotoocalloforointerviewoonlyo71oapplicants,o althougho 188o applicantso wereo eligible,o aso pero requiremento ofo theo advertisement.oOnlyothoseocandidatesowereocalledoforointerviewowhoohado completedosevenoandohalfoyearsoofopracticeoalthoughoinoviewoofoSectiono 8(3)(c),o fiveo yearso ofo practiceo aso ano advocateo oro ao pleadero ino theo MadhyaoPradeshowasotheominimumorequirement.oAccordingotootheowrito petitioners,oasotheostatutoryorequirementounderoSectiono8(3)(c)owasoonlyo fiveoyearsoofopracticeoasoanoadvocateooroaopleader,oitowasonotoopenotootheo Commissionotooraiseotheosaidoperiodoupotoosevenoandohalfoyearsoandotoo debaroapplicantsowhoohadoappliedoforothoseopostsoandowhoofulfilledotheo statutoryorequirementoprescribedounderoSectiono8(3)(c)oofotheoAct.o

4.o TheoHighoCourtoallowedotheosaidowritopetitionsotakingotheo viewothatoasotheostatutoryoqualificationsoinorespectoofotheopracticeowaso onlyofiveoyears,oraisingotheosaidoperiodofromofiveotoosevenoandohalfoyearso amountedo too layingo downo ao criteriono ino violationo ofo theo prescribedo statutoryocriterion.oAodirectionowasogivenoeitherotoocalloallotheoapplicantso foro interviewo whoo hado completedo 5o yearso ofo practiceo aso requiredo byo Sectiono8(3)(c)oofotheoActoorotooscreenotheoapplicantsothroughosomeotesto andothereafterotoocalloonlyosuchoapplicantsoforointerviewowhooqualifyoato theosaidoscreeningotest.o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

9.o Ino Kothario Committee'so Reporto ono theo "Recruitmento PolicyoandoSelectionoMethodsoforotheoCiviloServicesoExamination"oito hasoalsoobeenopointedooutoinorespectoofointerviewowhereoaowrittenotestoiso alsooheldoasofollows:o "Theonumberoofocandidatesotoobeocalledoforointerview,oino orderoofotheototalomarksoinowrittenopapers,oshouldonotoexceed,oweo think,otwiceotheonumberoofovacanciesotoobeofilledo......o o Inothisobackground,oitoisoallotheomoreonecessaryotoofixotheolimitoofo theo applicantso whoo shouldo beo calledo foro interviewo whereo thereo iso noo I attest to the accuracy and writtenotest,oonosomeorationaloandoobjectiveobasisosoothatopersonalityoando CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-14-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o meritoofotheopersonsowhooareocalledoforointerviewoareoproperlyoassessedo andoevaluated.o

10.o Thiso Courto ino theo caseo ofo Stateo ofo Haryanao v.o Subasho ChanderoMarawahalohadotooconsideroasotoowhetherotheoappointmentso couldohaveobeenoofferedoonlyotoothoseowhoohadoscoredonotolessothano 55%omarksowhenoRuleo8owhichowasounderoconsideration,oinothatocase,o madeo candidateso whoo hado obtainedo 45%o oro moreo ino competitiveo examinationoeligibleoforoappointment.oThisoCourtoheldothatoRuleo8owaso aostepoinotheopreparationoofoaolistoofoeligibleocandidatesowithominimumo qualificationso whoo mayo beo consideredo foro appointment.o Theo listo iso preparedoinoorderoofomeritoandotheooneohigheroinorankoisodeemedotoobeo moreomeritoriousothanotheooneowhooisoloweroinotheorank.oThereowaso nothingo arbitraryo ino fixingo theo scoringo ofo 55%o foro theo purposeo ofo selectiono althougho ao candidateo obtainingo 45%o waso eligibleo too beo appointed.o

11.o Ino theo caseo ofo Ashoko Kumaro Yadvao v.o Stateo ofo Haryanao

(1985)o4oSCCo417oitowasosaidoo "…..oOnlyo11otoo12ocandidatesoareocalledoforointerviewoinoaodayoofo5o 1/2o hours.o Ito iso obviouso thato ino theo circumstances,o ito wouldo beo impossibleo too carryo outo ao satisfactoryo vivao voceo testo ifo sucho ao largeo unmanageableonumberoofoovero1300ocandidatesoareotoobeointerviewed.o Theointerviewsowouldothenotendotoobeocasual,osuperficialoandosloppyoando theoassessmentomadeoatosuchointerviewsowouldonotocorrectlyoreflectotheo trueomeasureoofotheopersonalityoofotheocandidate."o

12.o Onobehalfoofotheorespondents,oitowasopointedooutothatothereoiso noo presumptiono thato ano advocateo havingo seveno ando halfo yearso ofo experienceowillobeomoreosuitableoforotheopostoofoPresidingoOfficeroofotheo LabouroCourtsothanoanoadvocateohavingoonlyofiveoyearsoofoexperienceo becauseoitoallodependsoonotheopersonalomeritoofotheocandidateoconcerned.o Itoisotrueothatoitohasobeenofoundothatosometimesotheopersonsowitholessero yearsoofoexperienceoandopracticeohaveoprovedotoobeobetteroadvocatesoando theyo excelo ino profession.o Theo successo ino professiono iso noto necessarilyo linkedo witho theo yearso ofo practice.o Buto thato mayo beo ano exception.o Normally,o ito iso presumedo thato witho longero experienceo ano advocateo becomesomoreomature.oInoanyocase,othisofixingotheolimitoatosevenoando halfoyearsoinsteadoofofiveoyearsoofotheopracticeoforopurposeoofocallingotheo interviewocannotobeosaidotoobeoirrational,oarbitraryohavingonoonexuso withotheoobjectotooselectotheobestoamongstotheoapplicants.o

13.o TheoHighoCourtohasotakenotheoviewothatoraisingotheoperiodo 2023.08.02 18:08 fromofiveoyearsotoosevenoandohalfoyears'opracticeoforopurposeoofocallingo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-15-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o theo candidateso foro interviewo amountedo too changingo theo statutoryo criteriaobyoanoadministrativeodecision.oAccordingotoous,otheoHighoCourto hasonotoappreciatedotheotrueoimplicationoofotheoshort-listingowhichodoeso notoamountotooalteringoorochangingoofotheocriteriaoprescribedoinotheo rule,obutoisoonlyoaopartoofotheoselectionoprocess."oo "xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxo o o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveojudgmentowouldoshowothatoreferenceoino theo sameo waso madeo too theo Kothario Committee'so Reporto ono theo "RecruitmentoPolicyoandoSelectionoMethodsoforotheoCiviloServiceso Examination",oinowhich,oitohasobeenopointedooutothatoinorespectoofo interviewso whereo aowritteno testoisoalsootoo beoheld,otheo numbero ofo candidatesotoobeocalledoforointerviewoshouldonotoexceedotwiceotheo numberoofovacanciesotoobeofilled.oReferenceoinotheosaidojudgmentowaso madeotootheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseotitledoaso 'Stateo ofo Haryanao Vs.o Subasho Chandero Marwahal',o reportedo aso

(1974)o1oSCRo165,oinowhich,oitohasobeenoheldothatothereowasonothingo arbitraryo ino fixingo theo scoreo ofo 55%o foro theo purposeo ofo selectiono althoughoaocandidateoobtainingo45%owasoeligibleotoobeoappointedoaso pero theo relevanto rule.o Referenceo haso alsoo beeno madeo ino theo saido judgmentotooaojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofo 'AshokoKumaroYadavoVs.oStateoofoHaryana'oreportedoaso(1985)o4o SCCo417,oinowhich,oitohasobeenoobservedothatoitowouldobeoimpossibleo too carryo outo ao satisfactoryo vivao voceo testo whereo theo numbero ofo candidatesowasoveryohigh,owhereas,otheonumberoofopostsowereomucho lower.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o aftero consideringo theo saido judgments,ohadosetoasideotheojudgmentoofotheoHighoCourtowhereotheo HighoCourtohadoobservedothatoraisingotheoperiodofromofiveoyearsotoo sevenoandohalfoyears'opracticeoforotheopurposeoofocallingocandidateso CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-16-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o foro interviewo amountedo too changingo theo statutoryo criteriao byo ano administrativeo decision.o Ito waso heldo thato theo Higho Courto hado noto appreciatedo theo trueo implicationo ofo short-listingo whicho doeso noto amountotooalteringoorochangingotheocriteriaoprescribedoinotheorule,obuto iso onlyo ao parto ofo theo selectiono process.o Ino theo saido judgment,o theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoupheldotheoactionoofotheoauthoritiesowherebyo inoorderotooshort-listotheocandidatesoonlyothoseocandidatesowereocalledo forobeingoappointedotootheopostoofoPresidingoOfficersoofotheoLabouro Courts,owhoohadosevenoandohalfoyearsoofopracticeoalthoughoasopero Sectiono8(3)(c)oofotheoM.P.oIndustrialoRelationsoAct,o1960,owhicho wasotheorelevantoprovision,oaopersonowasorequiredotoohaveoonlyofiveo yearsoofoexperience.oTheosaidojudgmentofullyosupportsotheocaseoofotheo respondents.o Ono theo questiono ofo short-listing,o ito wouldo alsoo beo relevanto too takeo noticeo ofo theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino B.o Ramakichenino @o Balagandhi'so caseo (supra),o theo relevantoportionoofowhich,oisoreproducedoasounder:-o "xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxo

14.oo Itoisowellosettledothatotheomethodoofoshort-listingocanobeovalidlyo adoptedo byo theo Selectiono Bodyo video Madhyao Pradesho Publico Serviceo Commissionovs.oNavnitoKumaroPotdaroandoanotheroo(videoparaso6,o8,o9oando 13)oandoGovt.oofoA.P.ov.oP.oDilipoKumar.o

15.oo Eveno ifo thereo iso noo ruleo providingo foro short-listingo noro anyo mentionoofoitoinotheoadvertisementocallingoforoapplicationsoforotheopost,otheo SelectionoBodyocanoresortotooaoshort-listingoprocedureoifothereoareoaolargeo numbero ofo eligibleo candidateso whoo applyo ando ito iso noto possibleo foro theo authorityotoointerviewoalloofothem.oForoexample,oifoforooneoorotwoopostsothereo areomoreothano1000oapplicationsoreceivedofromoeligibleocandidates,oitomayo notobeopossibleotoointerviewoalloofothem.oInothisosituation,otheoprocedureoofo short-olistingocanobeoresortedotoobyotheoSelectionoBody,oevenothoughothereoiso noomentionoofoshort-listingoinotheorulesooroinotheoadvertisement.o

16.o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxoThusotheoprocedureoofoshort-listingoiso 2023.08.02 18:08 onlyoaopracticalovia-mediaowhichohasobeenofollowedobyotheocourtsoinovariouso CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-17-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o decisionsosinceootherwiseothereomayobeogreatodifficultiesoforotheoselectingo andoappointingoauthoritiesoasotheyomayonotobeoableotoointerviewohundredso andothousandsoofoeligibleocandidates;o(ii)oIfoaoprescribedomethodoofoshort-listingohasobeenomentionedoinotheoruleooroadvertisementothenothatomethodo aloneohasotoobeofollowed.o

17.o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo Ordinarilyo weo wouldo noto haveo takeno exceptionotoothisoprocedureosinceoitoisobasedoonoanoobjectiveocriteria,oando ordinarilyothisoCourtodoesonotointerfereowithoadministrativeodecisionsovideo TataoCellularoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoAIRo1996oSCo11.oAsoobservedoinotheosaido decision,o theo moderno approacho iso foro courtso too observeo restrainto ino administrativeomatters.oo o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

18.o xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo Inootherowords,oitowasoopeno tootheoUPSCotoodooshort-listingobyostatingothatoitowillocalloonlyothoseowhoo haveoPh.D.odegreeoinoAgricultureo(althoughotheoessentialodegreeowasoonlyo M.Sc.odegreeoinoAgriculture).oSimilarly,otheoUPSCocouldohaveosaidothatoito wouldoonlyocalloforointerviewothoseocandidatesowhoohave,osay,ofiveoyearso experience,o althougho theo essentialo requiremento waso onlyo twoo yearso experience.oHowever,oexperienceoafterogettingotheoM.Sc.odegreeocannotobeo saidotoobeohigherothanotheoexperienceobeforeogettingotheoM.Scodegree.oAlso,o theo advertisemento datedo 23.5.1998o doeso noto mentiono thato twoo yearso experienceomustobeoafterogettingotheoM.Sc.odegree."oo o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveojudgmentowouldoshowothatoitohadobeeno heldothatotheomethodoofoshort-listingocanobeovalidlyoadoptedobyotheo SelectionoBodyoevenoifothereoisonooruleoprovidingoforoshort-listing,o moreoso,owhenothereoareoaolargeonumberoofocandidatesowhooapplyoando itoisonotopossibleoforotheoauthorityotoointerviewoalloofothem.oReferenceo inotheosaidojudgmentowasomadeotooaojudgmentoofoHon'bleoSupremeo Courto passedo ino caseo titledo aso 'Tatao Cellularo v.o Uniono ofo India,o reportedoaso(1994)o6oSCCo293oonotheoaspectothatotheoCourtsoshouldo observeotheoprincipleooforestraintoinointerferingowithoadministrativeo decisions.o Whileodecidingo theo matter,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto hado highlightedo certaino exampleso ofo short-listingo ando oneo sucho CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-18-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o exampleowasowhereotheoessentialodegreeorequiredoforoaocandidateotoo beoeligibleoforobeingoappointedowas,oMScodegree,obutoforotheopurposeo ofoshortolisting,oitowasoobservedothatoitowasoopenotootheoauthoritiesotoo onlyocallothoseopersonsowhoohadoPhDodegree.oTheoratiooofolawolaido downobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheoabovesaidocaseosupportso theopleasoraisedobyotheocounseloforotheorespondent,oalthough,oinotheo aboveosaidocase,otheomanneroinowhichoshortolistingoofocandidatesowaso carriedooutobyotheoauthoritiesowasosetoasideoonotheogroundothatotheo exerciseo undertakeno byo theo authoritieso waso contraryo too theo advertisementoitself.oTheolawolaidodownoinotheoaboveosaidojudgmentso makesoitoabundantlyoclearothatoitoisoopenotootheorespondentoauthoritieso tooshortolistocandidatesoandotooprescribeoaotest/conditionoforotheosaido purpose,owhichoisouniversallyoapplicableotooallotheocandidatesowheno theo numbero ofo candidateso iso highero aso comparedo too theo postso advertised,oasohasobeenodoneoinotheopresentocase.oNoojudgmentotootheo contraryohasobeenocitedobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner.oo

(ii)o oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoasowelloasovariousoHighoCourtsohave,oooooooooo whileo invitingo applicationso foro appointmento too theo posto ofo Stenographeroorosimilaroposts,omandatedotheoholdingoofoaowrittenotesto consistingoofoobjectiveomultipleochoiceoquestionsobasedoonoGeneralo EnglishoandoGeneraloKnowledgeoandootherofieldsoforotheopurposeoofo short-listingotheocandidatesoandotheosaidorequirementoisooveroandoaboveo theoessentialoqualifications.oTheopracticeoadoptedobyotheorespondentsoino theopresentocaseoisoaostandardopracticeoadoptedoallooverotheocountry.o Theo saido factsoareo establishedo fromo theodocumentso annexedobyo theo respondentoNo.2owithotheowrittenostatement.oAnnexureoR-2/1o(atopageo 2023.08.02 18:08 84oofotheopaper-book)oisoanoadvertisementoissuedobyotheoRegistraroofo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-19-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o invitingo applicationso fromo Indiano Citizensowhoofulfillotheoessentialoqualificationsoandootheroeligibilityo conditionso foro theo posto ofo Senioro Personalo Assistant/Personalo Assistant.oAoperusaloofopageo121oofotheopaper-bookowouldoshowothato foro theo posto ofo Personalo Assistant,o theo essentialo qualificationso aso prescribedowasodegreeoofoaorecognizedoUniversityoandoproficiencyoino Shorthando Englisho witho theo speedo ofo 100o w.p.m.o ando workingo knowledgeoofocomputerooperationowithoaospeedoofo40ow.p.m.oByotheo saidoadvertisement,oforotheoselectionotootheopostoofoPersonaloAssistant,o aowrittenotestoofoobjectiveotypeoquestionopaperowithomultipleochoiceo answersocontainingo100oquestionsowasointroduced,oalthough,opassingo ofotheosaidotestowasonotolistedoinotheoessentialoqualifications.oAoperusalo ofo pageo 86o ofo theo paper-book,o whereo theo saido clauseo haso beeno incorporatedo wouldo furthero showo thato theo saido multipleo choiceo questionso consistedo ofo 50o Generalo Englisho questions,o 25o Generalo Aptitudeo questionso basedo ono logicalo reasoningo ando 25o Generalo Knowledgeoquestions.oAoperusaloofopageo87oofotheopaper-bookowouldo showo thato ino theo saido Advertisemento ito waso mentionedo thato theo candidatesowouldofirstobeosubjectedotooObjectiveoTypeoWrittenoTesto andoComputeroKnowledgeoTestoandotheocandidatesowhooqualifyobotho theoobjectiveotypeotestsowillobeocalledoforoskillotestoinostenographyoando typingospeedotestoonoComputeroandothatotheocandidatesowhooqualifyoino allotheotestsowillothenobeocalledoforointerview.oTheosaidoprocedureowaso adoptedo foro theo purposeo ofo short-listingo theo candidates.o Theo requirementoofotheocandidatesotooappearoinotheoComputeroBasedotesto prescribedobyotheorespondentoauthoritiesoinotheopresentocaseoisoakinotoo 2023.08.02 18:08 theorequirementoprescribedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.oEvenotheo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-20-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o Higho Courto ofo Chhattisgarho hado issuedo ano advertisemento datedo

20.06.2023o(atopageo126oofotheopaper-book)oinvitingoapplicationsoforo recruitmento too theo posto ofo Stenographero ando foro theo saido post,o theo qualificationso aso prescribedo were,o graduationo fromo ao recognizedo universityoandopassingoofoaoshorthandoexaminationoandoTypewritingo ExaminationoinoEnglish.oInotheoadvertisement,othereowasoaomentionoofo aowrittenotestoandoskillotestofororecruitmentotootheopostoofoStenographero ando theo examinationo waso requiredo too beo conductedo ino twoo phases.o Phase-1obeingotheowrittenoTestoandophase-2,oSkilloTest.oPhase-1owhicho wasotheowrittenotestoconsistedoofo100oquestionsoofomultipleochoiceso amountingotoomaximumo100omarksoandotheosaidoquestionsowereowitho respectotoovariousolanguagesoetc.,oprimarilyoEnglishoLanguage,oCurrento Affairsoandoreasoningoaptitude,owhichoisosimilarotootheorequirementoino theo impugnedo advertisement.o Ito hado beeno submittedo byo theo learnedo counseloforotheorespondentsothatotheoconditionoofopassingotheosaidotesto wasooveroandoaboveotheoconditionsoasoprescribedoinotheorulesoandowaso forotheopurposeoofoshortolistingotheocandidates.oFurther,otheoHighoCourto forotheoStateoofoTelanganao(Hyderabad),oasoisoapparentofromopageo134o ofo theo paperbook,o hado invitedo applicationso foro theo posto ofo Stenographero Grade-IIIo ando eveno ino theo saido advertisemento aso iso apparento fromo pageo 138,o ino theo methodo ofo recruitment,o ito waso mentionedo thato onlineo computero basedo examinationo wouldo beo conductedoandotheoquestionopaperoofotheocomputerobasedoexaminationo wasotoobeoanoobjectiveotypeowithomultipleochoiceoanswersoforo50omarkso andotheosaidotestowasoaoqualifyingotestoandoonlyothoseocandidatesowhoo qualifyotheosameowouldobeofurtheroconsidered,osimilarotootheopresento 2023.08.02 18:08 case.oTheorespondentsohaveoalsooannexedoanoadvertisementoissuedobyo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-21-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o theoofficeoofotheoDistricto&oSessionsoJudge,oTisoHazarioCourts,oDelhio (pageo140oofotheopaper-book)oforoinvitingotheoapplicationsoforotheoposto ofoStenographeroGrade-II,oinowhichoalso,oasoperotheomodeoofoselection,o ao writteno testo Comprisingo Englisho Grammar,o Generalo Knowledge,o QuantitativeoAptitudeoandoreasoning,ohasobeenoprescribedoandotheosaido writteno testo iso akino too theo testo prescribedo ino theo impugnedo advertisement.oItohadobeenofurtherostipulatedoinotheosaidoadvertisemento thatotheoshort-listedocandidatesoafterotheowrittenotestowouldobeocalledotoo appearoforoshorthandoandotypingotestoandotheocandidatesowhooqualifyo theoshorthandoandotypingotestowillobeocalledoforoComputeroSkilloTesto andotheoInterview.oo o(iii)oItoisonotoinodisputeothatotheototaloapplicationsoreceivedoinotheopresento caseoforofillingoupotheosevenovacantopostsoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo iso2092oandoonlyo26opersonsohaveofiledotheopresentotwoowritopetitionso ando areo aggrievedo witho theo incorporationo ofo theo conditiono ofo ComputeroBasedoTestoofo60omarksoinotheoadvertisementoandothus,oitoiso apparentothatotheomajorityoofotheocandidatesohaveonotoevenoquestionedo theo sameo ando areo satisfiedo witho theo conditiono stipulatedo ino theo advertisement.o

(iv)oooClauseo 7o ofo theo impugnedo advertisement/employmento noticeooooo (AnnexureoP-1)oisoreproducedohereinobelow:o-oo o "7.oSPECIALoINSTRUCTIONS:-ooo TheodecisionoofotheoHon'bleoCentraloRecruitmentoCommitteeoinoallo matterso relatingo too acceptanceo oro rejectiono ofo ano application,o eligibility/suitabilityo ofo theo applicants,o mode/criteriao foro selectiono etc.o shallo beo finalo ando bindingo ono theo applicants.o Theo Hon'bleo Centralo RecruitmentoCommitteeomayoshortlistotheocandidatesoatoanyostageoofotheo recruitmento processo ono theo basiso ofo someo criteria.o Noo inquiryo oro correspondenceoshallobeoentertainedoinothisoregard."oooNARESH KUMAR CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-22-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveowouldoshowothatowithorespectotoovariouso aspectsoincludingotheomode/criteriaoforoselection,oitoisotheoCentralizedo RecruitmentoCommitteeowhoseodecisionoisofinaloandobindingoonotheo applicantso ando theo saido committeeo iso entitledo too short-listo theo candidatesoatoanyostageoofotheorecruitmentoprocessoonotheobasisoofo someo criteriono ando ito iso specificallyo mentionedo thato noo inquiryo oro correspondenceowillobeoentertainedoinothisoregard.oItoisotheocaseoofotheo respondentsothatotheocriteriaoforoshort-listingoinotheopresentocaseohaso beeno formulatedo byo theo saido committee.o Theo saido clauseo ino theo advertisement/employmento noticeo haso noto beeno challengedo byo theo petitioners.oAoperusaloofotheosaidoclauseowouldoshowothatotheocriteriao couldohaveobeenoformulatedoatoanyostageoofotheorecruitmentoprocess.o Inotheopresentocase,otheocriteriaohasobeenoformulatedoatotheoinceptiono ofotheoprocessoandotheosameohasobeenomadeopartoofotheoadvertisemento ando thus,o allo theo candidateso wereo wello awareo ofo theo sameo whileo applyingotootheopostoinoquestion.oItoisotheocaseoofotheorespondents,oaso alsoonoticedoinoparaoNo.4oinotheopresentojudgment,othatotheopostoino questionobeingoofoStenographeroGrade-IIIo(English),otheocandidateso applyingo foro theo sameo areo requiredo too haveo ao reasonableo understandingoofoEnglishoLanguageoandoaocertainoleveloofogeneralo awarenessoandothus,otheorequirementoofotheocandidatesohavingotoopasso theo Computero Basedo Test,o whicho wouldo containo objectiveo typeo multipleochoiceoquestionsobasedoonoEnglishoCompositionooroGeneralo Knowledgeo haso ao reasonableo nexuso too theo objecto soughto too beo achieved.oAsohasobeenostatedohereinoabove,otheosaidoComputeroBasedo NARESH KUMAR Testo haso beeno madeo theo basiso foro short-listingo byo theo Hon'bleo CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-23-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o SupremeoCourtoasowelloasovariousoHighoCourtsoandoDistrictoCourtsoallo overo theo country.o Theo sameo testo haso beeno prescribedo foro allo theo candidateso ando noo discriminationo haso beeno metedo outo too anyo candidatesoandoitocannotobeosaidothatotheosaidoComputeroBasedoTestoiso eitheroillogicalooroarbitraryoorohasonoonexusotootheoobjectosoughtotoobeo achieved.o Moreover,o theo respondento authoritieso aso pero theo advertisementoareoseekingotoocallocandidateso15otimesotheonumberoofo theoadvertisedovacanciesoinotheoorderoofoomeritoandothus,oforoseveno postso aso manyo aso 105o candidateso wouldo fallo ino theo zoneo ofo consideration,owhoowouldothenobeogivingotheiroEnglishoShorthandoando Spreado Sheeto Test.o Theo respondentso eveno aftero short-listingo haveo chosenotoocallo aolargeonumbero ofocandidateso fromo whomo theo besto candidatesocanobeoselectedoasotheosaidocandidatesoafterohavingobeeno successfuloinotheoComputeroBasedoTestowouldobeorequiredotoopassotheo EnglishoShorthandoTestoatoaospeedoofo80ow.p.m.oandoalsootranscriptiono ofotheosameoatoaospeedoofo20ow.p.m.oandothus,oitocannotobeosaidothato theo besto candidateso wouldo noto beo consideredo foro appointment.o Moreover,onoolawohasobeenocitedoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersotooshowo thatotheorequirementoofotheocandidatesotoopassotheoComputeroBasedo Testoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocaseowouldoeithero beoillegal,oarbitraryooroagainstolaw.o

(v)oooTheoauthoritiesoareotheobestojudgeotoolayodownoaoprocedureoforoshort-listingoandotheoscopeoofojudicialoreviewoinosuchoaomatteroisolimitedoando thiso Courto cannoto acto aso ao Courto ofo appealo overo administrativeo decision,omoreoso,owhenotheoactionoofotheorespondentoauthoritiesoiso CWP-11620-2023oandoooooooooooooooo-24-ooooooooooooooo(2023:PHHC:096990)o o

11.o o Inoviewoofotheoaboveosaidofactsoandocircumstances,othisoCourto findsothatotheoimpugnedoadvertisement/employmentonoticeoprovidingoforoao ComputeroBasedoTestoisoabsolutelyolegaloandoinoconsonanceowitholawoando doeso noto callo foro anyo interferenceo ando theo presento writo petitionso beingo meritless,odeserveotoobeodismissedoandoareoaccordinglyodismissed.ooo o (VIKASoBAHL)o Julyo28,o2023oooooooooo o o o oooooo ooooooJUDGEoo naresh.ko Whetherospeaking/reasoned:-o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:-o o o Yes/Noo