Rajesh Gupta v. Punjab and Haryana High Court and Others

o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o CWP-17640-2021o(O&M)o Dateoofodecision:o18.03.2025o o RajeshoGuptaoooo o o o o o o ....Petitionero V/so o PunjaboandoHaryanaoHighoCourtoandoothersoo o o ....Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSHEELoNAGU,oCHIEFoJUSTICEoo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oR.N.oLohan,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oVikasoChatrath,oAdvocateoo o o Ms.oPreetoArora,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oTanyaoSehgal,oAdvocateofororespondentoNos.1otoo3.oo o o Mr.oPuneetoBali,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAakashoSharma,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.5.oo o o NoneofororespondentoNo.6.o o o o o o o o o o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJUDGEo

1.o o Theopetitionoinohand,oinoessence,oassailsotheoselectionoprocesso andoconsequentialoappointmentoorderodatedo21.12.2018o(hereinafteroreferredo tooasotheo'impugnedoappointmentoorder')opertainingotootheoHaryanaoSuperioro JudicialoServicesoforotheopostoofoAdditionaloDistricto&oSessionsoJudgeinsofaro aso ito declareso Respondento Nos.5o ando 6o aso successfulo candidateso whileo excludingotheopetitionerofromotheolistoofoselectedoappointees.oo

2.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantofactualomatrixoofotheo lisoinohandoisoadumbrated,othus:o

(i)oo o Aspiringo too beo ao judicialo officer,o theo petitionero appliedo ino responseotootheoadvertisementodatedo16.7.2015o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredotoo aso 'advertisemento ino question')o issuedo byo theo Registraro (Recruitment),o o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 2o o PunjaboandoHaryanaoHighoCourto(respondentoNo.2oherein)oforoappointmentotoo HaryanaoSuperioroJudicialoService,obyowayoofodirectorecruitment,othroughoao competitiveoexamination.ooTheoadvertisementoinoquestionohasobeenoissuedoino termsoofoRuleo6(1)(c)oofotheoHaryanaoSuperioroJudicialoServiceoRules,o2007o (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'2007oRules'),orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o "HARYANAoGOVERNMENTo PERSONNELoDEPARTMENTo Notificationo thTheo10 oJanuary,o2007o o No.oG.oS.oR,o1/Const./Art.309/2007:-ooInoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredo byoarticleo233oreadowithotheoprovisootooarticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofo India,otheoGovernoroofoHaryanaoinoconsultationowithoHighoCourtoofoPunjabo andoHaryanaoherebyomakesotheofollowingorulesoregulatingotheorecruitmento andoconditionsoofoserviceoofopersonsoappointedotootheoHaryanaoSuperioro JudicialoService,onamely:-o o 1.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o 2.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o 3.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 4.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 5.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o Regularorecruitment.o o 6.o (1)o RecruitmentotootheoServiceoshallobeomade:-o o (a)o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o (b)o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o (c)o 25o percento ofo theo postso shallo beo filledo byo directedo recruitmentofromoamongstotheoeligibleoadvocatesoonotheobasisoofotheo writtenoandovivaovoceotest,oconductedobyotheoHighoCourt.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o Procedureoforodirectorecruitment.o o 7.o TheoHighoCourtoshallobeforeomakingorecommendationsotoo theoGovernoroinviteoapplicationsobyoadvertisementoandomayorequireo theoapplicantsotoogiveosuchoparticularsoasoitomayospecifyoandomayo furtheroholdowrittenoexaminationoandovivaovoceotestofororecruitmento inotermsooforuleo6(c)oaboveoandotheomaximumomarksoshallobeoinotheo followingomanner:-o o o (i)o WrittenoTestoo 750omarkso o o (ii)o VivaoVoceo 250omarkso AJAYgKUMAR o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 3o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o

(ii)oo o Clauseo15oofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono(hereinafterotoobeo referredotooaso'Clauseo15')oreadsothus:o o "15.o Candidatesosecuringo40%ooromoreomarksoinoeachopaperowillobeo calledoforovivao–voce.ooBut,omerelyosecuringo40%ooromoreomarksowouldonoto conferoanyorightotoobeocalledoforoviva-voce.ooTheoHighoCourtoshallohaveotheo discretionotooshortlistotheocandidatesoequalotoothreeotimesotheonumberoofo vacanciesoforoviva-voce.ooFurther,onoocandidatesowillobeoconsideredotoo haveo successfullyo qualifiedo theo Haryanao Superioro Judicialo Serviceso Examinationounlessohe/sheoobtainso50%omarkso(reado45%omarksoforotheo SC/ST/BCocategoryocandidates)oinotheoaggregateooutoofotheototalomarkso fixedoforotheowrittenotestoandovivaovoce.ooItoisoalsoomadeoclearothatonoo candidateowillogetotheorightotoobeoappointedoevenoifohe/sheoobtainso50%o markso (reado45%o marksoforotheo SC/ST/BCocategoryocandidates)oinotheo aggregateoofotheowrittenotestoandovivaovoce.ooHowever,ocandidatesowillobeo appointedostrictlyoinotheoorderoofomerito(categoryowise)oinowhichotheyoareo placedoafterotheoresultoofowrittenotestoandovivaovoce."o

(iii)oo o Pursuantotootheoadvertisementoinoquestion,otheoHaryanaoSuperioro JudicialoExamination-2017o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'Examination-2017')o wasoconducted.o

(iv)oo o Theoconditional/provisionaloresultoofotheoExamination-2017owaso declaredothroughoaonotificationodatedo31.07.2017o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso theo'ProvisionaloResult'),owhereinotheoshortlistedocandidatesowereotooappearo foro theo viva-voce,o contingento upono successfulo resolutiono ofo theiro discrepancies/objectionso notedo againsto theiro respectiveo Rollo Numbers,o ino theprovisionaloresult.o

(v)oo o Inoaomeetingoconvenedoono06.09.2017,orespondentoNo.o3uponoano examinationo ofo theo documents/explanationso submittedo ino responseo too theo discrepancies/objectionsohighlightedoinotheoProvisionaloResult,oresolvedotoo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 4o o provisionallyo permito sixo candidates,o includingo theo petitionero aso wello aso RespondentoNos.o5oando6,otooparticipateoinotheoviva-voce.o

(vi)oo o Byo virtueo ofo notificationo datedo 12.09.2017,o theo Registraro (Recruitment)oofoPunjaboandoHaryanaoHighoCourt,oprescribedotheoscheduleo forotheoconductoofotheoviva-voceoforotheoaforesaidosixocandidates,ofixingotheo sameotoobeoheldoono27.09.2017.oo

(vii)oo o Theofinaloresult,ocomprisingoofobothotheowrittenoexaminationoando theo viva-voce,o waso declaredo ono 16.11.2018,o whereino theo petitionero iso admittedlyostatedotoohaveoobtainedoaototaloofo467omarksooutoofo1000,owhicho felloshortoofotheoprescribedominimumoqualifyingothresholdoofo500omarksoaso stipulatedoinotheoadvertisementoinoquestion.oConsequentotootheodeclarationoofo theofinaloresult,otheoappointingoauthority,othroughotheoimpugnedoappointmento order,o directedo foro theo appointmento ofo theo selectedo candidates,o includingo RespondentoNos.5oando6,otootheopostoofoAdditionaloDistricto&oSessionsoJudge.o

(viii)ooo Theo petitionero (herein)o beingo aggrievedo ofo hiso beingo unsuccessfulo ino theo selectiono processo haso thuso preferredo theo presento writo petition.ooItoisoinothisofactualobackdrop,othatotheopresentowritopetitionohasocomeo upofororeceivingoconsiderationoatotheohandsoofothisoCourt.oo

3.oo o Learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero haso arguedo thato theo stipulationo mandatingo minimumo qualifyingo marks,o aso enshrinedo ino Clauseo 15,iso illegalo ando ito oughto too beo strucko downono twoo counts.ooFirstly,oitostandsoinostarkocontraventionoofotheoconstitutionaloedicto embodiedoinoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoandotheorulesoframedo thereunder,o namelyo 2007o Rules,o whicho doo noto envisageo oro prescribeo anyo thresholdoofominimumomarksobeingoaoprerequisiteoforoeligibilityonayofinalo 2025.03.18g13:30 selection.oConsequently,otheounilateraloimpositionoofosuchoaorequirementobyo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 5o o theoHighoCourtoinotheoadvertisementoinoquestionoisolegallyountenable,obeingo devoidoofostatutoryosanction.ooSecondly,osuchounwarrantedointerpolationobyo introducingoClauseo15oisomanifestlyoarbitraryoasoitoisosansoanyorationaleoand,o therefore,oisodeohorsotheoconstitutionaloframeworkoespeciallyoArticleso14oando 16othereof.oo o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasofurtheroimplored,oinotheo alternative,othatoevenoifothisoCourtoisonotoinclinedotoostrikeodownoClauseo15,oito oughtotooadoptoaojustice-orientedoapproachobyoexercisingoitsoextraordinaryo writo jurisdictiono too granto requisiteo relaxation,o byo wayo ofo graceo marks,o ino favouroofotheopetitioner.oItoisourged,owithosolemnoapparentoconviction,othato thisoCourtoinotheoexerciseoofoitsoplenaryowritojurisdiction,oisoimbuedowitho wide-rangingopowersotoomouldoreliefoinotheointerestoofojusticeoandoequity,o particularlyowhereoadherenceotooaorigidocriterionowouldoresultoinomanifesto injustice.oItoisoiteratedothatotheopetitioner,ohavingosecuredo467omarksooutoofo totaloofo1000,ofallsoshortobyoaomereo33omarksofromoattainingotheoprescribedo thresholdoofo50%.oInolightoofothisomarginalodeficiency,oitoisosubmittedothatotheo rigoroofotheoimpugnedorequirementooughtotoobeorelaxedosooasotooensureothato theopetitioneroisonotorenderedoineligibleobyotheomechanicaloapplicationoofoano arbitraryothreshold,osinceotheoprinciplesoofoequityoandofairoplayodemand,othato whereoaocandidateohasodemonstrablyoexhibitedocompetenceoandomerit,ominoro shortfallso shouldo noto operateo aso ano insurmountableo impedimento too appointment,o particularlyo wheno theo overarchingo purposeo ofo theo selectiono processoisotoosecureotheobestoandomostosuitableocandidates.o o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso furthero pleaded,o witho profoundo vehemence,o thato theo appointmento ofo Respondentso No.5o ando 6o 2025.03.18g13:30 standsoinoglaringocontraventionoofotheoconditions,oexplicitlyodelineated,oinotheo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 6o o advertisementoinoquestion,oasowelloas,oinotheoprovisionsoenshrinedoinotheo2007o Rules.oItohasobeenostrenuouslyocontendedothatotheounwarrantedorelaxationoofo eligibilityocriteriaoinotheirofavour,oparticularlyoatotheoculminatingostageoofotheo selectiono process,o haso gravelyo prejudicedo theo petitioner'so righto too ao fairo considerationoforoappointment.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatohadotheoselectiono processobeenoconductedoinostrictoadherenceotootheoprescribedostipulations,otheo petitionerowouldohaveofacedocompetitionofromoonlyotwooeligibleocandidates,o foroaototaloofothreeoavailableovacancies,otherebyorenderingotheopetitioner'so selectionoaoforegoneocertainty.oTheoarbitraryoaccommodationooforespondentso Nos.o5oando6,oinobrazenodisregardoofotheogoverningolegaloframework,ohasothuso notoonlyovitiatedotheosanctityoofotheoselectionoprocessobutohasoalsoowroughto manifestoinjusticeouponotheopetitioner.oItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheex-posto factoorelaxationoofoselectionocriteria,obeingopatentlyoillegaloandoantitheticalotoo theo fundamentalo principleso ofo fairnesso ando transparency,o constituteso ano egregiousoviolationoofotheoconstitutionalomandateoasotheosettledocanonsoofolawo dictateothatoselectionorulesocannotobeodilutedooromodifiedoinoanoadohocomannero too confero undueo advantageo upono certaino individuals,o particularlyo ato theo terminalo stageo ofo theo recruitmento process.o Sucho ano acto ofo executiveo indulgence,oapartofromobeingoarbitraryoandolegallyoindefeasible,ostrikesoatotheo veryorootoofotheoprinciplesoofoequalityoandonon-discriminationoenshrinedoino theoConstitution.oTheolearnedocounselohasoiteratedothatotheoappointmentoofo respondentso No.5o ando 6,o havingo beeno effectuatedo througho ano abuseo ofo discretionoandoinoderogationoofotheoprescribedolegalonorms,oisoexofacieonullo andovoid,owhichowarrantsoimmediateojudicialointerdiction.ooItohasobeenofurthero arguedothat,oinoanyocase,osinceorelaxationowasoaffordedotoorespondentsoNo.5o o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 7o o &o6,osimilarotreatmentooughtotoohaveobeenometedooutotootheopetitioneroasowell,o byoaffordingohimograceomarks.ooo o o Onostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,ograntoofowritopetitionoinohando isovociferouslyoentreatedofor.oo

4.oo o Pursuantotoonoticeohavingobeenoissued,orespondentoNos.1otoo3o haveorespondedobyofilingoreply.oLearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheo respondentsoNo.1otoo3;oledobyoShrioVikasoChatrath,oAdvocate;owhileoraisingo submissionso ino tandemo witho theo saido reply,o haso submittedo thato theo pleao advancedobyotheopetitionerothroughotheoinstantowritopetitionoisomisconceivedo sinceo theo petitioner,o ao candidateo havingo failedo too meeto theo prescribedo qualifyingocriteria,oisoexofacieoineligibleoandohenceoheolacksotheolocusostandio tooassailotheoprocessoofoselection/appointment.ooItohasobeenothusourgedothatoao persono whoo doeso noto possesso theo requisiteo essentialo qualification(s)o cano neitherostakeoaoclaimotooanoappointment/selectiononorocallointooquestionotheo legitimacyothereof,omadeoinoaccordanceowithotheogoverningorules.oo o o Itohasobeenofurtherourgedobyotheolearnedocounselofororespondentso No.1otoo3othatotheopetitioner'soclaimoisopremisedosolelyoonoanoafterthought,o namely,oanoattemptotoochallengeoaoprocessoinowhichoheohasoparticipatedoando failed.o Learnedo counselo haso pressedo thato ao candidateo whoo haso willinglyo participatedo ino ao selectiono processo cannot,o upono findingo himselfo unsuccessful,oturnoaroundotooimpugnotheoveryoconditionsounderowhichotheo processowasoconducted.o o o Itohasobeenoiteratedobyotheolearnedocounselothatotheoprescriptiono ofo minimumo qualifyingo markso ino Clauseo 15o iso neithero ultrao vireso noro repugnantotooanyoconstitutionaloorostatutoryoprovision(s).oItohasobeenofurthero 2025.03.18g13:30 urgedobyolearnedocounselothatotheorequirementoofominimumomarksoservesoao o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 8o o legitimateo ando rationalo objective,o namely,o theo appointmento ofo onlyo thoseo candidatesowhooexhibitoaorequisiteodegreeoofomeritoandocompetenceobefittingo theoexaltedonatureoofotheopostoinoquestion.oo o o Learnedocounselohasofurtheroimploredothatotheopetitioner'soclaimo foro theo granto ofo 33o graceo marks,o too makeo upo foro theo shortfall,o standso ino manifesto contraventiono ofo theo conditionso explicitlyo enshrinedo ino theo advertisement.o o o Learnedo counselo foro respondentso No.1o too 3o haso furthero contendedothatotheoProvisionaloResultowasodeclaredoono31.07.2017,otheoviva-voceo waso conductedo ono 27.09.2017,o theo finalo resulto waso declaredo ono

16.08.2018oandotheonamesoofotheoselectedocandidatesowereorecommendedoforo appointmento byo impugnedo appointmento ordero datedo 21.12.2018o &o theo petitionerohasobelatedlyoapproachedothisocourtobyowayoofoinstantowritoinotheo yearo2021.ooo

4.1.o o NoneohasoappearedoonobehalfooforespondentoNos.4oando6odespiteo service.ooLearnedoseniorocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.5ohasomadeo submissions,oonosimilarolinesoasolearnedocounselofororespondentsoNo.1otoo3,o whileovociferouslyoopposingotheoplea(s)oraisedobyotheopetitioner.oo o o Onostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,odismissaloofotheoinstantowrito petitionoisocanvassedoforobyotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorepresentedo respondents.oo

5.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo perusedotheorecord.oo

6.o o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheowritopetitiono inohandoisoasotoowhetherotheopetitionerooughtotoobeograntedoappointment,oasoano 2025.03.18g13:30 Additionalo Districto ando Sessionso Judgeo ino theo Stateo ofo Haryana,o ando theo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 9o o selection/appointmentooforespondentsoNo.5oando6oasoAdditionaloDistrictoando SessionsoJudgeoinotheoStateoofoHaryanaooughtotoobeoquashed.oo

7.o o Weonowoproceedotoodilateoonotheorivalosubmissionsomadeoono behalfoofotheorepresentedorespondents.ooo o Re:o ValidityoofoClauseo15oprescribingotheominimumoqualifyingothresholdoofo 50opercentomarkso(forogeneralocategoryocandidate)oinoaggregate,oouto ofototalomarks,ofixedoforotheowrittenoexamoandotheovivaovoce.oo

8.o o Challengeohas,ofirstly,obeenolaidotoostatutoryovalidityoofoClauseo 15oonoaccountoofoitobeingoinvalidosinceoitocontravenesoArticleso233oando309oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia.ooInootherowords,overacityoofoClauseo15oisosoughtotoo beochallengedoonotheogroundoofotheosameobeingobeyondotheopoweroofotheoHigho Courtotoosupplementorulesoforoselection.ooo o o Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmentopassedobyoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino caseo ofo Dr.Kavitao Kambojo vs.o Higho Courto ofo Punjabo ando Haryanao &o others;o2024o(7)oSCCo103,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "65.o Inonumerousodecisions,othisoCourtohasoemphasizedotheoimportanceo ofo theo controlo whicho iso wieldedo byo theo Higho Courto overo theo Districto Judiciary.o o Undoubtedly,o ito iso equallyo well-settledo thato wheno theo Ruleso undero Articleo 309o holdo theo field,o theseo Ruleso haveo too beo implemented.oo WhereospecificoprovisionsoareomadeoinotheoRulesoframedounderoArticleo309,o itowouldonotobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotooissueoadministrativeodirectionso eitheroinotheoformoofotheoFulloCourtoResolutionoorootherwise,othatoareoato inconsistentowithotheomandateoofotheoRules.ooOnotheootherohand,oinocaseso suchoasotheooneoatohand,owhereotheoRulesowereosilent,oitoisoopenotootheoHigho CourtotooissueoaoFulloCourtoResolution."o o o Further,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Ramesho Kumarovs.oHighoCourtoofoDelhio&oothers,o2010(3)oSCCo104ohasoheldothat:o o "13.o Thus,olawoonotheoissueocanobeosummarizedotootheoeffectothatoinocaseo 2025.03.18g13:30 theostatutoryorulesoprescribeoaoparticularomodeoofoselection,oitohasotoobeo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 10o o givenostrictoadherenceoaccordingly.ooInocase,onooprocedureoisoprescribedobyo theorulesoandothereoisonoootheroimpedimentoinolaw,otheocompetentoauthorityo whileolayingodownotheonormsoforoselectionomayoprescribeoforotheotestsoando furtherospecificotheominimumoBenchoMarksoforowrittenotestoasowelloasoforo viva-voce."o o o Theo ratioo decidendio ofo theo aboveo case-lawo unequivocallyo reflectsothatowhereotheoRulesoframedounderoArticleo309oofotheoConstitutiono areosilent,oasoregardsotheomanneroinowhichotheomeritoandosuitabilityowouldobeo determined,oadministrativeoinstructionsocanowellosupplementotheoRulesoinothato regard.oSuchoanoeventualityoshouldonotobeooneowhereotheoRulesohaveomadeoao specifico provisiono ino whicho evento theo administrativeo instructionso cannoto transgressoaoRuleowhichohasobeenomadeoinopursuanceoofotheopoweroconferredo undero Articleo 309o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India.o o Ino othero words,o theo appropriateoconcernedoauthorityocannotoamendoorosupersedeoaostatutoryoRuleo byo administrativeo actions.o o However,o ito iso openo too it,o too issueo requiredo instructions,otoofilloupotheogapsoandosupplementotheoRules,owhereotheyoareo silento ono anyo particularo point.o Sucho instructionso haveo ao bindingo forceo providedo theyo areo subserviento too theo statutoryo provisiono ando areo noto ino violationo thereof.o Ito is,o therefore,o ao jurisprudentialo canono thato whereo theo principalo statutoryo provision(s)o ando theo extanto regulatoryo frameworko governingotheoselectionoprocessoareosilentoonoaoparticularoaspectothereof,otheo HighoCourt,oinotheoexerciseoofoitsoadministrativeoauthorityoasotheoappointingo body,oisoimbuedowithotheoinherentopowerotoosupplementosuchodeficiencies.ooIno theoabsenceoofoexpressolegislativeoprescription,oitoisowithinotheoHighoCourt'so prerogativeotoofillotheointersticesoofotheolaw,obyoformulatingonecessaryoruleso andomodalitiesogoverningotheoconductoofoexaminations,otheomethodologyoforo adjudgingomerit,oandotheocriteriaoforoassessingosuitability,otherebyoensuringoAJAYgKUMAR o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 11o o integrity,ofairness,oandoefficacyoofotheoselectionoprocess.oItothusocannotobeo saido thato ino theo absenceo ofo anyo explicito provisiono ino theo extanto legalo frameworkonecessitatingoaominimumoqualifyingothreshold,otheointroductiono ofosuchoaocriterionobyoanoadministrativeofiatoamountsotooaotransgressionoofo fundamentalo tenet(s)o ofo jurisprudence,o namely,o thato theo selectiono bodieso cannoto engrafto additionalo conditionso thato areo neithero contemplatedo noro envisagedobyotheoextantorules.o o o Revertingotootheofactualomatrixoofotheolisoinohand;o2007oRules,o whenoscrutinizedoinotheobackdropoofoArticleo309oofotheoConstitution,omanifesto thato currento situationo iso noto theo oneo whereino theo principalo statutoryo provision(s)o oro extanto regulation(s)o haso expresslyo stipulatedo ao specifico mandateotherebyorenderingoClauseo15orepugnantotoooroinoderogationothereofo oro anyo othero overarchingo Constitutionalo oro statutoryo framework.o o Ono theo contrary,o noo explicito proscriptiono emanateso fromo theseo foundationalo provisionsothatowouldorenderotheorequirementoprescribedothereinoultraoviresooro inotransgressionoofotheogoverningolegaloregime.oTheoexpressiono"mayofurthero holdowrittenoexaminationoandovivaovoceotestofororecruitment"oasoemployedoino Ruleo 7o ofo theo 2007o Rules,o conferso upono theo Higho Courto ano impliedo ando inherento authorityo too regulateo &o prescribeo theo modalitieso governingo theo selectiono process.o Thiso plenaryo discretiono encompasseso theo powero too determineotheomodeoandomanneroofoconductingoexaminations,oincludingotheo prerogativeotoostipulateominimumoqualifyingomarks,oshouldoitodeemosuchoao prescriptiononecessaryotooupholdotheostandardsoofomeritoandosuitability.ooTheo phrase,obyoitsoveryotenor,osignifiesoaobroadoandoenablingomandate,ovestingotheo HighoCourt,owithotheolatitudeotoodeviseoandoimplementomeasuresothatoensureo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 12o o integrity,ofairness,oandoefficacyoofotheorecruitmentoprocess,oinoconsonanceo withotheooverarchingoconstitutionaloandostatutoryoframework.oo o o Ito iso thuso indubitableo thato theo criteriao foro securingo minimumo marksoinotheoaggregate,ooutoofotheototalomarksofixedoforotheowrittenotestoando theo viva-voce,o doonotoproscribeoanyo lawfulo mandate.oErgo,o theo challengeo madeobyotheopetitioneroonothisoaccountodeservesotoomeetofailure.o

8.1.o o Theo petitionero has,o secondly,o soughto too assailo theo criteriao prescribedoinoClauseo15o(tootheoextentoitomandatorilyorequiresoaocandidateotoo haveosuccessfullyosecuredo50%omarks,oinocaseoofogeneralocategoryocandidate,o inotheoaggregateooutoofotheototalomarksofixedoforotheowrittenotestoandoviva-voce)oonotheopremiseothatonoominimumomarksocanobeoprescribedoinocontextoofo ao selectiono process,o aso theo sameo iso competitiveo ino natureo intero seo theo candidates.oo o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoAbhimeeto Sinhao&oothersovs.oHighoCourtoofoJudicatureoofoPatnao&oothers;o2024(7)o SCCo 262,o whileo dealingo witho theo issueo aso too whethero prescriptiono ofo minimumo markso foro viva-voceo beingo violativeo ofo Articleso 14o ando 15o ofo ConstitutionoofoIndiaohasoheldothus:o o "67.o o Theoaboveowouldoshowothatothereoisoaoreasonableoandodirecto nexusowithotheoobjectosoughtotoobeoachievedoi.e.otheoappointmentoofowell-roundedojudicialoofficers.ooTheoprescriptionoofominimumocutooffoisoalsoonoto perceivedo too beo ofo sucho ao natureo thato ito reekso ofo irrationality,o oro waso capriciousoand/orowithoutoanyoadequateodeterminingoprinciple.ooItodoesonoto appearo too beo disproportionateo soo aso too adverselyo affecto "meritorious"o candidates,oasohasobeenoargued.ooItoisocertainlyonotomanifestlyoarbitrary,ooro irrationalo oro violativeo ofo Articleo 14o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India.o o Foro recruitmentoofojudicialoofficers,oideallyotheoeffortoshouldobeotoonotoonlyotesto theocandidate'sointellectobutoalsootheiropersonality.ooAnointerviewounveilso theoessenceoofoaocandidateo-ootheiropersonality,opassion,oandopotential.oo 2025.03.18g13:30 Whileo theo writteno examso measureso knowledge,o theo interviewo revealso o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 13o o charactero ando capability.o o Therefore,o ao persono seekingo ao responsibleo positionoparticularlyoasoaojudicialoofficeroshouldonotobeoshortlistedoonlyobyo theiroperformanceoonopaper,obutoalsoobyotheiroabilityotooarticulateoando engageowhichowillodemonstrateotheirosuitabilityoforotheoroleoofoaopresidingo officeroinoaocourt.ooIno otherowords,otheocapabilityoandopotentialoofotheo candidate,otoopresideoinoCourtotooadjudicateoadversarialolitigationomusto alsoobeocarefullyoassessedoduringotheointerview."o o o Theoratioodecidendioofothisojudgmentoreflectsothat,oinocaseoofo appointmentotoojudiciary,otheoprescriptionoofominimumomarksoinovivaovoceoiso inotandemowithotheotenetsoofolaw.ooTheodictaowouldoapplyomutatisomutandisotoo aoconditionoprescribingominimumoqualifyingomarksoinotheowrittenoexamoaso alsoo too aggregateo ofo theo writteno examo ando theo vivao voce.o Thereo iso noo gainsayingothatoitomayobeonecessaryoinoviewoofotheofactothatoitoisoimperativeo thato onlyo personso witho ao prescribedo minimumo ofo saido qualities/capacitieso shouldobeoselected,oasootherwiseotheostandardoofojudiciaryowouldogetodilutedo andosub-standardocandidatesomayogetoselected.ooItofallsosquarelyowithinotheo prerogativeoofotheoselectingoauthorityotoostipulateocriteriaothatoensuresotheo recruitmentoofocandidatesoofotheohighestocaliber,oparticularlyoforoaopostoofo significantojudicialoresponsibilityosinceotheopowerotoodetermineotheoessentialo qualificationsoforoaogivenopositionoisoanointrinsicoattributeoofotheoselectingo authority.oInterviewomayoalsoobeotheobestomodeoandomostoefficaciousowayoforo assessingotheosuitabilityoofoaocandidateoforoaoparticularoposition,oasoitobringso outooverallointellectualoqualitiesoofotheocandidatesoandojudicialotemperamento thatotheyopossess.oWhileotheowrittenotestowillotestifyotheocandidate'soacademico knowledge,otheooralotestocanobringooutoorodiscloseooverallointellectualoando personaloqualitiesolikeoalertness,oresourcefulness,odependability,ocapacityoforo discussion,oabilityotootakeodecisions,oqualitiesoofoleadershipoetc.owhichoareo 2025.03.18g13:30 alsooessentialoforoaoJudicialoofficer.oItoisothusoineluctableothatoaocondition,oaso o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 14o o iso containedoino Clauseo 15,o isopermissibleo foro adjudgingo theo qualitieso ando capacitiesoofotheocandidateoseekingoanoappointmentotoojudiciary.oThus,otheo challengeomadeobyotheopetitioneroinoinstantowritopetitionoonothisoaccount,o deservesotoobeorejected.ooo Re:o Ano unsuccessfulo candidate'so righto too challengeo conditions/qualificationso ofo ao selectiono processo aftero havingo voluntarilyoparticipatedotherein.oo

9.o o Theo factualo matrixo ofo theo caseo ino hando reflectso thato theo advertisemento ino questiono waso issuedo ono 16.07.2015,o examinationo waso conductedothereafteroandoprovisionaloresultoofotheowrittenoexaminationowaso declaredoono31.07.2017,otheoviva-voceowasoconductedoono27.09.2017,otheo finalo resulto waso declaredo ono 16.08.2018o ando theo nameso ofo theo selectedo candidateocameotoobeorecommendedovideotheoimpugnedoappointmentoordero datedo 21.12.2018.Thiso factualo backdropo unequivocallyo reflectso thato theo petitionerohadochosenotoovoluntarilyoparticipateoinotheoselectionoprocess.ooo o o Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoTajviroSinghoSodio andoothersovs.oTheoStateoofoJammuoandoKashmiroandootherso2023(3)oSCRo 714,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "13.1o o Itoisothereforeotriteothatocandidates,ohavingotakenopartoinotheo selectionoprocessowithoutoanyodemurooroprotest,ocannotochallengeotheosameo aftero havingo beeno declaredo unsuccessful.o o Theo candidateso cannoto approbateo ando reprobateo ato theo sameo time.o o Ino othero words,o simplyo becauseotheoresultoofotheoselectionoprocessoisonotopalatableotooaocandidate,o heocannotoallegeothatotheoprocessoofointerviewowasounfairoorothatothereowaso someolacunaoinotheoprocess.ooTherefore,oweofindothatotheowritopetitionersoino theseocases,ocouldonotohaveoquestionedobeforeoaoCourtoofolaw,otheorationaleo behindorecastingotheoselectionocriteria,oasotheyowillinglyotookopartoinotheo selectiono processo eveno aftero theo criteriao hado beeno soo recast.o o Theiro 2025.03.18g13:30 candidatureo waso noto withdrawno ino lighto ofo theo amendedo criteria.o o Ao o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 15o o challengeowasothrownoagainstotheosameoonlyoafterotheyohadobeenodeclaredo unsuccessfuloinotheoselectionoprocess,oatowhichostage,otheochallengeooughto noto too haveo beeno entertainedo ino lighto ofo theo principleo ofo waivero ando acquiescence."o o o Indubitably,o ito iso ano ineluctableo legalo principleo thato onceo ao candidateohasovoluntarilyoappliedoforoandoparticipatedoinoaoselectionoprocess,o heoisointerdictedofromosubsequentlyochallengingoitsolegalityoorofairnessoofotheo process,obasedoonotheodoctrineoofoestoppel.oThisoprincipleooperatesotooprevento aopartyofromoapprobatingoandoreprobatingoatotheosameotimeoviz.;ooneocannoto acceptotheobenefitsoofoaoprocessowhileosimultaneouslyodisputingoitsovalidity.o Suchoconductowouldobeocontradictoryoandoinconsistent,oakinotooblowingohoto andocoldosimultaneously,ounderminingotheointegrityoofotheoprocessoandotheo principlesoofofairnessothatogovernoadministrativeoprocedures.oTheodoctrineoofo estoppelobyoelectionoisooneoamongotheospeciesoofoestoppel,owhichoessentiallyo isoaoruleoofoequity.ooByothisolaw,oaopersonomayobeoprecluded,obyowayoofohiso actions,ooroconduct,oorosilenceowhenoitoisohisodutyotoospeakoforoassertingoao righto whicho heo wouldo haveo otherwiseo had.o Theo lawo iso thuso statedo ino Halsbury'soLawsoofoEngland,oVol.XIII,op.464,oparao5412,oreadsothus:o o "Onotheoprincipleothatoaopersonomayonotoapprobateoandoreprobate,o aospeciesoofoestoppelohasoarisenowhichoseemsotoobeointermediateo betweeno estoppelo byo recordo ando estoppelo ino pais,o ando mayo convenientlyobeoreferredotoohere.ooThusoaopartyocannot,oafterotakingo advantageounderoanoordero(e.g.opaymentoofocosts),obeoheardotoosayo thatoitoisoinvalidoandoaskotoosetoitoaside,oorotoosetoupotootheoprejudiceo ofopersonsowhoohaveoreliedouponoitoaocaseoinconsistentowithothato uponowhichoitowasofounded;onorowilloheoobeoallowedotoogoobehindoano orderomadeoinoignoranceoofotheotrueofactsotootheoprejudiceoofothirdo partiesowhoohaveoactedoonoit."o o o Ergo;ohavingovoluntarilyoparticipatedoinotheoselectionoprocesso AJAYgKUMAR withoClauseo15oofotheoAdvertisementoinoquestionobeingoclearlyoinovogueoando o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 16o o noto raisingo anyo demuro oro protesto too veracityo thereof;o theo petitionero iso precludedofromodisputingoitsofairnessoorolegality,oatothisostage,obyowayoofotheo writopetitionoinohandosimplyobecauseotheoresultoofotheoselectionoprocessoisonoto palatableotoohim.ooTooputoitodifferently,oaochallengeohasobeenoraisedoagainsto theoselectionocriteriaoonlyoafterotheopetitionerofoundohimselfounsuccessfuloino theoselectionoprocess.oTheopetitioner,oino theofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoino hand,o havingo acquiescedo too theo termso ofo theo advertisemento ando havingo subjectedo himselfo too theo prescribedo criteria,o iso estoppedo ino lawo fromo challengingo theo requiremento ofo minimumo qualifyingo markso merelyo aso ano expedientorecourseotoosecureoaosecondoopportunityoatoappointment.ooSuchoao challenge,opostofacto,oisonotoonlyountenableobutoalsooreeksoofoanoafterthought,o ato theo endo ofo theo petitioner,o aimedo ato circumventingo theo dueo processo ofo selection.oTheowritopetitionoinohand,othus,odeservesodismissaloonotheoscoreoofo theopetitioner'sochallengeonotobeingoentertainableoinotheolightoofoprincipleoofo waiveroandoacquiescence.ooo Re:oo Locusostandioofoanoineligibleocandidateotoochallengeotheoresulto ofoselectionoprocesso

10.o o Theounambiguous,ocrystaloclearoandolucidolanguageoofoClauseo15o admitsonooambiguityoinoitsoimperativeomandate,othatoaocandidateowhoofailsotoo secureo theo prescribedo minimumo qualifyingo markso iso therebyo renderedo ineligibleoforoconsiderationoofoanoappointment.ooTheorequirementoofoattainingo ao minimumo ofo 50%o markso iso noto ao mereo proceduralo formality;o noro ao dispensableothresholdothatomayobeooverlookedoatojudicialodiscretion;orather,oito constitutesoanoindispensableoprerequisite,oaosineoquaonon,oforoeligibility.ooTheo petitioner,o havingo securedo markso (i.e.o 467o marks)o fallingo belowo theo 2025.03.18g13:30 prescribedothresholdoofominimumoqualifyingomarkso(i.e.o500omarks),ostandso o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 17o o exo facieo ineligibleo foro considerationo foro ano appointment,o ino lighto ofo theo categoricalomandateoenshrinedoinoClauseo15.o o o Ito iso ao triteo canono ofo lawo thato ano individualo whoo standso disqualifiedoaboinitiooisoprecludedofromoimpugningotheoselectionoprocessooro assailingotheoappointmentoofothoseowhoohaveodulyometotheoprescribedocriteriao ando haveo beeno lawfullyo inductedo intoo service.o o Too permito ano ineligibleo aspirantotoochallengeotheorecruitmentoprocessowouldobeotoosubvertotheoveryo foundationoofomeritocraticoselectionoandotoocountenanceoaoclaimothatotheolawo itselfohasoforeclosed.ooooo o o Itowouldobeoappositeotooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyo Divisiono Bencho ofo thiso Courto ino theo caseo ofo Purano Chando vs.o Stateo ofo Haryanaoandoothers;o2012(1)oSCTo247;orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o o "10.o Itoisowellosettledothatoifoaopersonolacksoqualificationotoobeoeligibleo foro appointmento too ao posto theno heo iso noto permittedo too challengeo theo selectionoprocessobecauseoinosuchoaosituationonooeffectiveoreliefocouldobeo grantedotoohim.ooAccordingly,oheowouldonotohaveoanyolocusostandi.oInoJeeto Singhoandoanotherov.oStateoofoPunjab,o1979(1)oSLRo604,otheoquestionofello foro considerationo ofo Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Court.o o Ino parao 8o ofo theo judgmentoitohasobeenoheldothatothoseopetitionersolackedolocusostandiotoofileo aopetitionobecauseotheyowereonotoqualifiedoforopromotionoandotheyodidonoto haveoanyorightoforopromotionoprioroforotheoselectedocandidateonorotheyo couldosucceedoinotheiroclaim."o o o Itoisooneomatterotoochallengeoanoappointmentotooaopublicoofficeo throughoaowritoofoquoowarranto,oaoremedyofirmlyoentrenchedoinotheodomainoofo publicolaw,owhichoisoconcernedoexclusivelyowithoensuringothatonooindividualo usurpso oro encroacheso upono ao publico officeo withouto possessingo theo lawfulo authorityo too doo so.o Theo essenceo ofo quoo warrantoo lieso ino scrutinizingo theo appointee'soqualificationsovis-?-visotheoeligibilityocriteriaoprescribedoforotheo AJAYgKUMAR post,owithoutoregardotootheopersonalointerestoofotheopetitioner.oHowever,oitoiso o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 18o o anoaltogetherodifferentopropositionotoomountoaochallengeobyomeansoofoaowrito ofocertiorari,ocoupledowithoaoprayeroforomandamus,owherebyoaolitigantonoto onlyo seekso theo quashingo ofo theo selectiono processo buto alsoo aspireso too ao consequentialo directiono foro hiso owno appointment,o ino substitutiono ofothoseo dulyo selectedo ando appointed.o Theo lattero formo ofo challengeo iso distinctlyo personaloinonature,ohingingonotouponoaoquestionoofopublicorightobutouponoano individualoassertionoofoentitlementotootheoofficeoinoquestion.o o o Ino sucho circumstances,o theo doctrineo ofo locuso standio assumeso paramountoimportance.oTheolitigantomustofirstoestablishohisolegalostandingotoo maintainosuchoaochallenge,oforotheoinvocationoofocertiorarioandomandamusoiso noto ano exerciseo openo too allo ando sundry,o buto ao privilegeo contingento upono demonstrableoeligibilityoandoentitlement.oWhereoaolitigantoisohimselfobereftoofo theo requisiteo qualifications,o heo iso correspondinglyo berefto ofo theo locuso necessaryo too callo intoo questiono theo selectiono processo oro theo resultanto appointmentsothroughocertiorarioorotooseekomandamusoinohisoownofavour.o Theolawodoesonotolendoitselfotoobeowieldedoasoanoinstrumentoofosubterfugeobyo oneowho,obyohisoownoineligibility,ostandsodisentitledotootheoveryoreliefoheo seeks.oItoisoaowell-settledotenetoofoourojurisprudenceothatooneowhoohasofailedo toosurmountotheothresholdoofoeligibilityocannot,oinotheosameobreath,oseekotoo vitiateotheoappointmentoofothoseowhoohaveolawfullyosucceeded,onorocanoheo aspireotoodonotheomantleoofoanoofficeothroughotheoindirectomeansoofojudicialo intervention.oTheocourts,oactingoinotheiroextraordinaryowritojurisdiction,odoo notopermitotheomisuseoofoconstitutionaloremediesoasoaostratagemotooachieveo whatotheolawohasoexpresslyodenied.oTooentertainosuchoaoclaimowouldobeotooseto atonaughtotheosanctityoofotheoselectionoprocessoandotooextendoaoremedyowhereo 2025.03.18g13:30 noneoisowarrantedoinolaw.o o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 19o o o o Aolitigantowhoolacksotheofoundationaloeligibilityoforoappointmento standsowhollyodisqualifiedofromochallengingotheoselectionoandoappointmento ofoothers,oparticularlyounderotheopretendedoinvocationoofoquoowarranto.oTheo attemptotooentwineoquoowarrantoowithocertiorarioandomandamusoinopursuitoofo personalo redresso iso noto merelyo legallyo untenableo buto jurisprudentiallyo perverse.oTheoextraordinaryojurisdictionoofotheocourtoisoaosanctuaryoforotheo enforcemento ofo legalo rights,o noto ao forumo foro theo redresso ofo disqualifiedo aspirations.oTheolaw,oinoitsowisdom,odoesonotograntostandingotoothoseowhoo seekotooaccomplishobyolitigationowhatotheyocouldonotosecureobyomerit.oToo holdootherwiseowouldobeotoosubvertotheoveryoprinciplesoofofairness,olegality,o andodueoprocessothatotheowritojurisdictionoexistsotoouphold.o Re:o Pleaoofonegativeoequalityoraisedoatoinstanceoofoanounsuccessfulo candidateoo

11.o o Theo petitionero haso furthero soughto too asserto hiso claimo aso ao successfulo candidateo byo invokingo theo doctrineo ofo negativeo equality,o predicatingohisoentitlementouponotheoperceivedoinfirmitiesoinotheocandidatureo ofotheorespondentsoNo.5oando6.ooHowever,oitoisoaowell-settledoprincipleoofolawo thatoequalityocannotobeoclaimedoinoillegalityoandomereorelianceoonoostensibleo lapsesooroproceduralolacunaeoinotheocredentialsoofoothersodoesonotoconferoao rightouponotheopetitioner.oTheodoctrineoofoequalityofindsonooapplicationowhereo theopetitionerohimselfofailsotoomeetotheoprescribedocriteria,oforoparityocannoto beodrawnofromoirregularitiesonorocanoanoillegalityobeoperpetuatedoonotheoanvilo ofoanother.ooooo o o Beforeodilatingoonothisoaspectoofotheomatter,oitowouldobeoappositeo tooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 20o o caseoofoGurushananoSinghoandoothersovs.oNewoDelhioMunicipaloCommitteeo andoothers,o1996(2)oSCCo459,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o o "9.o o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Thereo appearso too beo someo confusionoinorespectoofotheoscopeoofoArticleo14oofotheoConstitutionowhicho guaranteesoequalityobeforeolawotooallocitizens.oThisoguaranteeoofoequalityo beforeolawoisoaopositiveoconceptoandoitocannotobeoenforcedobyoaocitizenooro courtoinoaonegativeomanner.oTooputoitoinootherowords,oifoanoillegalityooro irregularityohasobeenocommittedoinofavouroofoanyoindividualooroaogroupoofo individuals,otheoothersocannotoinvokeotheojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtooro ofothisoCourt,othatotheosameoirregularityooroillegalityobeocommittedobyotheo StateooroanoauthorityowhichocanobeoheldotoobeoaoStateowithinotheomeaningoofo Articleo12oofotheoConstitution,osoofarosuchopetitionersoareoconcerned,oono theoreasoningothatotheyohaveobeenodeniedotheobenefitsowhichohaveobeeno extendedo too otherso althougho ino ano irregularo oro illegalo manner.o Sucho petitionersocanoquestionotheovalidityoofoordersowhichoareosaidotoohaveobeeno passedoinofavouroofopersonsowhoowereonotoentitledotootheosame,obutotheyo cannotoclaimoordersowhichoareonotosanctionedobyolawoinotheirofavouroono principleoofoequalityobeforeolaw.oNeitheroArticleo14oofotheoConstitutiono conceiveso withino theo equalityo clauseo thiso concepto noro Articleo 226o empowersotheoHighoCourtotooenforceosuchoclaimoofoequalityobeforeolaw.oIfo sucho claimso areo enforcedo ito shallo amounto too directingo too continueo ando perpetuateoanoillegaloprocedureooroanoillegaloorderoforoextendingosimilaro benefitsotooothers.oBeforeoaoclaimobasedoonoequalityoclauseoisoupheld,oito mustobeoestablishedobyotheopetitionerothatohisoclaimobeingojustoandolegal,o hasobeenodeniedotoohim,owhileoitohasobeenoextendedotooothersoandoinothiso processothereohasobeenoaodiscrimination."o o o Itois,othus,oindisputableothatoequality,oasoaoright,owhichocannotobeo claimedoinoillegalityoandotherefore,ocannotobeoenforcedobyoaocitizenoorotheo courto ino ao negativeo manner.o o Ifo ano illegalityo ando irregularityo haso beeno committedoinofavouroofoanoindividualooroaogroupoofoindividualsooroaowrongo ordero haso beeno passedo byo ao Judicialo forum,o otherso cannoto invokeo theo jurisdictionofororepeatingooromultiplyingotheosameoirregularityooroillegality.o Re:oo o Awardoofograceomarksotooanounsuccessfulocandidateo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 21o o

12.o o Anotheroplea,owhichoisoclearlyoinotheonatureoofotheolastoditcho ground,omadeobyotheopetitionerois,oforograntoofograceomarksoforoqualifyingotheo selectiono process.o o Theo petitioner'so plea,o foro relaxationo ino theo prescribedo thresholdo iso whollyo devoido ofo legalo foundation,o foro ito iso ao wello settledo principleo thato eligibilityo conditions,o onceo lawfullyo stipulated,o cannoto beo attenuated,o diluted,o oro tailoredo too accommodateo theo exigencieso ofo ano individualocandidate.ooThus,oconfermentoofoadditionaloorograceomarks,oinotheo realmo ofo publico appointments,o withouto theo imprimaturo ofo reasonedo justification,owouldoamountotooanoegregiousodepartureofromotheosacrosancto principlesoofofairnessoandoequality.ooSuchoanoarbitraryoindulgence,oextendedo tooaoparticularocandidate,owouldobeoinostarkodefianceoofotheoconstitutionalo guaranteeso enshrinedo undero Articleso 14o ando 16,o whicho mandateo thato allo candidatesobeoaccordedoequalotreatmentoinomattersoofopublicoemployment.oAto thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoBhanuoPratapovs.oStateoofoHaryanaoando others,oAIRo2011oSupremeoCourto3272,odealingowithotheoissueooforoundingo offo theo markso ofo ao candidateo too makeo sucho candidateo eligible,o relevanto whereoforeadsoasounder:o o "14.o Inotheolightoofotheorecordsoplacedobeforeousoweohaveoconsideredotheo aforesaido submissionso ofo theo counselo appearingo foro theo parties.o Theo relevantoRulesohaveoalreadyobeenoextractedoabove.oAobareoreadingoofotheo aforesaidorulesowouldomakeoitocrystaloclearothatoinoorderotooqualifyoinotheo writtenoexaminationoaocandidateohasotooobtainoatoleasto33%omarksoinoeacho ofotheopapersoandoatoleasto50%oqualifyingomarksoinotheoaggregateoinoallotheo writtenopapers.oTheofurtheromandateoofotheorulesoisothatoaocandidateowouldo notobeoconsideredoasoqualifiedoinotheoexaminationounlessoheoobtainsoatleasto 50%omarksoinotheoaggregateoincludingoviva-voceotest.oWhenoemphasisoiso givenoinotheoRulesoitselfotootheominimumomarksotoobeoobtainedomakingoito clearothatoatoleastotheosaidominimumomarksohaveotoobeoobtainedobyotheo o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 22o o concernedocandidateothereocannotobeoaoquestionooforelaxationoororoundingo offoasosoughtotoobeosubmittedobyotheocounseloappearingoforotheoappellant.o o 15.o Thereoisonoopoweroprovidedoinotheostatuteonoroanyosuchostipulationo wasomadeoinotheoadvertisementoandoalsooinotheostatutoryoRulesopermittingo anyosuchoroundingooffoorogivingograceomarksosooasotoobringoupoaocandidateo tootheominimumorequirement.Inoouroconsideredoopinion,onoosuchoroundingo offoororelaxationowasopermissible.oTheoRulesoareostatutoryoinonatureoandonoo dilutionooroamendmentotoosuchoRulesoisopermissibleooropossibleobyoaddingo someowordsotootheosaidostatutoryorulesoforoprovidingoorogivingotheobenefito oforoundingooffoororelaxation.o o 16.oo Weomayoalsoodrawosupportoinothisoconnectionofromoaodecisionoofo thiso Courto ino Districto Collectoro &o Chairman,o Vizianagaramo Socialo WelfareoResidentialoSchooloSociety,oVizianagaramoandoAnother.ov.oM.o TripuraoSundarioDevioreportedoino(1990)o3oSCC655.oInotheosaidojudgmento thiso Courto haso laido downo thato wheno ano advertisemento mentionso ao particularoqualificationoandoanoappointmentoisomadeoinodisregardoofotheo sameothenoitoisonotoaomatteroonlyobetweenotheoappointingoauthorityoandotheo appointeeoconcerned.oTheoaggrievedoareoallothoseowhoohadosimilarooroeveno betteroqualificationsothanotheoappointeeooroappointeesobutowhoohadonoto appliedo foro theo posto becauseo theyo dido noto possesso theo qualificationso mentionedoinotheoadvertisement.o o 17.oo InotheocaseoofoUmraooSinghoVs.oPunjabioUniversity,oPatialaoando Ors.oreportedoino(2005)o13oSCCo365othisoCourtowhileodealingowithotheo poweroofoSelectionoCommitteeofororelaxationoofonormsoheldothus:o-o o "Anothero aspecto whicho thiso Courto haso highlightedo iso scopeo foro relaxationoofonorms.oAlthoughoCourtomustolookowithorespectoupono theo performanceo ofo dutieso byo expertso ino theo respectiveo fields,o ito cannotoabdicateoitsofunctionsoofousheringoinoaosocietyobasedoonoruleo ofolaw.oOnceoitoisomostosatisfactorilyoestablishedothatotheoSelectiono Committeeodidonotohaveotheopowerotoorelaxoessentialoqualification,o theoentireoprocessoofoselectionosoofaroasotheoselectedocandidateoiso concernedo getso vitiated.oInoP.K.o Ramchandrao Iyero ando Ors.o v.o UnionoofoIndiaoandoOrs.o(1984)ILLJ314SCothisoCourtoheldothato onceo ito iso establishedo thato thereo iso noo powero too relaxo essentialo qualification,otheoentireoprocessoofoselectionoofotheocandidateowaso ino contraventiono ofo theo establishedo normso prescribedo byo advertisement.oTheopowerotoorelaxomustobeoclearlyospeltooutoando cannotootherwiseobeoexercised."o o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 23o o o o Theo ratioo decidendio ofo theo aboveo caseo lawo -o unequivocallyo showsothatotheoApexoCourtohasoproscribedotheoexerciseoofopowerofororoundingo offotheomarksoofoaocandidateosooasotooenableohimotoobeoselectedounlessosucho powero exists,o expressly.o Wheno theo wordso ofo statuteo areo clear,o plaino oro unambiguous,oi.e.otheosameoareosusceptibleotooonlyooneomeaning,oaoCourtoofo lawoisoboundotoogiveoeffectotoothatomeaningoirrespectiveoofoconsequenceso flowingotherefrom,osinceotheostatuteospeaksoforoitself.oThisocanonoofolaw,o wouldoapplyowithoevenomoreofervour,otooaopleaoseekingograntoofograceomarks.ooo o o Theofactualomatrixoofotheocaseounderoconsiderationoreflectsothat,o Clauseo15,owhichoisomandatoryoinonature,odoesonotoprovideoforoanyopoweroforo givingograceomarksosooasotoobringoupoaocandidateotooaominimumorequirement.ooo Ino othero words,o 2007o Ruleso areo statutoryo ino natureo ando noo dilutiono oro amendmentotoosuchoRulesoisopermissibleooropossibleobyoaddingosomeowordso tootheosameoforogivingobenefitooforelaxationobyowayoofograceomarks.ooTheo emphasisoprovidedoforoinoClauseo15oitselfoisoasoregardsotheominimumomarkso toobeoobtainedoasoqualification,otherefore,ounlessosuchominimumomarksohaveo beenoobtainedobyo theo petitioner,othereocannoto beo aoquestionoofo relaxationo muchlessograntoofograceomarks.ooTheoeligibilityocriteria,oincludingoregardingo obtainingominimumoqualifyingomarks,ooughtotoobeostrictlyoadheredotooandonoo graceomarksocanobeogivenotootheopetitionerolestosuchodilutionoorotamperingo withotheomandatoryorequirementoofoClauseo15omayoprecipitateoinjusticeoono otherocandidates.ooTheolawocountenancesonoopreferentialotreatmentooroadohoco relaxationoinofavouroofoanoindividual,oparticularlyowhenosuchorelaxationohaso neithero statutoryo sanctiono noro anyo reasonableo nexuso witho theo avowedo objectiveoofosecuringomeritoriousoappointments.oTheoeffusiveoclarionocallobyo 2025.03.18g13:30 petitionero foro grantingo justice,o byo wayo ofo awardingo graceo marks,o iso o CWP-17640-2021oo o o o o o 24o o essentiallyofoundedoonoaoparadoxoof,owrestingocompassionoonooneohandoando assertingoaoprerogativeoonoanotherohand,owhichoisobeyondotheopurviewoofotheo legaloframework.oWe,oergo,oareounableotooaffirmativelyorespondotoosuchoao pleaoraisedobyotheopetitioner,owhichoindubitablyocallsofororejection.ooo Decisiono

13.oo o Inoviewoofotheoprecedingoratiocination,otheowritopetitionoinohando isodismissed.oPendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedoofo accordingly.oThereoshallobeonooorderoasotoocosts.oo o o o o o o o o o o o (SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o (SHEELoNAGU)o o JUDGEo o o o o o CHIEFoJUSTICEo o o o o o o o o o Marcho18,o2025o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yeso o