Union Territory, Chandigarh and Others v. Sakshi Malik and Others

CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1-

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o o thDateoofopronouncement:oo7 oMay,o2025o o th1.o CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025o(O&M)oReservedoono:o4 oMarch,o2025o UnionoTerritory,oChandigarhoandootherso o …oPetitionersoo Versuso SakshioMalikoandoothersooo o o o …oRespondents.o o th2.o CWPoNo.o5969oofo2025o(O&M)oReservedoono:o4 oMarch,o2025o UnionoTerritory,oChandigarhoandootherso o …oPetitionersoo Versuso LalitaoKaushikoandoothersoo o o o …oRespondents.o o th3.o CWPoNo.o9970oofo2025o(O&M)oReservedoono28 oApril,o2025o ChandigarhoAdministrationoandoanotheroo o …oPetitionersoo Versuso CentraloAdministrativeoTribunaloandoanotheroo …oRespondents.o o o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMAoo o o ooooooooHON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTAooo o Present:o Ms.oMadhuoDayal,oAdditionaloStandingoCounsel,oo U.oT.oChandigarhoandoo Ms.oShubreetoKaur,oJunioroPaneloCounsel,oo U.oT.oChandigarh,oforotheopetitioners.o o o o Mr.oRakeshoSobti,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitionerso o o InoCWPoNo.o9970oofo2025.o o o o Mr.oParunjeetoSingh,oAdvocate,ofororespondentono.1-Caveatoro o o InoCWPoNo.o1922oofo2025.o ***o o SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA,oJ.o ooo o ThisoorderowillodisposeoofoCWPoNos.o1922,o5969oando9970oofo 2025oasocommonoquestionsoofolawoandofactsoareoinvolvedotherein.oo

2.o o Byowayoofotheseowritopetitions,otheopetitionersohaveoassailedotheo ordersodatedo19.09.2024,o25.11.2024oando25.10.2024opassedobyotheoCentralo Administrativeo Tribunalo wherebyo ito allowedo theo OAso filedo byo theo CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2-

respondents-applicantso ando directedo too considero theiro candidatureo foro recruitmentoasoJunioroBasicoTeachers,oinopursuanceoofotheoadvertisement.o

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo Chandigarho Administrationo haso submittedo thato ano advertisemento waso issuedo ono 16.01.2024,o invitingo applicationso foro theo postso ofo Junioro Basico Teacherso ando theo essentialo qualificationso foro recruitment,o aso pero theo Chandigarho Educationo Serviceo (Schoolo Cadre)o (Group-C),o Recruitmento Rules,o 1991,o [aso amendedo video Chandigarho Educationo Serviceo (Schoolo Cadre)o (Group-C)o Recruitmento (Amendment)oRules,o2018],oareoasounder:-o "(i)oGraduateooroitsoequivalentofromoaorecognizedoUniversityo andoo

(ii)o Diplomao ino Elementaryo Educationo (D.El.Ed)o (Byo whateveronameo known)oofonoto lesso thano 2o yearso durationo recognizedobyoNCTE.oo ORo Graduationo witho ato leasto 50%o markso ando Bacheloro ofo Educationo(B.Ed)o

(iii)oPassoinoCentraloTeacheroEligibilityoTestoconductedoino accordanceowithotheoGuidelinesoframedobyoNCTE."o

4.o o Itoisosubmittedothatowrittenotestowasoconductedoono28.04.2024o ando theo provisionalo merito listo waso published.o Theo respondents-applicants,o alongwitho others,o wereo calledo ono 02.07.2024o ando 03.07.2024o foro theo documentoverificationowhereafterotheyo(respondents)owereodeclaredoineligibleo onotheogroundothatothoughotheyowereopossessingotheoqualificationoofoBacheloro ofoElementaryoEducationo(B.El.Ed.)obutotheyodidonotopossessotheotwooyear'o Diplomao ino Elementaryo Educationo (D.El.Ed.)o aso requiredo undero theo advertisement.o Furthero opportunityo waso grantedo too themo too submito theiro clarificationo byo 01.08.2024o ando theyo submittedo theiro representation,o maintainingothatotheoqualificationoofoBacheloroofoElementaryoEducationowaso CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3-

dulyorecognizedobyotheoNCTE.oHowever,ofindingothatotheyodidonotomeetotheo requirementoofotheoadvertisementoorotheoRulesoframedobyotheoChandigarho EducationoServiceo(SchooloCadre)o(Group-C),oRecruitmentoRules,o1991,oaso amendedoino2018,otheorespondentsowereodeclaredoineligible.oo

5.o o OAso wereo preferredo beforeo theo Tribunalo ando theo sameo wereo contestedobyotheopetitioners.oHowever,otheoimpugnedoorderso(supra)owereo passedobyotheoTribunal.o

6.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso submittedo thato theo Tribunal'soordersodatedo19.09.2024,o25.11.2024oando25.10.2024owereoclearlyo erroneouso ino theo lighto ofo theo requiremento ofo qualificationo undero theo advertisemento datedo 16.01.2024.o Theo qualificationso laido downo ino theo advertisementowereoinoconformityowithotheoChandigarhoEducationoServiceo (SchooloCadre)o(Group-C)oRecruitmentoRules,o2018,oasoamended.oItowasoalsoo submittedo thato sinceo theo advertisemento requiredo lowero qualification,o therefore,oallowingotheocandidatesowithohigheroqualificationotoocompeteoforo theopost,owhileotheoRulesoexclusivelyomandatedoloweroqualification,owouldobeo inoviolationoofotheoadvertisementoandocreateounjustodisparities.oSheoreliedo uponotheojudgmentopassedobyoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoMaharashtrao PublicoServiceoCommissionovsoSandeepoShriramoWaradeo2019o(6)oSCCo362o ando theo judgmento ofo Fullo Bencho ofo thiso Courto ino Somo Dutto vso Stateo ofo Haryanao2oILRo(1984)o(1)oPBo&oHy.o400.oSheoalsooreferredotootheojudgmento passedoinoDeveshoSharmaovsoUnionoofoIndiaoandootherso2023oINSCo704,o whereino theo Apexo Courto dido noto approveo theo B.Edo qualificationo foro appointmentotootheopostoofoPrimaryoSchooloTeacher.oo

7.o o Weo haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo caveatoro too.o Heo submittedothatotheoqualificationoofoBacheloroofoElementaryoEVdARuINcDaERtgiSoINnGoHhaso CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4-

beenodulyorecognizedoasooneoofotheorequisiteoqualificationsoforoappointment,o recognizingo B.El.Ed.o aso equivalento too Diplomao ino Elementaryo Education.o LearnedocounselosubmitsothatotheoNCTEoisotheorecognizedoCouncilounderotheo NCTEoAct,osooasotoodeclareoequivalentoqualificationsoforotheoappointmentoofo teachersoofovariousolevels.oVideonotificationodatedo22.08.2010,otheocoursesoofo BacheloroofoElementaryoEducationoandoDiplomaoinoElementaryoEducationo haveobeenodulyorecognizedobyotheoNCTEoasoequivalentoforotheopurposeoofo appointmento aso Junioro Basico Teacher,o i.e.o theo postso whicho hado beeno advertisedo video theo advertisemento datedo 16.01.2024o and,o therefore,o theo Tribunalo haso rightlyo directedo thato B.El.Edo qualificationo beo consideredo aso sufficientoforotheopurposeoofoappointmentotootheosaidoposts.oo

8.o o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato theo respondentso haveo alreadyo participatedoinotheoprocessoofoselectionoandohaveobeenodulyoselected.oItohaso alsoobeenoinformedothatoChandigarhoAdministrationohasorealisedoitsomistakeo andohasoalreadyoissuedocircularodatedo16.02.2024owithotheoinstructionsoforo framing/amendingotheorecruitmentorulesoinoconformityowithotheoNCTE.oo

9.o o Weo haveo consideredo theo submissionso aso madeo byo learnedo counseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedotheoordersopassedobyotheoTribunal.oo

10.o o Comingotootheofactsoofotheseocases,oinitiallyotheopostoofoJBTo requiredoaocandidateotoopossessoMatriculationowithoJBTocertificate.oHowever,o afterotheoNationaloCounciloforoTeacheroEducationoActocameointooforce,otheo qualificationsorequiredoforofillingoupotheopostohaveotoobeoinoconsonanceowitho theoNCTEoAct.oThus,otheoamendmentsowereomadeoinotheoRulesoaccordinglyo fromotimeotootime.o CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5-

11.o o Ino Devesho Sharma'so caseo (supra),o theo advertisemento datedo

11.01.2021oissuedobyotheoBoardoofoSecondaryoEducation,oStateoofoRajasthan,o excludedo B.Ed.o degreeo holderso fromo theo listo ofo eligibleo candidateso foro participatingo ino RTETo Level-1o examo waso challenged.o Anothero batcho ofo petitionersoholdingoDiplomaoinoElementaryoEducationo(D.El.Ed.)ochallengedo theoinclusionoofoB.Ed.oqualifiedocandidatesoforotheopostoofoteachersoatoprimaryo leveloinotheonotificationodatedo28.06.2018oissuedobyotheoNCTE.oTheoSupremeo Courtodistinguishedotheorequirementoinoimpartingoeducationotooprimaryolevelo students,osecondaryoandohigherosecondaryolevelostudentsoandoheldothatothereo wasonoooccasionoforoinclusionoofoB.Ed.ocandidatesoforoprimaryoclassesoando heldoasounder:-o "Ito iso thereforeo clearo thato ao B.Ed.o courseo iso noto designedoforoteachingoatoprimaryolevel.o Moreover,o theo inclusiono ofo B.Ed.o candidateso foro primaryoclassesoisoinotheoteethoofoseveralodecisionsoofothiso Court,oasothisoCourtohasoconsistentlyoheldothatoDiplomao inoelementaryoeducationo(D.El.Ed.)oandonotoB.Ed.,oisotheo properoqualificationoinoPrimaryoSchools."o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoproceedofurtherotooholdoasounder:-o "27.o B.Ed.oisonotoaoqualificationoforoteachersoato Primaryoleveloofoschooling.oTheopedagogicaloskillsoando trainingorequiredofromoaoteacheroatoPrimaryoleveloisonoto expectedofromoaoB.Ed.otrainedoteacher.oTheyoareotrainedo tooteachoclassesoatohigherolevel,opostoprimary,osecondaryo andoabove.oForoprimaryoleveloi.e.oclassoIotooclassoVotheo trainingo iso D.El.Ed.o oro whato iso knowno aso diplomao ino elementaryo education.o Ito iso ao D.El.Ed.o trainingo courseo whicho iso designedo ando structuredo too imparto skillso ino ao teacherowhooisotooteachoPrimaryoleveloofostudents.o CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-6-

Therefore,obyoimplicationotheoinclusionoofoB.Ed.oaso aoqualificationoamountsotooloweringodownoofotheo'quality'o ofo educationo ato Primaryo level.o 'Quality'o ofo educationo whicho waso sucho ano importanto componento ofo theo entireo elementaryo educationo movemento ino thiso country,o whicho weohaveodiscussedoinotheoprecedingoparagraphsoofothiso order."o

12.o o Sectiono12AoofotheoNCTEoActowasoexaminedobyotheoApexoCourto inoDeveshoSharma'socaseo(supra)oalongowithoSectionso29oofotheoNCTEoActo ando23oofotheoRTEoActoandowasoheldothatotheoNCTEoisoboundotoofollowotheo directionsoofotheoCentraloGovernment.oTheorelevantofromotheojudgmentoofo Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoisoextractedoasounder:-o "TheoNCTEoisoboundotoofollowotheodirectionsoofotheo CentraloGovernmentoinothisoregardoandotheodirectionoino theopresentocaseowasotooincludeoB.Ed.oasoaoqualificationo foroteachersoinoprimaryoschool,owhichohasobeenodoneobyo NCTEo througho notificationo datedo 28.06.2018,o areo theo submissionoofotheolearnedocounseloforotheoappellantsoaso welloasothatoofotheolearnedoASGoMs.oAishwaryaoBhatioono behalfo ofo theo Uniono ofo India.o Moreover,o aso pero sub-Sectiono (2)o ofo Sectiono 29,o theo decisiono ofo theo Centralo Governmentoasotoowhatoconstitutesoaopolicyodecisionowillo ultimatelyomatter,oisoalsootheoargument."o xxxo o o o xxxo o o xxxo Ao policyo decisiono whicho iso totallyo arbitrary;o contraryotootheolaw,ooroaodecisionowhichohasobeenotakeno withoutoproperoapplicationoofomind,ooroinototalodisregardo oforelevantofactorsoisoliableotoobeointerferedowith,oasothato alsoo iso theo mandateo ofo lawo ando theo Constitution.o Thiso aspectohasobeenoreiteratedobyothisoCourtotimeoandoagain."o o CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-7-

13.o o Ino Stateo ofo Maharashtrao vso Santo Dnyaneshwaro Shikshano ShastraoMahavidyalayaoandootherso2006o(9)oSCCo1,otheoSupremeoCourto heldoasounder:-o "62.o Fromo theo aboveo decisions,o ino ouro judgment,o theo lawo appearsotoobeoveryowellosettled.oSoofaroasoco-ordinationoando determinationoofostandardsoinoinstitutionsoforohigheroeducationo ororesearch,oscientificoandotechnicaloinstitutionsoareoconcerned,o theo subjecto iso exclusivelyo coveredo byo Entryo 66o ofo Listo Io ofo Scheduleo VIIo too theo Constitutiono ando Stateo haso noo powero too encroachouponotheolegislativeopoweroofoParliament.oItoisoonlyo whenotheosubjectoisocoveredobyoEntryo25oofoListoIIIoofoScheduleo VIIo too theo Constitutiono thato thereo iso ao concurrento powero ofo ParliamentoasowelloasoStateoLegislaturesoandoappropriateoActo cano beo byo theo Stateo Legislatureo subjecto too limitationso ando restrictionsounderotheoConstitution.o

63.o Inotheoinstantocase,oadmittedly,oParliamentohasoenactedo 1993oAct,owhichoisoinoforce.oTheoPreambleoofotheoActoprovideso foroestablishmentoofoNationaloCounciloforoTeacheroEducationo

(NCTE)o witho ao viewo too achievingo plannedo ando coordinatedo developmento ofo theo teacher-educationo systemo throughouto theo country,otheoregulationoandoproperomaintenanceoofonormsoando standardso ino theo teacher-o educationo systemo ando foro matterso connectedo therewith.o Witho ao viewo too achievingo thato object,o NationaloCounciloforoTeacheroEducationohasobeenoestablishedo atofouroplacesobyotheoCentraloGovernment.oItoisothusoclearothato theo fieldo iso fullyo ando completelyo occupiedo byo ano Acto ofo ParliamentoandocoveredobyoEntryo66oofoListoIoofoScheduleoVII.oIto is,otherefore,onotoopenotootheoStateoLegislatureotooencroachoupono theosaidofield.oParliamentoaloneocouldohaveoexercisedotheopowero byomakingoappropriateolaw.oInotheocircumstances,oitoisonotoopeno tooStateoGovernmentotoorefuseopermissionorelyingoonoaoStateoActo oroono'policyoconsideration'.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-

68.o Inoviewoofotheofact,ohowever,othatoaccordingotoous,otheo finaloauthorityoliesowithoNCTEoandoweoareosupportedoinotakingo thatoviewobyovariousodecisionsoofothisoCourt,oNCTEocannotobeo deprivedo ofo itso authorityo oro powero ino takingo ano appropriateo decisionounderotheoActoirrespectiveoofoabsenceoofoNooObjectiono CertificateobyotheoStateoGovernment/oUnionoTerritory.oAbsenceo oro non-productiono ofo NOCo byo theo institution,o therefore,o waso immaterialo ando irrelevanto soo faro aso theo powero ofo NCTEo iso concerned."o

14.o o InoMaaoVaishnooDevioMahilaoMahavidyalayaovsoStateoofoUttaro Pradesho ando otherso 2013o (2)o SCCo 617,o theo Supremeo Courto whileo consideringotheorequirementoofoestablishmentoofoNCTEoandotheoneedoforoao councilotoomaintainohigherostandardsoofoeducationoinoteachersotrainingowaso noticedoandonecessityooforecognitionoofocoursesobyoanyoinstitution/oNCTE,o therefore,owasoheldotoobeoessential.oRecognitionoofocourses,othus,ohasobeeno heldotoobeoinoexclusiveodomainoofotheoNCTE.oItohasobeenoheldoasounder:-oo "59.o Theo aboveo enunciatedo principleso clearlyo showo thato theo CounciloisotheoauthorityoconstitutedounderotheoCentraloActowitho theo responsibilityo ofo maintainingo educationo ofo standardso ando judgingo upono theo infra-structureo ando facilitieso availableo foro impartingosuchoprofessionaloeducation.oItsoopinionoisoofoutmosto importanceo ando shallo takeo precedenceo overo theo viewso ofo theo Stateo aso wello aso thato ofo theo University.o Theo concernedo DepartmentoofotheoStateoandotheoaffiliatingoUniversityohaveoao roleotooplayobutoitoisolimitedoinoitsoapplication.oTheyocannotolayo downoanyoguidelineooropolicyowhichowouldobeoinoconflictowitho theoCentralostatuteoorotheostandardsolaidodownobyotheoCentralo body.o Stateo cano frameo itso policyo foro admissiono too sucho professionalo courseso buto sucho policyo againo haso too beo ino conformityowithotheodirectivesoissuedobyotheoCentralobody.oInotheo presentocases,othereoisonotomuchoconflictoonothisoissue,obutoito needsotoobeoclarifiedothatowhileotheoStateograntsoitsoapproval,o andoUniversityoitsoaffiliation,oforoincreasedointakeoofoseatsooro CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-

commencementoofoaonewocourse/college,oitsodirectionsoshouldo notooffendoandobeorepugnantotoowhatohasobeenolaidodownoinotheo conditionso foro approvalo grantedo byo theo Centralo authorityo oro Council.oWhatoisomostoimportantoisothatoallotheseoauthoritieso haveo too worko ado idemo aso theyo allo haveoao commono objecto too achieveoi.e.oofoimpartingoofoeducationoproperlyoandoensuringo maintenanceo ofo propero standardso ofo education,o examinationo andoinfrastructureoforobettermentoofoeducationalosystem.oOnlyoifo allotheseoauthoritiesoworkoinoaocoordinatedomanneroandowitho cooperation,owillotheyobeoableotooachieveotheoveryoobjectoforo whichoallotheseoentitiesoexist.o

60.o oTheoNCTEoActohasobeenoenactedobyotheoParliamentowitho referenceo too Entryo 66o ofo Listo Io ofo Scheduleo VIIo ofo theo Constitution.oThereoisonoosuchospecificopowerovestedoinotheoStateo LegislatureounderoListoIIoofotheoSeventhoSchedule.oEntryo25oofo ListoIIIoofotheoSeventhoScheduleoisotheootheroEntryothatoprovideso theo fieldo foro legislationo botho too theo Stateo ando theo Centre,o ino relationo too education,o includingo technicalo education,o medicalo educationoandoUniversities;ovocationaloandotechnicalotrainingo andolabour.oTheofieldoisoprimarilyocoveredobyotheoUnionoListo andothus,otheoStateocanoexerciseoanyolegislativeopoweroundero Entryo 25,o Listo IIIo buto sucho lawo cannoto beo repugnanto too theo Centralolaw.oWhereverotheoStateolawoisoirreconcilableowithotheo Centralo law,o theo Stateo Lawo musto giveo wayo ino favouro ofo theo Centralolawotootheoextentooforepugnancy.o Thiso willoshowo theo supremacyo ofo theo Centralo lawo ino relationo too professionalo education,oincludingotheoteacherotrainingoprogrammes.o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo

66.o FromotheoaboveoconsistentoviewoofothisoCourtoitoisoclearo thatowhereverotheofieldoisocoveredobyotheoParliamentaryolawoino termso ofo Listo Io ando Listo III,o theo lawo madeo byo theo Stateo Legislatureo would,o too theo extento ofo repugnancy,o beo void.o Ofo course,othereohasotoobeoaodirectoconflictobetweenotheolaws.oTheo directo conflicto iso noto necessarilyo too beo restrictedo too theo CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-

obedienceoofooneoresultingoinodisobedienceoofootherobutoeveno whereotheoresultoofooneowouldobeoinoconflictowithotheoother.oItoiso difficulto too stateo anyo oneo principleo thato wouldo uniformlyo beo applicableotooallocasesooforepugnancy.oItowillohaveotoobeoseenoino theofactsoofoeachocaseowhileokeepingoinomindotheolawsowhichoareo inoconflictowithoeachoother.oWhereotheofieldoisooccupiedobyotheo Centre,osubjectotootheoexceptionsostatedoinoArticleo254,otheoStateo lawowouldobeovoid."o

15.o o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoreiteratedotheosameopositionoofolawo inotheocaseoofoStateoofoRajasthanovsoLBSoB.Ed.oCollegeo2016o(16)oSCCo110,o andoheldoasounder:-o "14.o oAsoweofindofromotheoaforesaidoauthoritiesoasowelloasotheo RegulationsoframedobyotheoNCTE,otheoStateohasoaosay,omayobeoao limitedoone.oWeoareoinclinedotoouseotheowordo'limited'obecauseo theoState'sosayoisonotobindingoonotheoNCTE.oHowever,otheoNCTEo isorequiredotootakeotheosameointooconsideration,oforotheoStateohaso ao vitalo roleo too offero propero commentso supportedo byo dueo reasoning.o Ito needso noo specialo emphasiso too sayo thato finalo authorityorestsowithotheoNCTE.oItoisotheoclearolegaloposition."o

16.o o WeofindothatotheoRightoofoChildrenotooFreeoandoCompulsoryo Educationo Act,o 2009,o commonlyo knowno aso RTEo Act,o mandateso freeo ando compulsoryoeducationoforochildrenoagedo6-14oyearsoandotheoNationaloCouncilo foro Teachero Educationo (NCTE)o laido downo theo minimumo qualificationo foro teachersoofovariousoclasses.oo

17.o o WeoalsoofindothatotheopostoofoJBT,oi.e.oJunioroBasicoTeacher,o requiredo theo qualification,o aso noticedo above.o However,o theo NCTE,o video notificationodatedo23.08.2010,oissuedoinotermsoofotheopowersoexercisedoundero Sub-sectiono (1)o ofo sectiono 23o ofo theo RTEo Act,o laido downo theo minimumo qualificationoforoteachers,owhoowouldoteachoClassoIotooVoasounder:-o CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-

"(i)o ClassesoI-Vo o

(a)lSenioroSecondaryo(oroitsoequivalent)owithoatoleasto50%omarkso ando2-o yearo Diplomao ino Elementaryo Educationo (byo whatevero nameoknown)o ORo o SenioroSecondaryo(oroitsoequivalent)owithoatoleasto45%omarkso ando2o–oyearoDiplomaoinoElementaryoEducationo(byowhatevero nameo known),o ino accordanceo witho theo NCTEo (Recognitiono NormsoandoProcedure),oRegulationso2002o o ORo o SenioroSecondaryo(oroitsoequivalent)owithoatoleasto50%oando4o–o yearoBacheloroofoElementaryoEducationo(B.El.Ed.)o ORo SenioroSecondaryo(oroitsoequivalent)owithoatoleasto50%oando2o–o yearoDiplomaoinoElementaryo(SpecialoEducation)o o ANDo o

(b)lPassoinotheoTeacheroEligibilityoTesto(TET),otoobeoconductedobyo theoappropriateoGovernmentoinoaccordanceowithotheoGuidelineso framedobyotheoNCTEoforotheopurpose."o o Thatoapart,oitowasoprovidedoasounder:-o "5.o TeacheroappointedoafterotheodateoofothisoNotificationoino certaino cases.-o Whereo ano appropriateo Government,o oro localo authorityooroaoschoolohasoissuedoanoadvertisementotooinitiateotheo processo ofo appointmento ofo teacherso prioro too theo dateo ofo thiso Notification,o sucho appointmentso mayo beo madeo ino accordanceo withotheoNCTEo(DeterminationoofoMinimumoQualificationoforo Recruitmento ofo Teacherso ino Schools)o Regulations,o 2001o (aso amendedofromotimeotootime)."o Thus,oitowasoincumbentoonotheoChandigarhoAdministrationotoohaveoadoptedo ando framedotheiro Ruleso inoconformityo witho theo notificationoissuedo byo theo NCTEoinotermsoofotheoRTEoActoandoaodepartureocouldonotohaveobeenomadeo whileoissuingotheoadvertisement.oo CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-

18.o o Therefore,o whatoiso essentialoisothatoao candidateo musto possesso knowledgeoinoElementaryoEducation.oThereoareotwoodifferentoqualificationso whichohaveobeenoallowedoforotheosaidopurposeoi.e.oDiplomaoinoElementaryo EducationooroBacheloroinoElementaryoEducationobyoNCTE.o Afterocomingo intooforceoofotheoaforesaidoRegulationsoofo2010,oitowasonecessaryoforotheoStateo andoUToAuthoritiesotoohaveoframedotheiroRulesoinoconformityowithotheoRTEo ActoandoNCTEoAct.oDefaultoonotheopartoofotheoChandigarhoAdministrationo cannoto giveo anyo advantageo too ao particularo individual.o Theo contentiono ofo learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersobasedoonoDeveshoSharma'socaseo(supra)oiso whollyo misconceived.o Theo factso ofo theo caseo ofo Devesho Sharma'so areo completelyodifferent.oo

19.o o Havingonoticedotheoabove,oinotheopresentocase,oitoisoapparentothato theo Chandigarho Administration,o thougho ino theo subsequentlyo issuedo Drafto Rules,owhichoareoyetotoobeonotified,ohasoincorporatedotheoqualificationoofo B.El.Ed.oo

20.o o Inoorderotoomaintainouniformityoandotooremoveotheoambiguity,o butoweomustoreadodownotheoadvertisementotooincludeoB.El.Edoapartofromo D.El.Ed.otoobeoequaloqualificationoforotheopurposeoofoappointmentoasoJBTo Teacherowithotheosoleopurposeotoosaveotheoadvertisementoandotheoselectionso whicho haveo alreadyo beeno made.o Theo Courto musto alwayso attemptedo too harmonizeotheoprovisionsoofolawoinoorderotoosaveotheoselectionsowhichohaveo alreadyobeenoconducted.oWeofindothatotheoapplicantsoinoOAsohaveoalreadyo participatedoinotheoselectionoprocessoandohaveoalsoobeenoplacedoinotheoselecto list.oo

21.o o Inotheofactsoofotheocase,oweoaffirmotheojudgmentopassedobyotheo CentraloAdministrativeoTribunal.oNoocaseoforointerferenceoisomVaARdINeDoEoRguSINt.GoHTheo CWPoNo.o1922oofo2025oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-

writopetitionsoare,oaccordingly,odismissed.oo

22.o o Theorespondents,ooriginaloapplicants,oshallonowobeoconsideredoino termsoofotheodirectionsogivenobyotheoTribunal.oTheoexerciseoforoconsiderationo ofo theiro appointmento shallo beo completedo withino ao periodo ofo twoo monthso henceforth.oo

23.o o Allopendingoapplicationsostandodisposedoof.oo

24.o o Noocosts.o o o o o o o o o (SANJEEVoPRAKASHoSHARMA)o o o o o o o o o oooJUDGEoo o o th7 oMay,o2025o o o o oooooooo(MEENAKSHIoI.oMEHTA)o vso o o o o o o o ooooJUDGEoo Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Noo