Haryana Public Service Commission v. Pardeep Kumar and Others

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o

1.lLPA-1397-2025o(O&M)o rdReservedoono3 September,o2025o rdDateoofoDecision:o3 oNovember,o2025o o HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/Soo PARDEEPoKUMARoANDoOTHERSo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

2.lLPA-1827-2025o(O&M)o HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So HIMANSHUoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

3.lLPA-1828-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So KALPANAoYADAVoANDoOTHERSo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

4.lLPA-1829-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So MAMTAoo o o o o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

5.l LPA-1830-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So ABHISHEKoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

6.l LPA-1831-2025o(O&M)oo PUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o o o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So RASHMIoYADAVoALIASoRASHMIoHIRALALoYADAVoANDoOTHERSoo o …....Respondent(s)o o o

7.l LPA-1832-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So NACHITAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

8.l LPA-1833-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So SURBHIoANDoANOTHERoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

9.l LPA-1845-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So MINUoYADAVoANDoOTHERSoo o o o o ....Respondent(s)o o o

10.lLPA-1846-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So BHARTIoSHAKLAoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

11.lLPA-1847-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So ANSHULoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

12.lLPA-1848-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So DEEPIKAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

13.lLPA-1850-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So NEELAMoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

14.lLPA-1853-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So ANJALYoANDoOTHERSooo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

15.lLPA-1855-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So VIPINoSINGLAoANDoOTHERSooo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

16.lLPA-1857-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So PRIYANKAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

17.lLPA-1858-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So SHABNAMoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

18.lLPA-1859-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So POOJAoYADAVoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

19.lLPA-1860-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So ATULoKUMARoANDoOTHERSooo o o …....Respondent(s)o o o o o o

20.lLPA-1861-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So AAMIRoSUHAILoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

21.lLPA-1862-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So SONAMoSAINIoANDoOTHERSooo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

22.lLPA-1840-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So PROMILAoYADAVoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o o

23.lLPA-1841-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So KALPANAoYADAVoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

24.lLPA-1852-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So ANUJoANDoOTHERSoo o o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

25.lLPA-1854-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So JYOTIoANDoNOTHERoo o o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

26.lLPA-1856-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONo o …..oAppellant(s)o o o o o o o V/So LALITAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o o …o ....Respondent(s)o o

27.lLPA-1864-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So BHANUoKUMARoPANCHALoANDoANOTHERoo …....Respondent(s)o o o

28.lLPA-1865-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So BERKHAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

29.lLPA-1867-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So KARUNAoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o o o o

30.lLPA-1869-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So MANJEEToKUMARoANDoOTHERSoo o o …....Respondent(s)o o

31.lLPA-1877-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So PRIYAoANDoANOTHERooo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

32.lLPA-1883-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So POONAMoANDoOTHERSoo o o o …....Respondent(s)o o

33.lLPA-1396-2025o(O&M)oo HARYANAoPUBLICoSERVICEoCOMMISSIONoo o …..oAppellant(s)o V/So NEHAoDHIMANoANDoANOTHERo o o …....Respondent(s)o

CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRAo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoKULDEEPoTIWARIo o ARGUEDoBYo:-o o Present:o Mr.oLokeshoSinhal.oSr.oAddl.oA.G.,oHaryanaowithoo Mr.oKanwaloGoyal,oMs.oSheenaoDahiyaoandoMs.oKomaloKlana,o Advocatesoforoappellants-HPSC.o o Mr.oD.S.oPatwalia,oSr.oAdvocateoassistedobyoo Ms.oSeharoNavjeetoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheorespondentsoo inoLPA-1397-2025.o o Mr.oAmitoJhanji,oSr.oAdvocateoassistedobyo Mr.oSarthakoGupta,oMr.oArjunoSingh,oAdvocate,oo Mr.oAbhishekoPremi,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.1oinoLPAoNos.o1855,1852,1859,o1831,o1841,o 1860,o1848,o1862oando1833oofo2025,o fororespondentsoNo.1o&2oinoLPAoNos.o1827,o1853o&o1856oofo2025,o fororespondentsoNo.1otoo9oinoLPAoNo.1869oofo2025,o fororespondentoNo.2oinoLPAoNo.1847oofo2025,o fororespondent-MamtaoinoLPAoNo.1829oofo2025,oo fororespondentsoNo.o5,7,o10otoo16,o18otoo20,o22otoo29,o31otoo32,o 34otoo48,o50otoo70,o72otoo111,o113otoo120,o122otoo129,o131otoo 135,o137otoo143,o145otoo171,o173otoo177oinoLPAoNo.2451oofo 2025oandoo fororespondentsoNo.o649,o650,o653,o692,o703,o708,o743,o772,o 774,o777,o785,o788,790,806,807,o822,o827,838,o864,869,o874,o 878,888,o890,o894,o899,o906,o911,o916,o920,o937,o946,o1009,o o o o

1014,o1044,o1048,o1064,o1074,o1089,o1091,o1102,o1022,o1026,o 1144,o1161,o1173,o1192,o1219,o1235,o1239,o1241,o1250,o1253,o 1256,o1258,o1280,o1297,o1330,o1342,o1374,o1379,1398,o1413,o 1417,o1418,o1431,o1440,o1449,o1456,o1462,o1464,o1475,o1492,o 1499,o1500,o1518,o1522,o1529,o1531,o1533,o1537,o1544,o1548,o 1550,o1551,o1555,o1557,o1578,o1591,o1597,o1603,1617,o1627,o 1635,o1637,o1640,o1641,o1644,o1662,o1665,o1679,o1689,o1697,o 1702,o1712,o1727oinoCWPoNo.17396oofo2025.o o Mr.oKamaloKumaroMoroandoMr.oAjayoPutter,oAdvocates,o fororespondentsoLPA-1858-2025.o o Mr.oAkshayoJindaloandoMr.oBhavyaoVats,oAdvocateoforotheo respondentoinoLPA-1396-2025.o o Mr.oHarkiratoSinghoandoMr.oVikramoSingh,oAdvocatesoforotheo respondentoinoLPA-1847-2025.o o Mr.oBalrajoSinghoRatheeoandoMr.oVijayoDeepoRathee,oAdvocateso fororespondent-PriyankaoinoLPA-1827-2025.o o Ms.oInduoBalaoandoMs.oAnjuoBansal,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.1oinoLPA-1854-2025.o o Mr.oDixitoGarg,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.1oinoLPA-1864-2025.o o Mr.oParveenoKumaroRohilla,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.1-inoLPA-1830-2025o o Mr.oAnkuroKaushik,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoinoLPA-1877-2025.o o Mr.oNamanoJain,oAdvocateoandoo Mr.oAneeshoSharma,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.10oinoLPA-1396-2025.o o Mr.oKamaloMor,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoinoLPA-1858-2025.o o Mr.oMazlishoKhan,oAdvocateoo fororespondentsoNo.o1otoo3oinoLPA-1861-2025.o o o ******o o ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA,oJ.oo o

1.l TheseobunchoofoAppealso ariseso outo ofo aocompositeojudgmento datedo15.02.2025,opassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoBenchoinoaobunchoofoWrito o o o

Petitionso whereino ao directiono iso issuedo too theo Haryanao Publico Serviceo Commissiono(hereinafteroreferredotooaso"theoCommission")otooaccordobenefito ofo reservationo too theo writo petitionerso ono theo basiso ofo theiro respectiveo certificatesoofodifferentocategoriesoi.e.oBC(A),oBC(B)oandoEWSosubmittedo aftero theo lasto dateo fixedo foro filingo sucho certificates,o alongo witho theiro applications,opursuantotootheoadvertisement.oSlightovarianceoinofactsoinotheo caseoofotheopetitioner,onamely,o'NehaoDhiman'owasonoticedoandodealto with,oseparatelyobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,oUltimately,otheoordersoofo theoCommissionoholdingotheopetitionersoineligible,owereosetoasideoandoallo theopetitionsowereoallowed.o

2.l Theo recordso revealo thato theo Commissiono issuedo ano advertisemento No.16/2024o ono 21.06.2024,o invitingo applicationso foro appointmento too 805o postso ofo Ayurvedico Medicalo Officerso (Groupo B)o ino Healtho&oAyushoDepartment,oHaryana.oTheoadvertisementocontainedovariouso detailsorequiredofromotheocandidatesoasoalsootheoprescriptionoofoqualificationo ando specifiedo theo dateo foro commencemento ofo submissiono ofo onlineo applicationsoaso"22.06.2024"oandoclosingodateospecifiedowaso"12.07.2024"oato 5o P.M.o Theo instructionso accompanyingo theo advertisemento specifiedo thato candidatesowereotooregisteroonlineoonotheoCommission'sowebsiteoinoorderotoo submitotheiroapplicationoforms.oAfteroregistration,otheyowereotoocreateoaologino IDoandocompleteotheoregistrationoprocessousingotheologinocredentials.oForotheo purposesoofoauthenticationoofocandidate,oParivaroPehchanoPatrao(PPP),oAdharo CardoandoVirtualoIDo(VID)owereoadmissible.oAfteroregistration,otheocandidateo couldoapplyoasoperotheiroqualifications.o o o o

3.l Theodulyofilledoapplication-formocouldobeosubmittedoonlyoaftero paymentooforequisiteofee.oTheocandidates,oafteromakingopaymentooforequisiteo fee,owereorequiredotootakeoaoprint-outoofotheiroapplicationoformoandouploadotheo same,o aftero dulyo checkingo ando signingo itso contents.o Theo processo ofo submissionoofoapplicationsowasotoobeocompletedoonlyoafterouploadingoofodulyo signedo uploadedo applicationo formo byo theo candidates.o Theo lasto dateo foro submissionoofotheoapplicationowaso"12.07.2024".oRelevantoportionoofotheosaido advertisementoisoreproducedoasounder:-o "Item(s)o Timelineo DateoofoPublicationo 21.06.2024o Openingodateoforosubmissionoofoonlineoapplicationsoo 22.06.2024.o (OpeningoDate)o Closingodateoforosubmissionoofoonlineoapplicationsoo 12.07.2024o (ClosingoDate)o o

1.l XXXXXXo

2.l XXXXXXXo

3.l LATEoDATEoFORoRECEIPToOFoAPPLICATIONS:o Theo onlineo Applicationso cano beo submittedo upo too theo Closingo Dateotillo5:00oP.M.oTheoeligibleocandidatesoshallobeoissuedoano e-Admito Cardo wello beforeo theo commencemento ofo theo writteno test,oifoany.oTheoe-AdmitoCardowillobeomadeoavailableoonotheo websiteo http://hpsc.gov.in/en-us/o foro downloadingo byo theo candidates.oNooAdmitoCardowillobeosentobyopost."o o

4.l Clauseso 1o ando 6o ofo theo advertisemento whicho specifiedo theo eligibilityoforotheopostoasoalsootheoessentialoqualification,oreadsoasounder:-o "1.o CANDIDATESo TOo ENSUREo THEIRo ELIGIBILITYo FORo THEo POST:oo Theo candidateso applyingo foro theo posto shouldo ensureo thato theyo fulfilloalloeligibilityoconditionsoforotheopost.oTheiroadmissionotoo theo recruitmento processo willo beo purelyo provisionalo subjecto too satisfyingotheoprescribedoeligibilityoconditions.oMereoissuanceoofo e-Admito Cardo too theo candidateo willo noto implyo thato his/hero o o o

candidatureohasobeeno finallyoclearedobyotheoCommission.o Theo eligibilityo ofo ao candidateo witho referenceo too theo documentso submittedobyohim/heroisoassessedoonlyoafterotheocandidateohaso qualifiedoforotheointerview.o Note:oTheodecisionoofotheoCommissionowithoregardsotootheoeligibilityo ofoaocandidateoshallobeofinal."oo xxxxxxxxo

6.oESSENTIALoQUALIFICATIONS:o

(i)oo Ao degreeo ino Ayurvedico Systemo ofo Medicineo fromo anyo UniversityooroInstitutionorecognizedoofotheoGovernment.o

(ii)oo KnowledgeoofoHindioupotooMatricostandard.o Noteo1:o Candidateo shouldo beo registeredo witho Boardo ofo Ayurvedic/Unanio Systemo ofo Medicine,o Haryanao (Now,o IndianoMedicaloCounciloofoHaryana).o Note2:o

(i)l Theo eligibilityo ofo theo candidateo witho regardo too educationalo qualifications,o experienceo etc.o shallo beo determinedoonotheoClosingoDateofixedoforosubmissionoofo onlineoapplicationoforms.o

(ii)l Alloapplicantsomustofulfilotheoessentialorequirementsoofo theo posto ando othero conditionso stipulatedo ino theo advertisementoonotheoClosingoDate.oTheyoareoadvisedotoo satisfyo themselveso beforeo applyingo thato theyo possesso ato leastotheoessentialoqualificationsolaidodownoforotheoposts.o Nooenquiryoaskingoforoadviceoregardingoeligibilityowillobeo entertained.o

(iii)l Theo certificates/o documentso ino supporto ofo educationalo qualifications,oexperience,odomicile,ocaste,ocategoryoetc.o shouldobeopossessedobyotheocandidatesoonoorobeforeotheo ClosingoDate.oTheocertificatesoissuedoafterotheoClosingo Dateo willo noto beo acceptedo byo theo Commission.o Theo qualificationo whicho iso noto claimed/mentionedo byo theo candidateoinotheoonlineoapplicationoformowillonotobeotakeno intooconsiderationobyotheoCommission.oo o o o

(iv)l Theoimprovementoinomarksodoneobyoaocandidateoafterotheo ClosingoDateoshallonotobeoconsideredoforoanyopurposeoino thisorecruitment.o

(v)l Theoprescribedoessentialoqualificationsoareotheominimumo ando mereo possessiono ofo theo sameo doeso noto entitleo candidatesotoobeocalledoforointerview.o

(vi)l Ino theo evento ofo numbero ofo applicationso beingo large,o Commissionowilloadoptoshortlistingocriteriaotoorestrictotheo numbero ofo candidateso too beo calledo foro interviewo too ao reasonableo numbero byo anyo oro moreo ofo theo followingo methods:-o

(a)oo Ono theo basiso ofo percentageo ofo markso ofo theo candidateso ino theo minimumo educationalo qualificationo prescribedoinotheoadvertisement.o

(b)oo Ono theo basiso ofo percentageo ofo markso ofo theo candidateso ino differento educationalo qualifications,o witho weightageoasodecidedobyotheoCommission.o

(c)oo Onotheobasisoofodesirableoqualificationsooroanyooneo oro allo ofo theo desirableo qualificationso ifo moreo thano oneo desirableoqualificationoisoprescribed.o

(d)oo Onotheobasisoofohigheroeducationaloqualificationso thano theo minimum/essentialo qualificationo prescribedo ino theoadvertisement.o

(e)o Onotheobasisoofohigheroexperienceoinotheorelevanto fieldothanotheominimumoprescribedoinotheoadvertisement.o

(f)o Byo countingo experienceo beforeo oro aftero theo acquisitionoofominimum/essentialoqualifications.o

(g)o ByoholdingoaoRecruitmentoTest.o Theo candidateo should,o therefore,o mentiono allo his/hero qualificationso ando experienceo ino theo relevanto fieldo overo andoaboveotheominimumoqualifications."o (Emphasisosuppliedobyous)o o

5.l ItotranspiresothatoaowritopetitionowasofiledobeforeothisoCourtoaftero theolastodateofixed,oraisingotheogrievanceothatodueotoosomeotechnicaloglitchotheo o o o

onlineoapplicationoformoofotheopetitionerotherein,ocouldonotobeouploaded.oIno pursuanceo ofo theo observationso ofo thiso Court,o theo appellant-Commissiono issuedoaocorrigendumoextendingotheodateoforofilingoofotheoapplicationoformso th thfromo16 August,o2024otoo20 August,o2024.o

6.l Theoessentialoqualificationsoforotheopostoinoquestion,oreproducedo above,o containedo note(s)o whicho specifiedo thato theo eligibilityo ofo candidateo shallo beo determinedo ono theo closingo dateo fixedo foro submissiono ofo onlineo applicationoform.oEssentialorequirementsoofotheopostomustobeofulfilledoonotheo closingo date.o Theo certificates/documentso ino supporto ofo educationalo qualification,ocasteo certificateo etc.owereo toobeopossessedoonooro beforeo theo closingodate.oAnyoimprovementoinotheomarksosecuredoafterotheoclosingodateo wasonototoobeoconsideredofororecruitment.o

7.l Clauseo 11o ofo theo advertisemento providedo foro reservationo ando Sub-clauseso(i)otoo(iv)othereofoareorelevantoandoareoreproducedoasounder:-o

11.oRESERVATION:ooo

(i)oo Theo benefito ofo reservationo willo beo giveno onlyo too thoseooooooooooooooooooo SC/BC-A/BC-B/EWS/PwBD/ESMo categoryo candidateso whooareodomicilesoofoHaryanaoState.ooo

(ii)oo TheowomenocandidatesoseekingoreservationounderoSC/BC-A/BC-Bo categoryo areo requiredo too submito theo Casteo Certificateo issuedo byo theo Competento Authorityo fromo Parentalo Sideo (Father'so side)o only.o Ito shouldo beo notedo thatoCertificateofromoin-lawso(HusbandoSide)owillonotobeo entertained.ooo

(iii)oo Ito iso clarifiedo thato Stateo Governmento haso decidedo too specifyo theo criteriao foro exclusiono ofo personso witho theo Backwardo Classeso aso Creamyo Layer,o regardingo reservationoinoServiceoandoAdmissionoasoperonotificationo No.o 491-SW(1)o 2021o datedo 17.11.2021.o Therefore,o theo candidatesobelongingotooBC-A/BC-BocategoryoofoHaryanao o o o

areorequiredotooattacholatest/updatedoCertificateoasopero notificationo No.o 491-SW(1)2021o datedo 17.11.2021o &o Govt.o instructiono No.22/132/2013-IGS-IIIo datedo

22.03.2022o(availableoonotheowebsiteoofoC.S.oHaryanaoi.e.o http://csharyana.gov.in)o issuedo byo theo Competento Authorityoduringo2024-25oonly.o

(iv)oo CandidatesowhoohaveoinopossessionoofoOBCocertificate.o Theo candidateso areo advisedo too submito BC-A/BC-Bo certificateoasoperoinstructionsodetailedoabove."oo o

8.l Clauseo 13o ofo theo advertisemento relatedo too certificateo byo candidateobelongingotooEWSocategoryoofoHaryana,owhichoisoreproducedoaso under:-o "CertificateobyotheocandidatesobelongingotooEconomicallyoWeakero Sectiono(EWS)oofoHaryana:-o o

(i)l TheocandidatesobelongingotooEWSocategoryoofoHaryanao areorequiredotooattachonecessaryoCERTIFICATEoasopero HaryanaoGovt.oInstructionsoissuedovideoNo.o22/12/2019-1GS-IIIodatedo25.02.2019o(AvailableoonotheowebsiteoofoCSo Haryanao i.e.o http://csharyana.gov.in/o issuedo byo theo CompetentoAuthority.o

(ii)l TheoEWSocertificatesoshouldobeovalidoforotheoyearo2024-25o showingo annualo incomeo ofo theo familyo lesso thanoooooooooooooooooooo Rs.6oLacs."o o

9.l Specialoinstructionsoregardingosubmissionoofoapplicationsowereo specifiedounderoClauseo16oofotheoadvertisement,owhichointeroaliaorequiredotheo candidatesotooreadoalloinstructionsoandoproceduresocarefully,obeforeofillingotheo onlineoapplicationoformoandotoocheckoallotheoparticularsoinotheoformoaftero takingoaoprint-out,otooensureotheocorrectnessoofotheoparticularsofilledotherein.o Theocandidatesowereomandatorilyorequiredotoosignotheoapplicationoformoaftero checkingoallotheoparticularsoandothereafterouploadotheoscannedocopy.oItowaso o o o

alsooclearlyostatedothatoafterotheofinalosubmissionoofotheoapplicationoform,onoo changeowillobeoallowedoatoanyostage,oandotheocandidateowillobeoresponsibleo foroanyomistakeoinotheosame.oItowasofurtheroprovidedothatotheoapplicationoformo hado toobeouploadedoalongowithodocumentsospecifiedo inotheo advertisemento itself.oTheorelevantoprovisionsoofoClauseo16oareoextractedoasounder:o "16.oSpecialoInstructionsoRegardingoSubmissionoofoApplications:-o XXXo XXXo XXXo

(iii)o Candidateso areo advisedo too fillo theiro applicationo formso carefullyo sucho aso Name,o Father's/Mother'so name,o Dateo ofo Birth,o Category,o Aadharo Card,o Parivaro Pehchano Patrao

(PPP),oQualification,omarksoobtained,opassingoyear,ophoto,o Signature,odetailso&ofeeoetc.oTheocandidateoshouldomentiono theoCategoryotoowhichoheobelongs,oinotheoapplicationoform.o Afterofinalosubmissionoofoapplicationoform,onoochangeowillobeo allowedoandonoorequestoforochangeoofoanyoparticular/soinotheo onlineo applicationo formo shallo beo entertainedo byo theo Commissionoafterosubmissionoofoapplicationoform.o

(iv)oo Theo applicationo formo willo finallyo beo submittedo onlyo aftero payingo theo requisiteo applicationo fee.o Aftero finalo submissionoofoapplicationoform,o noochangeo willobeoallowedo andonoorequestoforochangeoofoanyoparticular(s)oinotheoonlineo applicationo formo willo beo consideredo /o entertainedo byo theo Commissionoatoanyostage.o XXXoXXXXoXXXXo XXXXoXXXXoXXXXo

(vii)l Candidateowillobeoresponsibleoforoanyomistakeoinotheo applicationoforoandofeesopaidobyohim/her.oInocaseocandidateo feelsothatohe/sheohasofilledoupotheoformoerroneously,ohe/sheo shouldofilloupoaofreshoonlineoapplicationoformoalongowithofreshl requisiteofeeobeforeotheoclosingodate.o XXXooooXXXooooooXXXo

(x)o DocumentsotoobeouploadedowithoApplicationoForms:o o o o

5.o ScannedoCopyoofoBC(A)oandoBC(B)ocertificateoshouldo beo issuedo foro theo yearo 2024-25o aso pero Govt.o Instructionsodatedo17.11.2021oando22.03.2022.o

6.oooooo ScannedocopyoofoEWSocertificateovalidoforoyearo2024-2025oasoperoGovt.oinstructionodatedo25.02.2019.o

11.o ScannedocopyoofoPrivaroPehchanoPatrao(ifoaocandidateo availingobenefitsooforeservation)…….."o o

10.l Sinceothereoisoaovarianceoinotheofactsoandoissuesoinvolvedoinotheo caseoofo theo writ-petitioner,o 'NehaoDhiman',o theo sameo shallobeo dealtowitho separately.o Aso regardso allo othero writ-petitioners,o ito transpires,o thato theyo appliedo pursuanto too theo advertisemento claimingo reservationo undero BC(A)/BC(B)oandoEWSocategory.oTheowritopetitioners,owhoohadoclaimedo reservationo undero BC(A)o ando BC(B)o categories,o hado noto appendedo theiro certificatesoofoNon-CreamyoLayeroasoperotheorequirementomandatedounderotheo advertisementoforotheoyearo2024-2025.oSimilarly,otheocandidatesobelongingotoo theoEWSocategory,ohadoalsoonotosubmittedotheiroEWSocertificatesoinotermsoofo Clauseo13oofotheoadvertisement.oo

11.l TheoCommission,otherefore,odidonototreatotheoapplicationsoofotheo petitionersoasovalidoapplications,ohowever,obeforeorejectingotheosame,oissuedoao noticeoono26.12.2024,otheocontentsowhereoforeadoasounder:-o "Kindlyoreferotooyouroonlineoapplicationoformoforotheoposto ofoAMO.oOnochecking/scrutinyoofoyouroonlineoapplicationoformotoo adjudgeo youro disability,o youro candidatureo haso foundo provisionallyoliableofororejectionodueotootheofollowingoreasons-o

1.l Youo haveo noto submittedo BAMSo Registrationo certificate,o whichoisorequiredoasoperotheoadvertisementoonoorobeforeo closingodateoofo12.07.2024.o

2.l Youohaveonotosubmittedotheomarksheetso&oDegreeoofoBAMS.o o o o

3.l YouohaveoattachedotheocertificateoofoBC(A)ocategoryodatedo

31.12.2019o aso pero theo Govt,o lettero No.o 1470-SW(1)-95o datedo07.06.1995,o22/36/2000-3GS-IIIodatedo09.08.2000o &oNd.o213-SW(L)-2010odatedo31.08,2010owhereasoasopero theoclauseo11o(ii)oofotheoadvertisement,otheocertificateoofo BC(A)ocategoryoisorequiredoasoperoGovt.onotificationoNo.o 491-SW(I)o2021odatedo17.11.2021o&oGovt:oinstructionoNoo 22/132/2013-1o GS-Io datedo 22.03.2022o duringo 2024-25o only.o Youo are,o therefore,o directedo too submito youro representation,o ifo any,o againsto youro proposedo rejectiono alongo withodocumentaryoproofolatestobyo03.01.2025oonoEmailoi.e.:Sr1-hpsc@hry.rovin,ofailingowhich,oitowillobeoassumedothatoyouohaveo nothingo too sayo againsto youro proposedo rejectiono ando youro candidatureowillofinallyobeorejected.oTheorepresentation'owithouto anyosupportingodocumentsoandoreceivedoafterotheodueodateo/otimeo willo noto beo consideredo byo theo Commissiono ando noo correspondenceo ino thiso regardo willo beo entertainedo byo theo Commission."o o

12.l Theo writo petitioners,o whoo hado noto annexedo theiro respectiveooooooooooooooooo BC(A),oBC(B)oandoEWSocertificatesoforotheoyearo2024-2025orespondedovideo theirorepresentationobyoclaimingoentitlementotootheoreservedocategoryoonotheo strengthoofocertificatesowhichowereoissuedotoothemoforotheopreviousoyears.oTheo writopetitioners,omoreover,oalsooannexedocasteocertificates,oissuedotoothemo aftero12.07.2024,oalongowithosuchorepresentation.oTheseocertificatesohaveonoto beenotakenointooconsiderationobyotheoCommissionoasotheyowereoissuedoaftero

12.07.2024,o whicho waso theo lasto dateo fixedo ino theo advertisemento foro entertainmentoofotheoapplication.oo

13.l Theotermsoofotheoadvertisementoprovidedothatotheoeligibilityoofoao candidateo wouldo beo examinedo onlyo ifo ao candidateo clearedo theo writteno o o o

examination.oAllotheopetitionersowereoallowedotooappearoinotheoexamination,o andotheyoclearedoit.oAsosuchotheoeligibilityoofoallotheowritopetitionersowaso examinedoafterotheyoclearedotheowrittenoexamination.oItowasoatothisostage,othato theoCommissionodeclaredotheowritopetitionersotoobeo"notoeligible"osinceotheiro applicationsowereonotofoundoinoorder.oTheowritopetitionersothenoapproachedo thiso Courto byo filingo Writo Petitions,o wherein,o interimo orderso wereo issuedo permittingo theo petitionerso too appearo ino theo interview.o Theo petitionerso consequentlyoappearedoinotheointerviewoandoinotermsoofotheointerimoorders,o postsowereokeptoreservedoforothem.oTheoWritoPetitionsoultimatelyocameotoobeo allowedobyotheolearnedoSingleoBenchovideotheoorderoimpugnedoinotheseobuncho ofoAppeals.oo

14.l Learnedo Singleo Judgeo haso allowedo theo claimo ofo theo writo petitionersoholdingothemoeligibleoinotermsoofotheoadvertisementoasowelloasotheo OfficeoMemorandumoissuedobyotheoStateoGovernmentoono22.03.2022.oo

15.l Theo Writo Petitioners,o beforeo theo learnedo Singleo Judge,o contendedothatotheocertificateorequiredotoobeosubmittedobyotheocandidateowaso onlyo theo documento evidencingo theo proofo ofo eligibilityo ando waso noto theo eligibilityoitself.o Itowaso urgedothatotheoeligibilityocertificateo isovalido foroao givenofinancialoyearoirrespectiveoofodateowhenosuchocertificateowasoissued.oIto was,otherefore,oarguedothatoifotheocandidateoisoinoaopositionotoosatisfyothato he/sheofulfillsotheorequisiteoNonoCreamyoLayerorequirementoforotheogiveno financialoyear,ohe/sheoshouldobeoconsideredounderotheorespectiveocategoryoino whicho theo applicationso wereo madeo ;o Clauseo 1o ofo theo advertisemento sinceo specifiedothatotheoeligibilityoofotheocandidateowithoreferenceotootheodocumentso submittedobyohim/heroisoassessedoonlyoafterotheocandidateoqualifiedoforotheo o o o

interview,otherefore,oitowasoarguedothatotheoclosingodateoforosubmissionoofo onlineoapplicationsowasonotosacrosanct.o

16.l Ito waso furthero contendedo thato aso pero theo backwardo classo certificateoappendedobyotheopetitionersoalongowithotheoapplication,otheouniqueo PPPonumberoIDohadobeenodulyomentionedotherein.oAttentionoofothisocourtoiso drawno too B.C.o "non-creamyo layer"o certificateo pertainingo too oneo ofo theo candidates,owhichoreflectsotheoPPPonumberoandospecificallyorecordsothatotheo saidocertificateohasobeenoissuedoasoperotheoHaryanaoStateoNotificationodatedo

17.11.2021o foro theo yearo 2023-24o ando thato theo sameo waso issuedo ono

07.04.2023.oTheosameowasofoundolackingoonlyoonotheoaspectoofobeingonon-compliantoofotheoinstructionsodatedo22.03.2022oissuedobyotheoGovernmentoofo Haryana,o ono theo subjecto mattero regardingo casteo certificateso includingo theo certificateso foro Scheduledo Caste,o Deprivedo Scheduledo Caste,o Backwardo Class,o Othero Backwardo Class,o Tapriwas,o Vimukto Jatio ando Nomadico tribeo througho theo Saralo portal.o Heo referso too Clauseo 4o ofo theo saido Governmento Instructions,owhichoreadsothus:o "4.oFurther,oitoisodirectedothatonooGovernmentoDepartmento ofoHaryanaoshalloobligateoanyoHaryanaoresidentotoosubmitocasteo relatedodocumentsoifohe/sheoprovidesoPPNoandohis/herocasteoando casteocategoryoisomarkedoasoverifiedoinoFamilyoInformationoDatao Repositoryo(FIDR)."o o

17.l oReferringotootheoabove,opetitionersocontendedothatoGovernmento ofoHaryanaohadonotifiedoallotheodepartmentsoincludingotheoPublicoServiceo CommissionoasowelloasotheoStaffoSelectionoCommission,othatoinotheoeventoao candidateoattachesohisoPPPoorogivesotheoPPonumber,otheoauthoritiesoorotheo departmentsoshallonotoobligateosuchoresidentotoosubmitoanyootherocasteorelatedo o o o

proof.oHeothusosubmitsothatotheopetitionersohadomentionedotheirouniqueoID/PPo numberoinotheoapplicationoformoandothatoallootherodetailsopertainingotootheiro casteoasowelloasotheiroeligibilityocriteriaowereoautomaticallyoavailableowithotheo Commission.oHence,osubmissionoofotheobackwardoclassocertificateowasoonlyoao duplicacyoofoanoinformation,onotwithstandingothatotheosaidoinformationowaso alreadyoavailableowithotheoCommission.o

18.l Furtherosubmissionoonobehalfoofotheowritopetitionersowasothato earlierotheocreamyolayeroincome/wealthocriteriaohadobeenofixedo@o6olakhsopero annumooroassetsoofoRs.1ocroreoandothatotheoincomeolimitohadoeventuallyobeeno enhancedotoo8olakhsoperoannumoasoperotheonewoinstructions.oHeothusosubmitso thato onceo theo petitionerso wereo alreadyo fulfillingo theo criteriao foro claimingo benefitounderotheobackwardoclasso'non-creamyolayer'ocategoryohavingotheiro annualoincomeobelowo6olakhs,otheyowereoinoanyocaseocomplaintowithotheo requirementoofohavingoanoincomeobelowo8olakhs.oHence,oitowasoonlyothatotheo backwardo classo 'non-creamyo layer'o certificateo waso too beo issuedo ino ao newo format.oThus,oformattingoofotheocertificateoshouldonotobeomadeoaobasisoforo rejectingoaocandidate,oespeciallyowhenothereoisonoodisputeowithorespectotootheo eligibilityootherwiseoonotheoclosingodate.o

19.l Ito haso furthero beeno arguedo thato theo respondent-Commissiono itselfoissuedoaonoticeotootheocandidatesowhoohadoappendedobackwardoclasso certificateopertainingotooaodifferentoyearoorowhereotheocertificateowasonotoaso perotheoformatoandograntedothemoanoopportunityotoosubmitoaorepresentationo andofororemovaloofodefects,oifoany.oOnceotheopetitionersohadorespondedotootheo saido requiremento ando furnishedo fresho eligibilityo documento ino theo proforma/formatoasoprescribedobyotheorespondent-authorities,othereowasonoo o o o

occasionofororejectionoofotheirocandidature.oTheosaidoactoonotheopartoofotheo respondent-Commissionoamountsotoodefeatingotheiroownodecisionoofocallingo fororepresentationobyogivingoaoshowocauseonoticeotoorectifyotheodefects.o

20.l Ito haso thereforeo beeno submittedo thato theo respondent-Commission,oasoaomatteroofopracticeoandopracticality,ohasobeenoadheringotoo theosameoprincipleouniformlyoforoalloselectionoprocessesoinitiatedoatodifferento pointso ino timeo byo themo earlier.o Referenceo iso alsoo madeo too theo selectiono processo pertainingo too theo Posto Graduateo Teacherso (PGTs)o (referredo too ino CWP-1902-2025)o whereino undero similaro circumstances,o theo noticeso wereo sento too theo candidateso conveyingo theo reasonso foro theiro tentativeo disqualificationoandothatoonotheocandidatesosubmittingotheirofreshocertificateso aso pero theo requiremento prescribed,o theiro candidatureo haso beeno consideredo valido ando theiro nameso hado beeno recommendedo byo theo respondent-Commissiono foro appointment.o Ito iso thuso submittedo thato theo respondent-o Commissionocannotoapplyotwoodifferentoyardsticksoonotheobasisoofodifferento vacanciesobeingoadvertisedoorotheoprocessoofoselectionoinitiatedobyothem.oTheo continuedopracticeothatohadobeenofollowedobyotheorespondent-Commissiono foro allo theo selectiono process(es)o undertakeno byo themo createso ao legitimateo expectationoinofavouroofotheoapplicantsoasowell,othatoaosimilaroopportunityoofo removingotheotechnicalodefectsoshalloalsoobeoextendedotoothemoandothatotheiro candidatureoshallonotobeorejectedosolelyoonothatoground.o

21.l Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionersofurtheroarguesothatotheo petitionersohaveootherwiseosecuredomoreomarksothanotheopersonsowhooareo nowolikelyotoobeorecommendedobyotheorespondent-oCommissiono(dueotootheo petitionersohavingobeenodeclaredoineligible),ohence,oequityoasowelloasomerito o o o

demandsothatotheopetitionersoshouldonotobeodeniedoanoopportunityoofopublico appointmentoonotheiroownomeritoinotheirorespectiveocategory,osolelyoonotheo accountoofocertainodefectsoespeciallyowhenotheosaidodefectsooroerrorsodoonotoino anyomannerocastoanyoaspersionoorodoubtoonotheofairnessoofotheoprocessoofo selection.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo validity/genuinenesso ofo theo documentso submittedobyotheopetitionersoremainsounchallengedoandounblemished.oHence,o ao meritoriouso candidateo shouldo noto beo ignoredo byo theo respondent-o Commissionotoogiveopreferenceotootheopersonsoloweroinotheoorderoofomerit.o Theosameowouldootherwiseobeoinoviolationoofomeritowhichogovernsopublico appointment.o

22.l Theo claimo ofo theo writo petitionerso waso resistedo byo theo Commissionoonotheogroundothatotheotermsoofoadvertisementowereobindingo upono theo writo petitionerso ando sinceo theyo hado noto furnishedo requisiteo documentsotooshowotheirostatusoasoBC(A),oBC(B)ooroEWSocategory,oasosuch,o theyocouldonotohaveoextendedotheobenefitooforeservationoinosuchocategory.oo

23.l TheoCommissionoalsooplacedorelianceouponovariousojudgmentso too contendo thato theo termso ofo advertisemento cannoto beo violatedo ando theo candidatesowhoohaveonotobeenoableotooproduceotheocertificates,oevidencingo theirorespectiveoreservedocategory,owouldonotobeoentitledotoobeoconsidered.o

24.l Learnedo Singleo Judge,o aftero consideringo theo respectiveo submissionsoadvancedobyotheorivaloparties,ocameotootheoconclusionothatotheo statuso ofo theo writo petitionerso aso personso belongingo too respectiveo reservedo categoryowasoclearlyoestablishedoandomerelyobecauseoproofoofoeligibilityowaso submittedo later,o ito wouldo noto beo appropriateo too denyo themo benefito ofo reservation.o o o o

25.l Thus,oaggrieved,otheoappellant-CommissionoisobeforeothisoCourt.o

26.l Onobehalfoofotheoappellant-Commission,oitoisoarguedothatotheo closingodateoforosubmissionoofoapplicationoinotheoadvertisementoisosacrosancto andolearnedoSingleoBenchohasoerredoinodiscardingosettledolegalopropositionoono thisoscore.oRelianceohasobeenoplacedouponotheotermsoofotheoadvertisementoino supportoofosuchosubmissions.oo

27.l Ito iso furthero contendedo thato theo benefito ofo reservationo too candidatesobelongingotooBC(A)/BC(B)ocategoryowasoavailableoonlyoifotheyo belongotooNon-CreamyoLayer.oTheodeterminationoofoNon-CreamyoLayeroiso withoreferenceotootheoincomeoofoaopersonoinoaoparticularofinancialoyear.oItois,o therefore,o urgedo thato unlesso theo certificateo issuedo ino theo yearo 2024-2025,o certifiedothatotheoincomeoofocandidateoisobelowotheospecifiedoamount/incomeo forofinancialoyearo2023-2024o(01.04.2023otoo31.03.2024)oitocannotobeosaido thatotheostatusoofoNon-CreamyoLayeroofotheocandidateocouldobeodetermined.oIto is,otherefore,osubmittedothatotheospecificationoofotheoyearoofoissuanceoofoao certificateoisoessentialoforodeterminingotheoreservedocategoryoofotheocandidateo ando theo Commissiono haso noto erredo ino insistingo upono sucho candidateso too furnisho theiro casteo certificate.o Sinceo theiro certificateso areo ofo ao subsequento date,oasosuch,otheyohaveorightlyobeenodiscardedofromoconsideration.o

28.l Relianceo iso placedo upono judgemento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo CourtoinoDivyaoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoOthers;o(2024)o1oSCCo448oasowelloaso theojudgmentoinoSakshioArhaoVs.oRajasthanoHighoCourtoandoOthers;o2025o SCCoOnlineo SCo 757o ando Mohito KumaroVs.oStateo ofo Uttaro Pradesho ando Others;o2025oSCCoOnlineoSCo1125.o o o o

29.l Mr.oD.S.oPatwalia,oSenioroAdvocate,oappearingoonobehalfoofotheo respondentsoinoLPA-1397-2025,oreliesouponotheojudgmentoofotheoSupremeo Courto ino Rajo Kumaro Gijroyao Vs.o Delhio Subordinateo Serviceso Selectiono Boardoandoanothero;(2016)o4oSCCo754oasowelloasojudgmentoofotheoSupremeo CourtoinoKaranoSinghoYadavoVs.oGovernmentoofoNCToofoDelhioandoOthers;o SLP(c)o No.o 14948o ofo 2016o decidedo ono 28.09.2022.o Ono theo strengtho ofo aforementionedojudgments,oitoisocontendedothatotheocandidatesohadoclearlyo establishedotheirostatusoasobelongingotootheoreservedocategoryoandomerelyo becauseotheoproofoofoeligibilityowasofurnishedoafterotheocut-offodate,oitowouldo notomeanothatotheyowouldonotobeoentitledotootheobenefitooforeservationoinotheo categoryoconcerned.o

30.l ItoisopertinentotooquoteoClauseo13o(xiii)oofotheonotificationodatedo

22.03.2022o issuedo byo theo Haryanao Government,o Generalo Administrationo DepartmentoinorespectoofovalidityoofoaoCasteoCertificateoforobasedoonocreamyo layerocriteria.oTheosameoreadsoasounder:-o Clauseo13o(xiii)oValidityoofoaoCasteoCertificate.oo

(i)l XXXXXXXo

(ii)l XXXXXo

(iii)l Certificateso whicho includeo incomeo and/oro assetso basedo informationolikeocreamyolayerocriteriaoshallobecomeoinvalido afterotheovalidityoperiodoprescribedoonotheosaidocertificate.o Sucho certificateso shallo beo valido foro theo currento financialo year,oi.e.otillocomingo31stoMarcho(included)ofromotheodateoito hasobeenoissued.oo

(iv)l XXXXX"o

31.l Recordsorevealothato805opostsoofoAyurvedicoMedicaloOfficerso cameo too beo advertisedo ono 21.06.2024o byo theo appellant-Commissiono video o o o

advertisementoNo.16oofo2024.oTheoadvertisementospecifiedotheoeligibilityoofo candidateoforoappointmentotootheopost.oItoalsoospecifiedothatotheoeligibilityoofo theocandidateowithoregardotooeducationaloqualification,oexperienceoetc.owouldo beodeterminedoonotheoclosingodateofixedoforoonlineoapplicationoform.oThiso date,oasoperotheoadvertisement,owaso12.07.2024.oNote-2oappendedotooClauseo6o ofotheoadvertisement,orelatingotoo"EssentialoQualifications"ospecifiedothatoallo applicantso musto fulfillo theo essentialo requiremento foro theo posto ando othero conditionsostipulatedoinotheoadvertisementoonotheoclosingodate.oSub-clauseo

(iii)oofoNoteo2omadeoitoexplicitothatotheocertificates/documentsoinosupportoofo educationaloqualifications,ocasteoetc.oshouldobeopossessedobyotheocandidateso onoorobeforeotheoclosingodate.oTheoconditionothatotheocertificatesoissuedoaftero theoclosingodateowillonotobeoacceptedobyotheoappellant-Commission,ohasobeeno madeo knowno too theo candidateso explicitly.o Sub-clauseo (iv)o ofo Noteo 2o alsoo providesothatotheoimprovementoinomarksodoneobyoaocandidateoafterotheoclosingo dateoshallonotobeoconsideredoforoanyopurposeoinotheorecruitment.oThisoclarifiedo thatotheoclosingodateowasotheodecisiveodeadlineobyowhichotheocandidateomusto possessoallorequiredoeligibilityocriteriaoandosupportingodocuments,oincludingo thoseorelatedotooeducationaloqualifications,oexperience,odomicile,ocaste,oando degree.oTakenocollectively,otheorelevantoclausesoofotheoadvertisementomakeoito abundantlyo clearo thato theo closingo dateo heldo criticalo importance,o ando anyo materialosubmittedothereafterowasonototoobeoconsidered.o

32.l Notwithstandingo theo specifico termso ofo theo advertisement,o learnedoSingleoJudgeohasoproceededotooallowotheoclaimoofotheowritopetitionerso onotheopremiseothatotheoclosingodateowasonotosacrosanctoandothatowhatowaso relevantowasotheofulfillmentoofoeligibilityoonotheocut-offodateoandonototheo o o o

proofoofoeligibility.oLearnedoSingleoJudgeohasoalsooopinedothatoinvitingoofo representationso fromo theo candidateso ono theo aspecto ofo eligibilityo byo theo appellant-Commission,oamountedotooanoopportunityogivenotooaocandidateotoo establishohis/heroeligibility,oandoonceosuchoeligibilityoisoestablishedobyotheo candidate,omereodelayoinosubmissionoofoproofoofoeligibilityowouldonotobeo fatal.o Ito haso alsoo beeno observedo thato byo allowingo theo claimo ofo theo writo petitioners,otheomeritoofotheocandidateowouldobeoprotectedoinoasomuchoasotheo rejectionoofotheopetitioners'oclaimowouldoresultoinolessomeritoriousocandidateso enteringo ino theo selecto listo foro appointment.o Theo premises,o aforesaid,o areo questionedobeforeousobyotheoappellant-CommissionoinothisobunchoofoLPAs.o

33.l Ato theo outset,o ito wouldo beo wortho referringo too theo relevanto propositionoofolawoonothisoaspect.o

34.l InoDollyoChhandaoVs.oChairman,oJEEoandootherso;(2005)o9o SCCo779,otheoissueocameotoobeoexaminedobyotheothreeoHon'bleoJudges'oBencho ofotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocontextoofodenialoofoadmissionotootheoappellanto thereinoinotheoMBBSoCourse.oTheoprincipleoofolaw,oculledooutobyotheoApexo Courto iso containedo ino Parao 7o ofo theo saido judgment,o whicho iso reproducedo hereinafter:-o "7.o Theo generalo ruleo iso thato whileo applyingo foro anyo courseo ofo studyo oro ao post,o ao persono musto possesso theo eligibilityo qualificationo ono theo lasto dateo fixedo foro sucho purposeo eithero ino theo admissiono brochureo oro ino applicationoform,oasotheocaseomayobe,ounlessothereoisoano expresso provisiono too theo contrary.o Thereo cano beo noo relaxationoinothisoregardoi.e.oinotheomatteroofoholdingotheo requisiteoeligibilityoqualificationobyotheodateofixed.oThiso haso too beo establishedo byo producingo theo necessaryo certificates,odegreesooromarksheets.oSimilarly,oinoorderotoo o o o

availo ofo theo benefito ofo reservationo oro weightageo etc.o necessaryo certificateso haveo too beo produced.o Theseo areo documentsoinotheonatureoofoproofoofoholdingoofoparticularo qualificationo oro percentageo ofo markso securedo oro entitlementotoobenefitooforeservation.oDependingouponotheo factso ofo ao case,o thereo cano beo someo relaxationo ino theo matteroofosubmissionoofoproof,oandoitowillonotobeopropero tooapplyoanyorigidoprincipleoasoitopertainsoinotheodomaino ofo procedure.o Everyo infractiono ofo theo ruleo relatingo too submissiono ofo proofo needo noto necessarilyo resulto ino rejectionoofocandidature."o o

35.l Theo Apexo Courto madeo ito explicito thato generalo rule,o whileo applyingoforoanyocourseoforostudyooropost,oisothatotheopersonoconcernedomusto possessotheoeligibilityoqualificationoonotheolastodateofixedoforosuchopurpose.o Thereo cano beo noo relaxationo ino thiso regard.o Ito haso too beo establishedo byo producingotheonecessaryocertificates/degreesooromarksheets.oTooavailobenefito ofo reservationo oro weightageo etc.,o necessaryo certificateso wouldo haveo too beo produced.o Theseo areo documentso ino theo natureo ofo proofo ofo holdingo ofo ao particularo qualificationo oro percentageo ofo markso securedo oro entitlemento too benefitooforeservation.oDependingouponotheofactsoofoaocase,othereocanobeosomeo relaxationoinotheomatteroofosubmissionoofoproof,oandoitowillonotobeoproperotoo applyoanyorigidoprincipleoasoitopertainsoinotheodomainoofoprocedure.oEveryo infractionoofotheoruleorelatingotoosubmissionoofoproofoneedonotonecessarilyo resultoinorejectionoofocandidature.o

36.l Theo observationo ofo theo Supremeo Courto ino Dollyo Chhandao (Supra)ohasotoobeoappreciatedoinotheofactsoofothatocase.oTheoappellantoinotheo caseoofoDollyoChhandao(Supra)ohadoappearedoinoJointoEntranceoExaminationo

(JEE)oforoadmissionotooaoMedicalocourseoinotheoMIocategoryoreservedoforo o o o

wardsoofooEx-Servicemen.oTheoappellant'sofatherowasodischargedofromoarmedo forcesoonotheogroundoofopermanentodisability.oTheoappellant'sorankoinoJEEoino theo reservedo MIo categoryo waso 20o ando sheo waso calledo foro counselingo foro admissionotooaoMedicaloCollege.oDuringotheocourseoofoscrutinyoofodocuments,o itowasorevealedothatoinotheocertificateogivenotooherofatherobyotheoZilaoSainiko Boardo ino Column-3o pertainingo too disabled/killedo ino war/hostilities,o theo expressiono"notoeligible"owasomentioned.oSince,otheoaforesaidocertificateodido notosatisfyotheorequirementoofotheoreservedoMIocategory,oherocandidatureowaso rejectedoandotheocandidatesoplacedoloweroinoRankoi.e.oRankso24oando26,owereo giveno admission.o Theo appellanto producedo theo correcto disabilityo certificateo issuedobyotheoarmyoauthorities;ohowever,othisocertificateowasonotoacceptedobyo virtueoofoClauseo2.1.4oofotheoInformationoBrochure,orequiringotheocertificateo too beo submittedo beforeo theo cut-offo date.o Theo appellanto obtainedo fresho certificateoono16.07.2003owhereinoherofatherowasoshownotoobeo"permanentlyo disabled".oTheoappellantoagainoappearedoforonextoroundoofocounsellingoono accountoofoincreaseoinoseats.oThoughopersonsosecuringoRanksobetweeno27-30o wereo calledo foro theo counselling,o buto theo appellanto waso overlooked.o Theo appellant'socaseowasothatoitowasotheoZilaoSainikoBoard,owhichohadocommittedo aomistakeoinonotoissuingotheocorrectocertificateoandosaidomistakeohavingobeeno rectifiedo ino theo subsequento certificateo issuedo ono 16.07.2003o aso such,o theo appellanto claimedo entitlemento too admission.o Ito waso pointedo outo thato theo personoloweroinorankothanoherowereograntedoadmission.oo

37.l Fororeadyoreference,oweoreproduceohereinafter,otheofactsoofotheo caseorecordedobyotheoApexoCourtoinoparao3oofotheosaidojudgment:o-o o o o

"3.o Theo appellanto passedo 10+2o (Science)o Examinationo conductedo byo theo Councilo ofo Highero Secondaryo Education,o Orissa,oinoFirstoClass.oAsosheowasodesirousoofojoiningoaomedicalo course,osheoappearedoinotheoJointoEntranceoExamination,o2003o (foro shorto 'JEE-2003')o undero theo reservedo MIo categoryo beingo daughtero ofo ano ex-servicemano NKo Manoranjano Chhandao whoo wasodischargedofromoarmedoforcesoonotheogroundoofopermanento disability.oUnderoClauseo2.1.4oofoInformationoBrochureoofoJEE-2003o certaino percentageo ofo seatso areo reservedo foro children/widowso ofo personnelo ofo armed/paramilitaryo forceso ofo Orissa,o killed/disabledo ino actiono duringo waro oro peaceo timeo operation.o Hero ranko ino theo JEE-2003o ino theo reservedo MIo categoryoinotheomedicalostreamowaso20oandoaccordinglyosheowaso calledo foro counsellingo foro admissiono too ao medicalo collegeo ono

7.7.2003.o Duringo theo courseo ofo scrutinyo ofo papers,o ito waso revealedo thato ino theo certificateo datedo 29.6.2003o giveno too hero fatherobyotheoZillaoSainikoBoardoinoColumnoNo.3owhichopertainedo too"Disabled/killedoinowar/hostilities"otheowordso"notoeligible"o wereowritten.oSinceotheoaforesaidocertificateodidonotosatisfyotheo requirementoofotheoreservedoMIocategory,oherocandidatureowaso rejected.oTheocandidatesowhoohadosecuredoranksoato24oando26oino theoaforesaidocategoryowereogivenoadmission.oSheoproducedotheo disabilityocertificateowhichowasoissuedotooherofatherobyotheoarmyo authorities,obutoinoviewooforequirementoofo Clauseo2.1.4oofotheo Informationo Brochureo theo sameo waso noto accepted.o Theo appellant'so fathero theno requestedo theo Zillao Sainiko Board,o Sambalpurotoorectifyotheomistake,owhichoissuedoaofreshocertificateo ono 16.7.2003o whicho mentionedo "Permanentlyo Disabled"o ino ColumnoNo.3.oTheoappellantothenoagainoapproachedorespondento no.1o witho theo aforesaido correcto certificate,o buto noo actiono waso taken.oOnocomingotooknowothatoanotheroroundoofocounsellingohado beenofixedoforo29.10.2003oonoaccountoofoincreaseoinoseat,otheo appellantowentotootheocenteroconcernedoandorequestedoforobeingo givenoadmissionoonotheobasisoofotheofreshocertificateoissuedobyotheo Zillao Sainiko Board,o whicho certifiedo thato hero fathero hado beeno dischargedo fromo armedo forceso ono theo groundo ofo permanento o o o

disability.oTheocandidatesowhoohadosecuredorankofromo27otoo30o ino theo MIo categoryo wereo calledo foro counselling,o buto theo appellant'so candidatureo waso noto considered.o Theo caseo ofo theo appellantothusoisothatoitowasotheoZillaoSainikoBoardowhichohado committedotheomistakeoinonotoissuingoaocorrectocertificateoandotheo saido mistakeo havingo beeno rectifiedo ino theo secondo certificateo issuedoono16.7.2003,osheowasoentitledotooadmissionoinoaomedicalo collegeo aso candidateso securingo lowero rankso hado alreadyo beeno admitted."o o

38.l Theo observationso madeo byo theo Courto ino Parao 7,o reproducedo hereinbefore,o haso too beo reado aso ao wholeo ando theo distinctiono carvedo outo betweeno"eligibility"oando"proofoofoeligibility"ocannotobeoreadoinoisolationosoo asotoodoingoawayowithotheorequirementoofofurnishingoproofoofoeligibilityobyo theocandidate.oTheoexceptionoclauseoinotheoparagraph,obasedoonotheopeculiaro factsoofotheocaseocannotobeoread,oinoisolation,osooasotoodooawayowithotheo principleolaidodownoinotheosaidoparagraph.oo

39.l TheoeligibilityoofoappellantoinoDollyoChhandao(Supra)oasoaowardo ofotheopersonneloofoarmy/paramilitaryoforces,okilled/disabledoinoactionowaso clearlyo meto byo her.o Sheo hado appliedo ando obtainedo ao certificateo fromo theo competentoauthority.oThisocertificateowasowrong.oAocorrectocertificateowaso lateroonoissuedobyotheocompetentoauthority.oThereowasonooerror/faultoonoparto ofotheoappellantothereinoinoobtainingotheorequisiteocertificateowhichowasotoo furnisho theo proofo ofo eligibility.o Ito waso ino thiso contexto thato theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoobservedothatothereocouldobeosomeorelaxationoinotheomatteroofo submissionoofoproofoandoitowouldonotobeoproperotooapplyoanyorigidoprincipleo asoitopertainsoinotheodomainoofoprocedure.oo o o o

40.l Ino ouro understanding,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Dollyo Chhandao (Supra)o dido noto layo downo anyo principleo ofo lawo thato proofo ofo eligibilityo iso ofo noo significanceo ando cano beo producedo ato anyo latero stage,o completelyooverlookingotheocut-offodateofixedoinotheoadvertisement.o

41.l WeomayoalsooreferotootheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinoCharlesoK.oSkariaoVs.oDr.oC.oMathewo;(1980)o2oSCCo752,owhereino theodistinctionobetweenotheo'eligibility'oando'proofoofoeligibility'owasocoined.o TheocontextoinowhichotheoissueofiguredobeforeotheoApexoCourtowasonoticedoino Parao1oofotheojudgment:o-o "Theo universitieso ino theo countryo areo ofteno amongo theo contributoriesotootheofloodoofolitigationoinotheohigherocourtsoofotheo country.oThisopathologicalocondition,otoowhichopresentobunchoofo appealsobearsotestimony,omustoclaimotheohealingoattentionoofotheo nation'so educationalo leadership.o Theo fouro appealso beforeo uso presentochallengesotootheoschemeoofoadmissionotoopostograduateo coursesoinomedicineoinotheocollegesoofotheoKeralaoState.oButosinceo thato Stateo iso noto aloneo ino theo tendencyo too temporiseo witho constitutionalovaluesoandowritopetitionsoforocollegeoadmissionso areo almosto ao hardyo annual,o weo deemo ito ouro dutyo too permito ourselvesoaofewopreliminaryoobservationsobeforeoproceedingotoo theofact-situationoandoconflict-resolution."o o

42.l Concern,owhicholedotoomakingoofotheoobservationobyotheoCourt,o isohighlightedoinoparao5,owhichoreadsoasounder:-o "5.o Oneoofotheobonesoofocontentionobetweenotheopartieso inotheoHighoCourtorelatedotoocandidatesofromouniversitiesooutsideo Kerala.oArticleso14oando15odoonotorecognizeostateofrontiersoorotheo cultoofo'theosonsoofotheosoil',oifoweomayospeakogenerallyoandoover-simplistically.o Theo necessaryo implicationo ofo theo constitutionalo mandateoisothatoeveryobasicodegree-oholderowhoofillsotheobillocano applyoforoadmissionoforopost-ograduateocourses.oButotheoKeralao o o o

State,oinoitsowisdom,oprovidedoaoniggardlyoquotaoofo2%oofotheo totalo numbero ofo seatso foro candidateso fromo theo entireo countryo minusoKerala-onotoaocatholicoapproachoinformedobyonationalisto generosity,oifoweomayosayosoowithosomeotrepidation.oByowayoofo asideoweomayoobserveothatootheroStates,oobservedowithoprovincialo impulses,o areo equallyo parsimoniouso iso noo validationo ofo ao violationoofolaw,oifoitobeoso.oAnyway,otheoprospectusoprovidedothato "insteado ofo openo competition,o 2%o ofo theo seatso undero generalo merito areo seto aparto foro candidateso comingo fromo outsideo UniversitiesootherothanoKeralaoandoCalicut."o

43.l OperatingonormsofixedobyotheoStateoforoadmission,owereoalsoo takenonoteoofoinoParao8,owhichoisoreproducedohereinafter:-o "8.o Itoisofairotoostate,onowothatoweohaveosketchedotheo backdrop,owhatotheofurtherofactsoareoandowhatotheoHighoCourt'so verdicto is.o Weo mayo abbreviateo theo narrationo becauseo weo substantiallyo agreeo witho theo maino legalo pointo decidedo byo theo HighoCourt.oRegrettably,oitsoultimateodirectionohasothrownotheo academico yearo ino post-graduateo Ophthalmologyo intoo disarrayo ando eveno wastage.o Welfare-orientedo judicialo processo musto beo constructiveoinoitsoobjective,omustobeogearedotooorderoasoitsogoalo ando musto paveo theo wayo foro resultanto contentment,o avoidingo negativeo writso which,o ino practice,o proveo too beo congealingo commands.oIndeed,otheoHighoCourt,oonotheocrucialoquestion,ohaso moreo oro lesso correctlyo statedo theo lawo regardingo denialo ofo opportunityoforo'outsiders'oandoconsequentlyofoundotheoadmissiono tootheocoursesoallowrong,obutothroughoitsojudgment,ohasojettisonedo studentsowhooareohalf-wayothroughotheirocoursesoandodirectedo freshoadmissionsoononewopoliciesoyetotoobeoevolved,owitholittleo chanceo ofo anyo oneo gettingo througho theo examinationso oro eveno admissionso duringo thiso academico yearo consistentlyo witho theo universityo regulationso andogovernmentalotardiness.oWeocannoto countenanceo sucho negativityo withouto someo efforto ato rescueo througho theo courto writo sinceo ao wholeo yearo ofo Ophthalmologyo studyoatotheopost-graduateolevelomayowellobeolostotootheoState,o whatowithotheoenormousoinvestmentoinorunningosuchocoursesothato o o o

theo universitieso haveo laido outo ando theo people'so needo foro sucho specialists.oTheoFulloBenchodecisionoofotheoHighoCourt,oinoitso ultimateoeffect,ohasoleftobehindoitoaofalloutoofodemolition:oo Asoaoresultoofoouroaboveodiscussionoandoconclusionoweo allowoW.A.oNo.o222oofo1979oandosetoasideotheojudgmentoofotheo learnedo Judgeo ando theo ranko listo foro admissiono too theo post-graduateo coursesoino Ophthalmology,o andoquashotheo selectionso madeoonotheobasisoofotheosaidolist.oo Weo wereo rathero distressedo ato havingo too quasho theo selectionsoofobuddingoyoungstersotootheospecialisedocourses.oSucho thoughtsoprevailedowithousoinotheoFulloBenchodecisionoinoStateoofo Keralao ando Anr.o v.o Rafiao Rahimo (1978o KLTo 369).o Whileo theo petitionersoinothoseocasesowonotheobattle,otheyowereodeniedotheo fruitsoofovictory.oWeoseeonoogroundoforoaorepetitionoofotheosameo treatmento too theo petitionerso beforeo us.o Particularlyo ito iso so,o becauseo someo ofo themo hado filedo theo writo petitionso beforeo theo selections,o ando someo hado obtainedo interimo orderso thato theo selectionsoshallobeofinalizedoonlyosubjectotootheoresultoofotheowrito petitionsoinothisocourt.oWeocannotolightlyopassooverotheseoaspects.o Weowouldoaccordinglyoquashotheoselectionsomadeoandodirectoao freshoselectionotootheocourses,oinoaccordanceowitholawoandoinotheo lightoofotheoobservationocontainedoinothisojudgment."o o

44.l InoCharlesoK.oSkariao(Supra),oadmissionowasoalreadyoofferedotoo theoappellantothereinoandoheohadopursuedotheocourseoforosomeotimeobeforeoheo waso oustedo ono theo groundo thato theo proofo ofo diplomao waso submittedo afterwards.oThisowasotooresultoinotheoseatobeingowastedoforotheoentireoyear.oIto waso ino thiso contexto thato theo observationo madeo byo theo Courto ino Parao 20,o reproducedohereinafter,ohasotoobeounderstood:o-o "20.o Thereo iso nothingo unreasonableo noro arbitraryo ino addingo10omarksoforoholdersoofoaodiploma.oButotooearnothisoextrao 10omarks,otheodiplomaomustobeoobtainedoatoleastoonoorobeforeotheo lastodateoforoapplication,onotolater.oProofoofohavingoobtainedoao o o o

diplomaoisodifferentofromotheofactumoofohavingogotoit.oHasotheo candidate,oinofact,osecuredoaodiplomaobeforeotheofinalodateoofo applicationo foro admissiono too theo degreeo course?o Thato iso theo primaryo question.o Ito iso prudento too produceo evidenceo ofo theo diplomao alongo witho theo application,o buto thato iso secondary.o Relaxationoofotheodateoonotheofirstoisoillegal,onotosooonotheosecond.o Academicoexcellence,othroughoaodiplomaoforowhichoextraomarkoiso granted,o cannoto beo denudedo becauseo proofo iso producedo onlyo later,oyetobeforeotheodateoofoactualoselection.oTheoemphasisoisoono theo diploma;o theo proofo thereofo subserveso theo factumo ofo possessionoofotheodiplomaoandoisonotoanoindependentofactor.oTheo prospectusodoesosay:oo

(4)(b)o :o 10%o too Diplomao holderso ino theo selectiono ofo candidatesotooM.S.,oandoM.D.,ocoursesoinotheorespectiveo subjectsoorosub-specialities.oo

13.oCertificatesotoobeoproducedo:-oInoallocasesotrueocopieso ofotheofollowingodocumentsohaveotoobeoproduced:oo

(k)o Anyo othero certificateso requiredo alongo witho theo application.oo Thiso compositeo statemento cannoto beo reado formalistico fashion.oModeoofoproofoisogearedotootheogoaloofotheoqualificationo inoquestion.oItoisosubversiveoofosoundointerpretationoandorealistico decodingoofotheoprescriptionotootelescopeotheotwooandomakeobotho mandatoryoinopointoofotime.oWhatoisoessentialoinotheopossessionoofo aodiplomaobeforeotheogivenodate;owhatoisoancillaryoisotheosafeo modeoofoproofoofotheoqualification.oTooconfuseobetweenofactoando itsoproofoisoblurredoperspicacity.oToomakeomandatoryotheodateoofo acquiringo theo additionalo qualificationo beforeo theo lasto dateo foro applicationomakesosense.oButoifoitoisounshakeableoshownothatotheo qualificationohasobeenoacquiredobeforeotheorelevantodate,oasoiso theo caseo here,o too invalidateo thiso merito factoro becauseo proof,o thoughoindubitable,owasoadducedoaofewodaysolaterobutobeforeotheo selectionooroinoaomanneronotomentionedoinotheoprospectus,obuto stilloaboveoboard,oisotoomakeoprocedureonototheohandmadeobuto theo mistresso ando formo noto aso subserviento too substanceo buto aso superiorotootheoessence."o o o o

45.l Thus,obothoinoDollyoChhandao(Supra)oandoCharlesoK.oSkariao (Supra),otheofactsoplayedoaocrucialoroleoinotheoCourtsomakingoaodistinctiono betweenotheo'eligibility'oando'proofoofoeligibility'otoorenderojusticeoonofacts.o Therefore,odivorcedoofotheofacts,otheoprincipleocannotobeotakenoinoisolationotoo completelyonegateotheorequirementoofo'proofoofoeligibility'obeofurnishedobyoao cut-offo date.o Theo underlyingo principleo thato theo cut-offo dateo fixedo foro submissiono ofo certificateso ofo proofo ofo eligibilityo iso sacrosanct,o haso beeno reiteratedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaoseriesoofomatters.o

46.l InotheocaseoofoDivyao(Supra),otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtowaso seizedo ofo ao similaro issue,o whereino theo Apexo Courto hado theo occasiono too interpreto theo Officeo Memorandumo datedo 19.01.2019o ando 31.01.2019,o prescribingo theo eligibilityo foro Economicallyo Weakero Sectiono (EWS)o category.oTheoadvertisementoissuedobyotheoUPSCowasoexaminedobyotheoCourto tooholdoasounder:o-o "14.o Whatoisoclearofromotheoaboveois,obeforeotheoclosingo dateoofoapplication,otheocandidateohasotoobeoinopossessionoofotheo requisiteocertificateoforoFinancialoYearo2020-2021."o o

47.l WithoregardotootheorequirementoofopossessingoEWSocertificateo forotheorelevantoyear,oinofavouroofotheocandidateoforograntooforeservationoino EWSocategory,otheoCourtoproceededotooholdoasounder:o-o "45.o ItoisoveryoclearothatoanoEWSocandidateoacquiredo eligibilityotoobeoanoEWSocandidateoforotheopurposeoofoCSE-2022o onlyoifotheocandidateometotheocriterionoprescribedobyotheoCentralo GovernmentoandoisoinopossessionoofotheorequisiteoI&ACobasedoono theo incomeo foro theo F.Y.o 2020-2021.o Reado witho Ruleo 28,o theo candidateo shouldo alsoo beo ino possessiono ofo theo certificateo aso ono22.02.2022.oSooitoisobeyondocavilothatooneocannotodecideoforo oneselfothatotheocandidateoisoanoEWSocandidateoandoonlyoonotheo o o o

fulfilmento ofo theo criteriao ando theo issuanceo ofo theo certificateo beforeo 22.02.2022o willo theo eligibilityo aso ano EWSo candidate,o ensureo too theo benefito ofo theo candidateo foro theo CSE-2022.o Theo argumentoofoShrioK.oParameshwar,olearnedocounsel,othatobeingo fromo theo "EWS"o categoryo iso ao statuso ando theo I&ACo too beo producedoisoonlyoaoproofoandoasosuchotheoI&ACocanobeoproducedo ato anyo stageo cannoto beo acceptedo ino theo teetho ofo theo clearo prescriptionoinotheoOfficeoMemorandaoreadowithotheoCSE-o2022o Rules.oFurther,oasorequiredounderoRuleo13,oatotheostageoofoDAF-Io theodocumentohadotoobeosubmittedoon-lineobeforeotheoprescribedo dateo(inotheopresentocaseoforoCSE-2022otheodateowaso15.07.2022)o andothatoanyodelayoinosubmissionoofoDAF-Ioorodocumentobeyondo theoprescribedodateowasonotoallowed.oTheseoclearostipulationso runocounterotootheosubmissionsoofolearnedocounselothatoonotheo rectificationo ofo ao certificateo ito relateso backo too theo dateo ofo theo certificate."o o

48.l InoDivyao(Supra),otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtodealtowithotheo caseoofoCharlesoK.oSakariao(Supra)oandonoticedotheodistinctiveofeaturesoofotheo caseoinoparao47,owhichoisoreproducedoasounder:o-o

47.o InoCharlesoK.oSkariao(supra),omostocandidatesopossessedo theoeligibilityoviz.o theo diploma.oOnlyotheoproofoino theoformo ofo certificateowasoawaited.oTheoauthoritiesohadoalsooacceptedothemo asoeligible,oexpresslyoinformingotheoselectionocommitteeothatoforo eligibleocandidatesoevenoifoproofocameolateroandobeforeotheofinalo selection,oitoshouldobeoconsideredoasovalid.oThisowasoalsooequallyo theo situationo ino Dollyo Chhandao(supra),o Aloko Kumaro Singho (supra)oandoDheerenderoSinghoPaliwalo(supra)owhereotheofactualo positionoaboutotheoeligibilityowasonotoinodispute.oThoseocasesoando theocasesoofothatoilkocannotosupportotheopetitionersoinothisocaseo forotheopurposeoofoclaimingoeligibilityoinoCSE-2022oasoanoEWSo candidate."o o

49.l Ultimately,otheoprinciplesohaveobeenolaidodownobyotheoCourtoino Paraso50-51,owhichoareoalsooreproducedoasounder:-o o o o

"50.oo ThatoisotheofundamentalodistinctionobetweenotheoCharleso K.oSkariao(supra)olineoofocasesoandotheocasesoatohand.oAsopointedo outo earlier,o theo eligibilityo foro beingo categorizedo aso EWSo candidateocrystallizesoonlyowhenotheoI&ACoisoissuedoand,oinothiso case,o aso requiredo undero theo rules,o ito waso too beo issuedo ando possessedobyotheocandidateobeforeo22.02.2022.o

51.oo Itoisoalsooveryowellosettledothatoifothereoareorelevantoruleso whicho prescribeo theo dateo ono whicho theo eligibilityo shouldo beo possessed,othoseorulesowilloprevail.oInotheoabsenceooforulesooroanyo othero dateo prescribedo ino theo prospectus/advertisemento foro determiningotheoeligibility,othereoisoaojudicialochorusoholdingothato ito wouldo beo theo lasto dateo foro submissiono ofo theo application.o (Seeo Rekhao Chaturvedio v.o Universityo ofo Rajasthano[1993o Suppo (3)o SCCo 168];o Bhupinderpalo Singho v.o StateoofoPunjabo[(2000)o5oSCCo262];oAshokoKumaroSonkarov.o UnionoofoIndiao[(2007)o4oSCCo54]."o o

50.l InoDivya,otheoCourtoalsoodealtowithotheocaseoofoRamoKumaro GijroyaoVs.oDelhioSubordinateoServiceoSelectionoBoard;oo(2016)o4oSCCo754o andoheldoasounderoinoparaso61otoo64,owhichoareoreproducedohereinafter:-o "61.oTheostrongorelianceoplacedoonoRamoKumaroGijroyaocaseo (supra)oalsoodoesonotoimpressous.oNotoonlyowasothereonoorule,olikeo weo haveo ino theo presento case,o ito waso onlyo whileo declaringo theo result,otheorequirementoofosubmittingotheoOBCocertificateobeforeo theocut-offodateowasointroducedobyotheoSelectionoAuthorityothere.o Moreover,ounlikeotheopresent,othereowasonoocontentionooroissueo raisedoinothatocaseothatoeligibilityoensuresoorocrystallizesoonlyoono theo issuanceo ofo theo certificateo ando ono possessiono ofo theo certificate,obeforeotheoprescribedocut-offodate.o

62.oo TheojudgmentoinoRamoKumaroGijroyaocaseo(supra)o isoalsoodirectlyoinoconflictowithotheojudgmentoofothreeoHon'bleo Judgeso ino Ashoko Kumaro Sharmao ando Otherso vs.o Chandero ShekharoandoAnothero(1997)o4oSCCo18owhereinoinoparao6,oitowaso heldoasounder:-o o o o

"…oSoofaroasotheofirstoissueoreferredotooinoouro Ordero datedo 1-9-1995o iso concerned,o weo areo ofo theo respectfuloopinionothatomajorityojudgmento(renderedo byo Dr.o T.K.o Thommeno ando V.o Ramaswami,o JJ.)o iso unsustainableo ino law.o Theo propositiono thato whereo applicationsoareocalledoforoprescribingoaoparticularo dateoasotheolastodateoforofilingotheoapplications,otheo eligibilityoofotheocandidatesoshallohaveotoobeojudgedo withoreferenceotoothatodateoandothatodateoaloneoisoao well-establishedo one.o Ao persono whoo acquireso theo prescribedo qualificationo subsequento too sucho prescribedo date,o cannoto beo consideredo ato all.o Ano advertisementooronotificationoissued/publishedocallingo foro applicationso constituteso ao representationo too theo publicoandotheoauthorityoissuingoitoisoboundobyosucho representation.o Ito cannoto acto contraryo too it.o Oneo reasonobehindothisopropositionoisothatoifoitowereoknowno thatopersonsowhooobtainedotheoqualificationsoafterotheo prescribedo dateo buto beforeo theo dateo ofo interviewo wouldobeoallowedotooappearoforotheointerview,oothero similarlyo placedo personso couldo alsoo haveo applied.o Justo becauseo someo ofo theo personso hado appliedo notwithstandingo thato theyo hado noto acquiredo theo prescribedoqualificationsobyotheoprescribedodate,otheyo couldo noto haveo beeno treatedo ono ao preferentialo basis….."o

63.oo Aparto fromo allo ofo this,o theo correctnesso ofo Ramo Kumaro Gijroyaocaseo (supra)o waso referredo too ao three-Judgeo Bencho ino theo caseo ofo Karno Singho Yadav.o Ao perusalo ofooooooooooooooooooooooooo paraosixoofotheoreferraloorderoclearlyoshowsothatotheoBenchowaso echoingo theo ratioo ofo theo three-judgeo Bencho ino Ashokoooooooooooooooooooooo Kumaro Sharma'so caseo (supra)o thougho thereo iso noo expresso referenceo too theo saido case.oHowever,o wheno theo mattero cameo beforeoaothree-oJudgeoBench,otheoreferenceowasonotoansweredo andoevenoafteronoticingothatoRamoKumaroGijroyaocaseo(supra)o coveredo theo caseo ofo Karno Singho Yadav,o theo Court,o however,o o o o

deniedoreliefotooKarnoSinghoYadav,otheopetitionerobyoholdingothato sinceotheoappellantowasoneveroappointedotootheopostoatothatolengtho ofo timeo ito waso noto possibleo too granto anyo reliefo too theo appellant.oRamo Kumaro Gijoryao(supra)o iso clearlyo distinguishable.o

64.oo Beothatoasoitomay,oweoareoboundobyotheojudgmentoofo theothree-JudgeoBenchoinoAshokoKumaroSharmao(supra)oandoweo followo theo saido judgmentoando reiterateo theo principleo laido downothereon.oItoisoalsoointerestingotoonoteothatoevenoinoDeepako Yadavo(supra),oaojudgment,ostronglyoreliedouponobyotheolearnedo counselo foro theo petitioners,o theo principleo ino Ashoko Kumaro Sharmao(supra)ohasobeenoreiterated.oHowever,obecauseoofowhato theo Courto calledo ano abnormalo ando cataclysmalo year,o ano exceptionowasomadeodueotootheoongoingopandemic,olockdownoando restrictionsoimposedothereof.oInoAlokoKumaroSingho(supra),onoo rulesolikeotheoonesopresentoinothisocaseoareoshownotoohaveoexisted.o Inotheopresentocase,othereoareoclearoprescriptionsoasotooeligibility,o asohasobeenodiscussedohereinoabove."o o

51.l TheoCourtoultimatelyoconcludedoasounderoinoparao94.1:-o "94.1o TheocandidatesoclaimingobenefitoofoEWSoCategoryo forotheopurposeoofoCSE-2022,oacquireoeligibilityoonlyoifotheyomeeto theocriterionoprescribedobyotheoCentraloGovernmentoinotheoO.M.o datedo19.01.2019oando31.01.2019oandoareoinopossessionoofotheo requiredo Incomeo ando Asseto Certificateo (I&AC),o basedo ono theo incomeoforotheoyearo2020-21.oFurther,oasorequiredounderoRuleo28o ofotheoCSEoRules,o2022oreadowithotheoO.M.oofo19.01.2019oando

31.01.2019otheocandidateoshouldohaveobeenoinopossessionoofotheo Incomeo ando Asseto Certificateo (I&AC)o aso ono 22.02.2022.o Anyo candidateo noto ino possessiono ofo theo I&ACo ino theo prescribedo formatoasomentionedohereinoaboveocannotoclaimotheobenefitoofo EWSoCategory.oEqually,oasorequiredounderoRuleo13oofotheoCSEo Rules,o2022oatotheostageoofoDAF-I,otheodocumentoinopossessionoaso ono 22.02.2022o ino theo prescribedo format,o hado too beo submittedo onlineobeforeotheoprescribedodate.oTheoUPSCowasojustifiedoino rejectingotheocandidatureoofothoseocandidatesoclaimingobenefito o o o

undero theo EWSo Categoryo ifo theyo hado submittedo theiro I&ACo beyondotheostipulatedodeadline.oThisoconclusionohasotoobeoreado withotheoreasoningoinotheojudgment,oparticularlyoinoparagraphso 42o too 45o undero theo headingo "Eligibilityo foro EWSo categoryo candidatesoforoCSE-2022".o o

52.l Recently,o ino Mohito Kumaro Vs.o Stateo ofo Uttaro Pradesho ando others;o2025oSCCoOnlineoSCo1125,otheoissueocameotoobeoexaminedobyotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourt.oTheocertificateoreliedouponobyotheocandidateowasonoto onotheoformatoprescribedoinotheorecruitmentonotification.oTheoquestionobeforeo theoCourtowasoasotoowhetheronon-considerationoofotheocandidateoforosucho reasonowouldobeobad.o

53.l TheoissueocameotoobeoexaminedobyotheoCourt,oandoitowasoheldo thatoalloaspirantsoinoaorecruitmentodriveoareoentitledoforotheoequalotreatment.o Non-complianceowithotheotermsoofotheoadvertisement/notificationoisoboundotoo triggeroadverseoconsequencesoonorejectionoofotheoaspirant'soclaimedostatus.o TheoCourtowentoonotoohold,oasounderoinoparagrapho19,owhichoreadsoasounder:-o "19.oo Ito iso noo longero reso integrao thato termso ofo ano advertisementoissuedoinoconnectionowithoaoselectionoprocessoareo normallyonotoopenotoochallengeounlessotheochallengeoisofoundedo onotheogroundoofobreachoofoArticleo16oofotheoConstitutionoor,oforo thatomatter,oArticleo14.oOnceoanoadvertisementoisoissuedoinvitingo applicationsoforopublicoemployment,oitoisotheoresponsibility,onayo duty,oofoanoaspirantotooreadoandonoteotheotermsoandounderstando whatoitsorequirementsoare.oIfoanyoaspirantofindsoanyoofotheotermso ambiguouso ando thereo iso scopeo foro ano inquiryo inbuilto ino theo advertisementooroisoprovidedobyoanyorule/regulation,oanoefforto oughtotoobeofirstomadeotooobtainoclarityoforounderstandingotheo requirementsoaccurately.oIfonoosuchoscopeoisoavailable,onothingo preventso theo aspiranto fromo seekingo clarityo byo makingo ao representationoshouldosuchoclarityobeonotoprovided,otheoaspiranto o o o

mayoparticipateoinotheoprocessowithoutoprejudiceotoohisorightso ando mayo questiono theo termo eveno aftero heo iso noto selected.o However,oifotheoaspirantodoesonotomakeoanyosuchoeffortoandotakeso aocalculatedochanceoofoselectionobasedoonohisoownounderstandingo ofotheodisputedotermoinotheoadvertisementoandolater,oheoemergeso unsuccessful,o ordinarily,o ito wouldo noto beo openo too himo too challengeotheoselectionoonotheogroundothatotheodisputedotermoiso capableoofobeingounderstoododifferently.oInosuchocases,otheocourtso shouldo beo loatho too entertaino sucho pleao ofo ambiguityo whileo preferringotooacceptotheorecruitingoauthority'sounderstandingoofo theosaidoterm.oThisoisoforotheosimpleoreasonothatotheorecruitingo authorityoisotheobestojudgeoofowhatoitsorequirementsoareoandoitoiso suchounderstandingoofotheorecruitingoauthorityothatowouldomattero mosto ino caseso broughto upo beforeo theo courts;o hence,o aftero commencemento ofo theo processo whereino aspirantso haveo participatedowithoutoraisingoanyodemuroasotoowhatoaoparticularo termsomeans,oevenoifoanyoofotheotermsobeoambiguous,otheocourtso shouldoleanoinofavouroofotheorecruitingoauthority."o o

54.l TheofactsoofotheopresentoLPAsoareoanalyzed,oandoweofindothatotheo advertisemento clearlyo requiredo theo candidateso too submito BC(A)/BC(B)o certificate.oTheoadvertisementowasoissuedoinoJuneo2024oi.e.o21.06.2024.Theo candidates,owhooclaimedoreservationoforoBC(A)andoBC(B),owereorequiredotoo belongotooNon-CreamyoLayer.oTheodeterminationoofoNon-CreamyoLayeroiso witho referenceo too theo incomeo ando assetso ofo ao candidate.o Certificateo ofo BC(A)/BC(B)are,o therefore,o basedo ono changingo financialo statuso ofo theo applicantoandotherefore,oitobecomesonecessaryoforotheoappellant-Commissiono toorequireotheocandidateotoosubmitotheocertificateoissuedobeforeotheocut-offo date.o

55.l Weo mayo noteo thato undero Sectiono 5(1)(b)o ofo theo Haryanao BackwardoClasseso(ReservationoinoServicesoandoAdmissionoinoEducationalo o o o

Institutions)oAct,o2016oprovidesothato'noopersonobelongingotoocreamyolayero orobackwardoclass,oshallobeoentitledotooclaimoreservationoforoappointmentoino servicesounderotheoStateoagainstotheopostoreservedoforotheoBackwardsoclasseso specifiedoinotheoschedule'.o

56.l Theo certificateo oforeservationoiso toobeoissuedoono theobasisoofo incomeoofotheoapplicantoduringotheopreviousofinancialoyearoandoasoassessedo duringotheolastothreeofinancialoyears.oTheocandidates,otherefore,owereodirectedo toosubmitoaocertificateobasedoonotheoincomeoduringotheoperiodo01.04.2024otoo

31.03.2025oandoassetsoofolastothreeofinancialoyearsoi.e.o2022-2023,o2023-2024o ando2024-2025.o

57.l Itoisoundisputedothatoallotheorespondents-writopetitionersoclaimedo reservationoinoBC(A)/BC(B)oroEWSocategoryobutohadonotosubmittedotheiro respectiveocasteocertificateoofotheorelevantoperiod.oInotheoleadingocase,otheo respondento No.1-Pradeepo Kumaro submittedo theo BC(A)o certificateo datedo

31.12.2019.o Similarly,o BC(A)/BC(B)o certificateso ofo allo othero candidates/respondentso wereo noto ofo theo relevanto periodo aso pero theo advertisement.o Theo candidateso wereo requiredo too beo possessedo ofo theo certificatesoonotheolastodateoofomakingoofoapplicationoi.e.o12.07.2024.oTheo certificatesoannexedobyothemosinceowereonotoinotermsoofotheoadvertisement,o therefore,otheyowereorightlyoignored.o

58.l Onofacts,oweoalsoonoticeothatoaoWritoPetitionobearingoNo.oCWP-16790-2024,otitledoasoGitaoVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoOthers,ocameotoobeofiledo byoaocandidateobelongingotootheogeneralocategory,owhereinoitowasoallegedothato thereowasosomeotechnicaloglitchoinotheoportaloofotheoappellant-Commission,o o o o

ando consequentlyo theo petitionero thereino couldo noto uploado hero applicationo formobeforeotheoclosingodate.o

59.l WhenotheoWritoPetitionowasotakenoup,ofollowingoobservationso wereo madeo byo theo Courto ono 14.08.2024,o expressingo concerno ono theo pleao raisedobyotheoWritoPetitioner:o-o "Statuso reporto ono behalfo ofo respondento No.4o haso beeno filed,owhichoisotakenoonorecord.o Mr.oMukeshoKumaroAhuja,oSecretary,oHPSC,oappearsoino personoandoassuresothatotheomatterowillobeolookedointoofromoallo aspectsothatoareonecessitated,okeepingoinoviewotheofutureoofotheo candidates,owhoowereoseekingotooapplyoforotheopostoinoquestiono pursuantotooAdv.oNo.16/2024."o o

60.l Althoughotheoappellant-Commissionowasoofotheoviewothatothereo wasonooglitchoyet,orespectingotheoobservationsoofotheoCourt,otheoappellant-Commissiono proceededo too extendo theo dateo too allowo submissiono ofo theo applicationoformsofromo16.08.2024otoo20.08.2024oandomadeotheofollowingo announcementoono16.08.2024:o-o "ThisoannouncementoisoinocontinuationoofoAdvertisementso N.16/2024oforotheopostsoofoAyurvedicoMedicaloOfficero(Group-B)o inoHealtho&oAyushoDepartment,oHaryana.o o InoviewoofotheoobservationsoofotheoHon'bleoPunjaboando HaryanaoHighoCourtodatedo14.08.2024oinoCWP-16790-2024,otheo Commissiono haso decidedo too allowo submissiono ofo onlineo applicationo formso fromo 16.08.2024o tillo 11.00o AMo ono

20.08.2024."o o

61.l OnobehalfoofotheoWritoPetitioners,oitoisocontendedothatotheodateoofo submissiono ofo applicationo formo stoodo extendedo fromo 12.07.2024o too

20.08.2024.o o o o

62.l Weoareonotomuchoimpressedobyotheoargumentoinasmuchoasotheo appellant-Commissionohadomerelyopermittedouploadingoofoonlineoapplicationo formsobyoopeningotheoportalobetweeno16.08.2024otoo20.08.2024.oThisocannoto beoconstruedoasoextendingotheodateobyowhenoproofoofoeligibilityohadotoobeo obtainedoandouploadedoalongowithotheoapplicationoform.oTheoextensionoofo dateoofouploadingoofotheoapplicationoformowasonototooconferoanyobenefitotoo thoseowhooareonotoinopossessionoofotheocertificateooforelevantoperiod.oTheo openingoofotheoportaloforotheoaforementionedoperiodowasoonlyotooenableothoseo candidatesowhoowereoreadyotoouploadotheiroapplicationoformoalongowithoallo theo eligibilityo certificates,o beforeo theo earliero closingo date,o ando couldo noto uploadotheosame,odueotootheoallegedotechnicaloglitchoinotheoserver.oo

63.l Similarly,otheoactionoofotheoappellant-Commissionoinoinvitingoofo representationocouldonotohaveobeenoconstruedoasoanoactoofoextendingotheolasto dateofixedoforosubmissionoofoapplicationoforms.oWhatowasointendedobyotheo appellant-Commission,o aso iso apparento fromo itso notice,o waso too giveo ano opportunityotootheocandidatesotooexplainotheiropositionoasotootheoproposedo groundooforejection.oTheointentowasoonlyotoogiveoanoopportunityotooclarifyoanyo factualoerroroinotheoproposedogroundofororejection,otheonumberoofoapplicationso beingolarge.oTheoperusaloofotheonoticeoratherofortifiesothatotheoparametersoono whichotheoentitlement/eligibilityofororeservationowereotoobeoadjudged,owasotoo beodoneoostrictlyoasoperotheoprovisionsoofotheoadvertisement.o

64.l Theo argumento thato theo personso lowero ino merito wouldo stando selected,oalsoodoesonotoimpressous,oasoonoaocarefuloanalysisoofoaoscenario,o inasmucho aso ao persono onceo iso noto foundo entitledo too reservationo ino o o o

BC(A)/BC(B)ocategoryooroEWSocategory,ocannotoimpressouponohisohighero meritotooseekorelaxationoofotheoadvertisement.oo

65.l WeoareoalsooofotheoopinionothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohaso wronglyo takeno noteo ofo ano isolatedo instanceo ino theo caseo ofo posto graduateo teacherso havingo beingo allowedo too submito fresho certificates,o aso ao uniformo practiceobeingofollowedobyotheoappellant-Commission.oThereoisonothingoono recordotoosubstantiateotheosame.oEvenootherwise,onooparityocanobeosoughtoino violationoofosettledolaworegardingosanctityoofotheoadvertisementoconditions.o

66.l Asoregardsotheofactsoandoissuesoinvolvedoinotheocaseoofo'Nehao Dhiman',o ito waso claimedo byo theo saido petitionero thato althougho sheo undisputedlyo belongedo too theo BCAo categoryo (Non-Creamyo Layer),o aso certifiedoinotheocertificateodatedo06.07.2024,owhichowasoissuedoinoconsonanceo witho theo notificationo ofo theo Governmento ofo Haryana,o datedo 17.11.2021,o however,oinadvertentlyowhileofillingoupotheoapplicationoform,otheocategoryo waso wronglyo mentionedo aso BC(A)o (Creamyo Layer).o Ito waso claimedo thato althougho sheo submittedo ao representationo too theo Commissiono abouto theo inadvertentoerror,ohowever,oheroclaimowasorejectedoonotheogroundothatonoo changeo isopermissibleo ino theo categoryofurnishedo byo ao candidate,o afterotheo closingodate.ooTheolearnedoSingleoJudge,owhileoconsideringotheocaseoofotheo saidopetitioner,ohasoheldothatotheofillingoupoofowrongocategoryowasoinadvertento andobyomistakeoandotheosameodeservedotoobeocondoned.oo

67.l Learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo appellant-Commissiono haso intero aliao arguedo thato ito waso specificallyo mentionedo ino Clauseo16oofotheoadvertisementoform,othatonoochangeoinotheocategoryowouldo beopermissibleoonceotheoapplicationoformostoodofinallyosubmitted.oItowasoonlyo o o o

withotheopurposeotooavoidoanyoinadvertentomistake,othatotheocandidatesowereo repeatedlyocautionedotoocarefullyocheckotheoparticularsothatotheyofilledoinotheo applicationoform,oandoaomechanismowasosetoupowhereinotheyowereorequiredotoo mandatorilyo takeo ao print-outo ofo theo onlineo applicationo form,o rechecko theo contentsothereof,obeforeosigningoandouploadingotheoscannedocopyoofotheosame.o Despiteosuchomechanismooforepeatedocheckingoofoparticulars,oifotheocandidateo stillofillsoupoaowrongocategory,oasoalleged,othenotheoCommissionocannotobeo blamedoforotheosame.oo

68.l Ino supporto ofo hiso arguments,o regardingo changeo ofo category,o learnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheoappellant-Commission,oplaceso relianceoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo 'J&KoPublicoServiceoCommissionovs.oIsharoAhmedoandoanother',o(2005)o12o SCCo498oandoorderodatedo12.05.2022opassedobyoaoDivisionoBenchoofothiso CourtoinoLPA-380-2022,otitledoaso'SumanoKhatriovs.oHaryanaoPublicoServiceo Commission'.oo

69.l Theo learnedo counselo foro theo saido respondent-petitionero rebutso theo argumento ofo theo counselo foro theo appellanto byo submittingo thato theo judgmentsoreferredoaboveowouldonotobeoapplicable,osinceotheopetitioneroisonoto seekingoaochangeoofocategory.oItoisocontendedothatotheospecificodocumentoino supportoofotheocategoryouponowhichosheoisoclaimingotheobenefit,ohadoalreadyo beeno appendedo witho theo application,o whicho clearlyo establisheso thato theo mentioningoofotheoCreamyoLayerocategory,owasoonlyoanoinadvertentomistake.oo RelianceoisoplacedouponotheojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinotheomatteroofo'Poonamo Deviovs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoanother',oreportedoaso2024oNCPHHCo95034o o o o

ando ino theo caseo ofo 'Haryanao Staffo Selectiono Commissiono througho itso Secretaryovs.oSarlaoandoothers',o2019oSCCoonlineoP&Ho5446.o

70.l Havingoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoparties,oweofindoforceo ino theo submissionso madeo byo theo learnedo counselo foro theo appellant-Commissiono thato theo mechanismo adoptedo byo it,o providedo sufficiento opportunityotooanyocandidateotoorectifyoanyosuchoallegedoinadvertentoerroroaso wouldobeoclearofromoperusaloofoClauseo16oofotheoadvertisement.oNotoonlyodido theocandidateofailotoorectifyotheoerroroafterotakingotheoprintooutoofotheoformoando beforeosigningoandouploadingotheoscannedocopyothereof,osheodidonototakeoanyo stepsotoosubmitoaofreshoapplicationowithotheocorrectocategoryoasodulyoprovidedo for.oAdmittedly,osheoappearedoinotheoscreeningotestoheldoono23.09.2024,oresulto whereofowasodeclaredoono09.10.2024.oItowasoonlyoono03.11.2024,othatosheo belatedlyofiledoaorepresentation.oo

71.l Theojudgmentsoreliedouponobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheosaido petitionero areo distincto ono facts,o whereo theo mistakeo ino selectingo optiono occurredoonoaccountoofofillingotheoapplicationoformowithotheoaidoofocybercaf?,o forowhich,othereowasonooprovisionoforocorrection.oInotheofactsoofotheoinstanto case,otheoconcernedopetitioneroisoanoeducatedowomanoandodoesonotoallegeothato sheowasoincapacitatedodueotooanyosuchocircumstances.oo

72.l Itohasotooalsoobeoborneoinomindothatoinotheopeculiarofactsoando circumstances,osinceoaolargeonumberoofoapplicantsoareoinvolved,osomeofinalityo hasotoobeogiven,ootherwiseosomeocandidateoorotheootherowouldoclaimofurthero relaxation,o makingo ito ao nevero endingo process,o whicho wouldo leado too administrativeochaos.o o o o

73.l Onoaocarefuloanalysisoofotheoapplicableoprinciplesoofolawoandoitso applicabilityo ino theo factso ofo theseo LPAs,o weo areo ofo theo viewo thato theo respondents-writo petitionerso wereo noto entitledo too anyo reliefo ino theo mattero inasmucho aso theyo haveo noto furnishedo theo proofo ofo theiro eligibility/madeo amendsoinotheiroapplication,obyotheocut-offodate,otherefore,otheocontraryoviewo takeno byo theo learnedo Singleo Bencho ino theo Writo Petitions,o ino sucho circumstances,ocannotobeosustained.oAccordingly,otheoLPAsostandoallowed.o Orderodatedo15.02.2025opassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoBenchoinoaobunchoofo WritoPetitionso(leadocaseoCWP-1262-2025)oisosetoaside.oTheoWritoPetitionso filedobyotheorespondentsoareoconsequentlyodismissed.oNooorderois,ohowever,o passedoasotoocosts.oo

74.l Allopendingoapplications,oifoany,oinotheseocasesoareodisposedoofo accordingly.o o o [ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA]o JUDGEo o o oo o [ROHIToKAPOOR]o JUDGEo o Novembero3,o2025o EssoKay/Neerajo o o o o Whetherospeakingo/oreasonedoo o :o o Yesoo /oooooooNoo oWhetheroReportableo o o :o o Yesoo /oooooooNoo o o o