Divya Kalia v. State of Haryana and Ors

CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o ooooCWP-23835-2024o(O&M)o Dateoofodecision:o20.03.2025o DivyaoKaliaoo o o o o o o ....Petitionero V/so o StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o o ....Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSHEELoNAGU,oCHIEFoJUSTICEoo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oAnandoChhibbar,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oShreyaoB.oSarin,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oHimanshuoMalik,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oNaveenoS.oBhardwaj,oAddl.oAdvocateoGeneral,oHaryanao o o fororespondentoNos.1,o4o&o5.o o o o Mr.oSukhdeepoSinghoChhatwal,oAdvocateoforoo o o Mr.oAjaiviroSingh,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2-HighoCourt.oo o o Mr.oBalvinderoSinghoSangwan,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.3-HPSC.oo o o o o o o o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJUDGEo

1.o o Takingo exceptiono too theo rejectiono ofo hero candidatureo ino theo HaryanaoCiviloServiceso(JudicialoBranch)oExaminationoforotheoyearo2023-2024,otheopetitionerohasosoughtoforograntoofoaowritoforoheroappointmentoaso CiviloJudgeo(JunioroDivision)oinotheoStateoofoHaryana.ooo

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

(i)oo o Video Advertisemento datedo 01.01.2024o (hereinaftero too beo referredo too aso 'advertisemento ino question')o theo respondento No.3o namelyo Haryanao Publico Serviceo Commissiono (hereinaftero too beo referredo too aso 'HPSC')o advertisedo theo vacancieso ofo Civilo Judgeo (Junioro Division)ino theo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 2o o StateoofoHaryana.ooTheorelevantoClausesoofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono readothus:ooo o o Clauseo 1o ofo theo advertisemento ino questiono (hereinaftero too beo referredotooaso'Clauseo1')oreadsothus:o o CANDIDATESoTOoENSUREoTHEIRoELIGIBILITYoFORoTHEo"1.o EXAMINATION:o Theo Candidateso applyingo foro theo examinationo shouldoensureothatotheyofulfilloalloeligibilityoconditionsoforoadmissionotootheo examination.ooTheiroadmissionotooallotheostageoofotheoexaminationowillobeo purelyo provisionalo subjecto too satisfyingo theo prescribedo eligibilityo conditions.ooMereoissueoofoe-AdmitoCardotootheocandidateowillonotoimplyo thatohis/herocandidatureohasobeenofinallyoclearedobyotheoCommission.ooTheo Commissionotakesoupoverificationoofoeligibilityoconditionsowithoreferenceotoo originalodocumentsoonlyoafterotheocandidateohasoqualifiedoforoMainoWritteno Examination/Interview/PersonalityoTest.o o Note:o TheodecisionoofotheoCommissionowithoregardotootheoeligibilityooro otherwiseoofoaocandidateoforoadmissionotootheoExamination,oshallobeofinal."o o o Clauseo 3o ofo theo advertisemento ino questiono (hereinaftero too beo referredotooaso'Clauseo3')oreadsothus:o o "3.o LASToDATEoFORoRECEIPToOFoAPPLICATIONS:o o TheoonlineoApplicationsocanobeosubmittedouptoo31.01.2024otillo11:55oPM.o Theo candidateso shallo beo issuedo ano e-Admito Cardo wello beforeo theo commencemento ofo theo Examination.o o Theo e-Admito Cardo willo beo madeo availableoonotheoofficialowebsiteoofotheoCommissionoforodownloadingobyotheo candidates.ooNooAdmitoCardowillobeosentobyopost.oo o o Clauseo 9o ofo theo advertisemento ino questiono (hereinaftero too beo referredotooaso'Clauseo9')oreadsothus:o o "9.oPlanoofoExamination:o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o Note:o o Theo candidateso willo haveo too uploado theo scannedo AJAYgKUMAR documents/certificatesoinosupportoofodateoofobrith,ocategoryo{viz.o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 3o o SC/BCA/BCB/EWS/ESM/DESM/DFF/PwBD?oandoalloeducationalo certificatesoatotheotimeowhileoapplyingoonlineoforotheoaboveoposts.o o o Theo category/casteo certificateso foro BCA/BCB/EWS/DESMo shouldo haveo beeno issuedo duringo theo yearo 2023-24o aso pero latesto instructionso issuedo byo theo Haryanao Governmento ino thiso regard.oo Further,otheseocertificatesoshouldobeovalidoforotheoyearo2023-24.oo Theo BC-A/BC-Bo certificateso shouldo beo issuedo accordingo too HaryanaoGovt.oInstructionsodatedo17.11.2021o&o22.03.2022.ooTheo EWSocertificateomustoshowotheoannualoincomeoofotheofamilyolesso thanoRs.6olacsoasoperoGovt.oInstructionsodatedo25.02.2019."o o o Clauseo28oofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono(hereinafterotoobeo referredotooaso'Clauseo28')oreadsothus:o o "oo xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o ii)o TheodecisionoofotheoCommissionoasotootheoeligibilityoorootherwiseoofo aocandidateoforoadmissionotootheoExaminationoshallobeofinal.oo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o o o Clauseo29oofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono(hereinafterotoobeo referredotooaso'Clauseo29')oreadsothus:o o "29o RESERVATIONo o i.o TheobenefitooforeservationowillobeogivenoonlyotoothoseoSC/BC-A/BC-B/PwBD/ESM/EWSo categoryo candidateso whoo areo domicileo ofo Haryanao State.o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o o o Clauseo30oofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono(hereinafterotoobeo referredotooaso'Clauseo30')oreadsothus:o o "30oo GENERALoINSTRUCTIONS:o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o vii)o Dueocareoshouldobeotakenobyotheocandidatesowhileofillingoupo theoonlineoapplicationoform.ooIncompleteoorodefectiveoapplicationoformo willo beo summarilyo rejected.o Noo representationo oro correspondenceo 2025.03.20g11:08 regardingosuchorejectionoshallobeoentertainedounderoanyocircumstances.o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 4o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o o o Clauseo36oofotheoadvertisementoinoquestiono(hereinafterotoobeo referredotooaso'Clauseo36')oreadsothus:o o o "xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o v)o Theo hardo copyo ofo applicationo formo alongo witho allo uploadedo documentsomustobeobroughtoatotheotimeowhenocalledouponotoodoosoobyotheo Commission.ooNoodocument(s)owhichohas/haveonotobeenouploadedoshallobeo entertained.o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o

(ii)oo o Theopetitioneroisostatedotoohaveosubmittedotheoonlineoapplicationo form,o aso ao Scheduledo Casteo Candidateo (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'SCo Candidate'),o ono 24.01.2024o i.e.o withino theo timeo stipulatedo ino theo advertisemento ino question.o Theo petitionero submittedo hero Scheduledo Casteo Certificateodatedo11.07.2016o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'SCoCertificateodatedo

11.07.2016').Theopetitionerofurtheroappearedoforotheopreliminaryoexaminationo ono 03.03.2024o ando upono passingo theo same,o sheo clearedo theo maino writteno examinationo whicho waso conductedo fromo 12.07.2024o too 14.07.2024.o Theo scheduleo ofo vivao voceo waso issuedo ando theo petitionero waso slatedo too beo interviewedoono15.09.2024.o

(iii)o o Ono 05.09.2024,o theo petitionero receivedo ano intimationo fromo HPSC,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o o "Kindlyoreferotooyouroonlineoapplicationoformoforotheopostocitedoaso theo subject.o o Ono checking/scrutinyo ofo youro onlineo applicationo formo too adjudgeoyouroeligibility,oyourocandidatureohasofoundoprovisionallyoliableo fororejectionodueotootheofollowingoreasons:-o o 1.o YouohaveoattachedotheocertificateoofoSCocategoryodatedo11.07.2016o withoutoregistrationonumbero&odate.oo 2025.03.20g11:08 o 2.o YouohaveonotoattachedotheodomicileoofoHaryana.o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 5o o o o Ifoyouohaveoanyoobjectionoagainstotheorejection,oyouocanosubmito youro representationo alongo witho documentaryo proofo througho e-mailo i.e.o SR5-hpsc@hry.gov.ino uptoo 07.09.2024o tillo 04:00o PM,o failingo whicho noo representationo willo beo entertainedo byo theo Commissiono ando youro candidatureowillobeofinallyorejected."o

(iv)o o Ono05.09.2024oitself;otheopetitioneroinformedoHPSC,obyowayoofo e-mail,othatoherorequisiteocasteocertificateoasoalsootheodomicileocertificateohado alreadyobeenosubmittedobut,osomehow,otheoregistrationonumberoandodateowaso missingofromoheroSCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016.ooTheopetitioneropleadedo withotheoHPSCothatotheoSCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016osubmittedobyotheo petitionerowasocorrectooneoandotheosameohadobeenoissuedoonotheobasisoofo ScheduledoCasteoCertificateoofoherofatherowhichodatedobackotoo11.07.1991.oo Theopetitioneroalsoosoughtoforoaoclarificationoregardingotheogenuinenessoofo heroSCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016fromoTehsildar,oGurugramo(respondento No.4oherein)oandotheosaidocertificateowasofoundotoobeogenuineobyotheosaido authority.ooSheoinformedoHPSCoaboutoitoasowell.o

(v)o o Video ordero datedo 12.09.2024o (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'impugnedoorder')oHPSCorejectedotheocandidatureoofotheopetitioner.o

(vi)o o Thiso Courto hado passedo ano ordero datedo 18.09.2024o whileo theo petitionoinohandowasounderoconsideration,oinotheohandsoofothisoCourt,oforogranto ofointerimorelief,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o o "xxxxxxxo o o Ino theo meanwhile,o petitionero beo permittedo too participateo provisionallyoinotheointerview/viva-voceowhichoitoisostatedoisobeingoheldo fromo13.09.2024otoo29.09.2024.ooItoisomadeoclearothatoparticipationoinothiso interviewo shallo noto vesto theo petitionero witho anyo righto whatsoevero foro selectionoandoisocompletelyosubjectotoodecisionoofothisowritopetition.ooHero resultobeokeptoinosealedocover.oo o o xxxxxxxx."o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 6o o

(vii)oo o Itoisoinothisofactualobackdrop,othatotheopresentowritopetitionohaso comeoupofororeceivingofinaloconsiderationoatotheohandsoofothisoCourt.oo Rivalocontentionso

3.oo o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitioner;oledobyoSh.oAnandoChhibbar,o SenioroAdvocate;ohaveoarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoaobonaofideoSCocategoryo candidateoandohadosubmittedotheorequisiteoSCocertificateowithoregardotootheo termsoofotheoadvertisementoinoquestion.ooLearnedocounselohasoiteratedothat,o theo non-mentioningo ofo theo dateo ando registrationo numbero upono theo SCo certificateodatedo11.07.2016,owasonotowithinotheocontroloofotheopetitioner.ooIto has,othus,obeenourgedothatoallothatotheopetitionerocouldohaveodoneowasotooseeko ao certificateo fromo theo concernedo authorities,o whicho sheo in-facto dido ando thereaftero submittedo theo same,o foro theo examinationo ino question.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero iteratedo that,o onceo theo HPSCo haso soughto foro ao clarificationoregardingotheoSCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016,otheosameowaso promptlyogivenobyotheopetitioneroandothusosheocannotobeofastenedowithoanyo adverseoconsequenceoinothisoregard.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothatotheoSCo certificateodatedo11.07.2016ohasobeenofoundotoobeovalidobyorespondentoNo.4o (TehsildaroGurugram)oandothusothereowasonoocauseowithotheoHPSCotoorejecto theocandidatureoofotheopetitioner.oo o o Onostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,otheograntoofowritopetitionoino handoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.oo o Ino responseo too noticeo ofo motiono byo thiso Court,o respondentso causedoappearanceothroughocounsel.oo

4.1.o o LearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentsoNo.o1,o4oando5ohaso raisedosubmissionsoinotandemowithoaoshortoreplyobyowayoofoaffidavitoofoMs.o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 7o o Shikha,oTehsildar,oGurugram.ooTheogravamenoofothisoshortoreplyoisothatotheo SCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016oissuedoinofavouroofotheopetitionerobyotheo concernedoStateoauthority(s)oisovalidoandoitohasoalsoobeenoadmittedothatotheo saidocertificateowasonotonumbered.ooo

4.2.o o Noowrittenoreplyohasobeenosubmittedoonobehalfooforespondento No.2-HighoCourt.oLearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorespondentoNo.2-Higho CourtohasoiteratedothatotheoHPSCoisotheorecruitingoagencyoand,oinsofaroasotheo presentolisoisoconcerned,otheorespondentoNo.2odoesonotohaveoanyoeffectiveooro substantialoroleoinoadjudicationothereof.o

4.3.o o RespondentoNo.3-HPSCohasofiledoaoshortoreplyobyoShrioSatisho Kumar,oDeputyoSecretary,oHaryanaoPublicoServiceoCommission.ooLearnedo counseloappearingofororespondentoNo.3,owhileoraisingosubmissionoinotandemo witho theo saido shorto reply,o haso submittedo thato theo Clauseo 1o castso ao responsibilityouponotheocandidatesoforoensuringotheiroeligibilityobyosubmittingo theo requisiteo documents.o o Learnedo counselo haso furthero strenuouslyo reliedo upono Clauseo 30o too iterateo thato theo advertisemento ino questiono clearlyo prescribeso thato theo incompleteo oro defectiveo applicationo formo willo beo summarilyorejectedoandothusothereoarisesonoocauseowithotheopetitionerotoonowo rectifyotheoerror.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatotheostipulationso providedoinotheoadvertisementoinoquestionocarryotheoforceoofolawoandoapplyo witho equalo vigouro too oneo ando allo witho noo scopeo foro relaxationo therein.oo Learnedocounselohas,othus,opressedothatoanyocandidateowhoohasonotocompliedo witho theo requisiteo stipulations,o iso boundo too inviteo adverseo consequences.oo Learnedocounselohasofurtherourgedothatotheopetitionerocouldonotohave,olateroon,o submittedodocumentsoetc.oinosupportoofotheogenuinenessoofotheoSCocertificateo 2025.03.20g11:08 datedo11.07.2016oandothusoherocandidatureohasorightlyobeenorejected.oOnotheo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 8o o strengtho ofo theseo submissions,o learnedo counselo appearingo foro respondento No.3ohasosoughtoforodismissaloofotheowritopetitionoinohand.oo

5.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo perusedotheorecord.oo Primeoissueo

6.o o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheowritopetitiono inohandois,oasotoowhetherotheopetitioner'socandidatureoasoaoSCocandidate,owaso wronglyorejectedobyotheoHPSC.oInocaseoitoisofoundoso,owhatorelief(s)ooughtotoo beoaffordedotootheopetitioner.oo o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesoforocogitationoisowhetherotheo candidatureo ofo ano aspiranto ino ao selection/examinationo process,o whoo iso otherwiseoeligible,ooughtotoobeorejectedobyotheoselecting/examiningoagencyo onoaccountoofoinadvertentosubmissionoofoanoirregular/incompleteocertificateo whichoisosoughtotoobeosubstitutedobyoaocorrect/completeocertificateoatoaostageo subsequento too theo cut-off-dateo foro applyingo too sucho selection/examinationo process.ooo RelevantoStatuteo

7.o o Articleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoreadsoasounder:o o "226.oPoweroofoHighoCourtsotooissueocertainowrits.––o(1)Notwithstandingo anythingoinoarticleo32,oeveryoHighoCourtoshallohaveopowers,othroughoutotheo territorieso ino relationo too whicho ito exerciseo jurisdiction,o too issueo too anyo persono oro authority,o includingo ino appropriateo cases,o anyo Government,o withinothoseoterritoriesodirections,oordersoorowrits,oincludingowritsoinotheo natureo ofo habeaso corpus,o mandamus,o prohibition,o quoo warrantoro ando certiorari,o oro anyo ofo them,o foro theo enforcemento ofo anyo ofo theo rightso conferredobyoPartoIIIoandoforoanyootheropurpose.o o o (2)o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxo o o (3)o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxo o o (4)o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 9o o RelevantoCaseoLawo

8.oo o Theo precedents,o aproposo too theo matter(s)o ino issue,o areo aso follows:o

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCharlesoK.oSkariaoandoothersovs.oDr.oC.o Mathewoandoothers,1980oAIRo1230,theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoaso under:-o o "20.o o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Whato iso essentialo iso theopossessionoofoaodiplomaobeforeotheogivenodate;owhatoisoancillaryoisotheo safeomodeoofoproofoofotheoqualification.oTooconfuseobetweenoaofactoandoitso proofoisoblurredoperspicacity.oToomakeomandatoryotheodateoofoacquiringo theo additionalo qualificationo beforeo theo lasto dateo foro applicationo makeso sense.o Buto ifo ito iso unshakeablyo showno thato theo qualificationo haso beeno acquiredobeforeotheorelevantodate,oasoisotheocaseohere,otooinvalidateothiso meritofactorobecauseoproof,othoughoindubitable,owasoadducedoaofewodayso latero buto beforeo theo selectiono oro ino ao mannero noto mentionedo ino theo prospectus,obutostilloaboveoboard,oisotoomakeoprocedureonototheohandomadeo butotheomistressoandoformonotoasosubservientotoosubstanceobutoasosuperioro tootheoessence.o

(ii)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Ashoko Kumaro Sharmao vs.o Chandero Shekhar,oAIRONLINEo1997oSCo700,aoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "6.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Theo propositiono thato whereo applicationsoareocalledoforoprescribingoaoparticularodateoasotheolastodateo foroflingotheoapplications,otheoeligibilityoofotheocandidatesoshallohaveotoobeo judgedo witho referenceo too thato dateo ando thato dateo alone,o iso ao well-establishedo one.o Ao persono whoo acquireso theo prescribedo qualificationo subsequento too sucho prescribedo dateo cannoto beo consideredo ato all.o Ano advertisemento oro notificationo issued/publishedo callingo foro applicationso constitutesoaorepresentationotootheopublicoandotheoauthorityoissuingoitoiso boundobyosuchorepresentation.oItocannotoactocontraryotooit.oOneoreasono behindothisopropositionoisothatoifoitowereoknownothatopersonsowhooobtainedo theoqualificationsoafterotheoprescribedodateobutobeforeotheodateoofointerviewo wouldo beo allowedo too appearo foro theo interview;o othero similarlyo placedo AJAYgKUMAR personsocouldoalsoohaveoapplied.oJustobecauseosomeoofotheopersonsohado CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 10o o appliedo notwithstandingo thato theyo hado noto acquiredo theo prescribedo qualificationsobyotheoprescribedodate,otheyocouldonotohaveobeenotreatedoono aopreferentialobasis.oTheiroapplicationsooughtotoohaveobeenorejectedoatotheo inceptiono itself.o Thiso propositiono iso indisputableo ando ino facto waso noto doubtedo oro disputedo ino theo majorityo judgment.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"o

(iii)oo o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoDollyoChhandaovs.oChairman,oJEEoando otherso2004oAIRoSupremeoCourto5043,oaoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "7.oTheogeneraloruleoisothatowhileoapplyingoforoanyocourseoofostudyooroao post,oaopersonomustopossessotheoeligibilityoqualificationoonotheolastodateo fixedoforosuchopurposeoeitheroinotheoadmissionobrochureooroinoapplicationo form,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o unlesso thereo iso ano expresso provisiono too theo contrary.oThereocanobeonoorelaxationoinothisoregardoi.e.oinotheomatteroofo holdingotheorequisiteoeligibilityoqualificationobyotheodateofixed.oThisohasotoo beoestablishedobyoproducingotheonecessaryocertificates,odegreesooromark-sheets.o Similarly,o ino ordero too availo ofo theo benefito ofo reservationo oro weightage,o etc.o necessaryo certificateso haveo too beo produced.o Theseo areo documentsoinotheonatureoofoproofoofoholdingoofoparticularoqualificationooro percentageo ofo markso securedo oro entitlemento too benefito ofo reservation.o Dependingouponotheofactsoofoaocase,othereocanobeosomeorelaxationoinotheo matteroofosubmissionoofoproofoandoitowillonotobeoproperotooapplyoanyorigido principleoasoitopertainsoinotheodomainoofoprocedure.oEveryoinfractionoofotheo ruleorelatingotoosubmissionoofoproofoneedonotonecessarilyoresultoinorejectiono ofocandidature."o

(iv)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Bedangao Talukdaro vs.o Saifudaullaho Khanoandoothers,o2011(12)oSCCo85,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoaso under:-o o "28.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.ooInoouroopinion,oitoiso tooowellosettledotooneedoanyofurtheroreiterationothatoalloappointmentsotoo publico officeo haveo too beo madeo ino conformityo withoArticleo 14oofo theo Constitutiono ofo India.o Ino othero words,o thereo musto beo noo arbitrarinesso resultingofromoanyoundueofavourobeingoshownotooanyocandidate.oTherefore,o theoselectionoprocessohasotoobeoconductedostrictlyoinoaccordanceowithotheo stipulatedoselectionoprocedure.oConsequently,owhenoaoparticularoscheduleo iso mentionedo ino ano advertisement,o theo sameo haso too beo scrupulouslyo AJAYgKUMAR maintained.oThereocanonotobeoanyorelaxationoinotheotermsoandoconditionsoofo Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand theoadvertisementounlessosuchoao poweroisospecificallyoreserved.oSuchoao CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 11o o powerocouldobeoreservedoinotheorelevantoStatutoryoRules.oEvenoifopoweroofo relaxationo iso providedo ino theo rules,o ito musto stillo beo mentionedo ino theo advertisement.oInotheoabsenceoofosuchopoweroinotheoRules,oitocouldostillobeo providedo ino theo advertisement.o However,o theo powero ofo relaxation,o ifo exercisedohasotoobeogivenodueopublicity.oThisowouldobeonecessaryotooensureo thato thoseo candidateso whoo becomeo eligibleo dueo too theo relaxation,o areo affordedoanoequaloopportunityotooapplyoandocompete.oRelaxationoofoanyo conditionoinoadvertisementowithoutodueopublicationowouldobeocontraryotoo theomandateoofoqualityocontainedoinoArticleso14oando16oofotheoConstitutiono ofoIndia."o o

(v)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Ramo Kumaro Gijroyao vs.o Delhio Subordinateo Serviceso Selectiono Boardo &o Anr.AIRo 2016o SUPREMEo COURTo1098,theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "15.o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o o Xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o 18.o Whileotakingoaoparticularoviewoinosuchomattersooneohasotoo keepo ino mindo theo objectiveso behindo theo posto ofo SCo ando STo categorieso aso pero constitutionalo mandateo prescribedo inoArticleso 15(4)oando16(4)owhicho areo enablingo provisionso authorisingo theo GovernmentotoomakeospecialoprovisionsoforotheopersonsoofoSCoando STo categories.oArticleso 14(4)oando16(4),o therefore,o intendo too removeo socialo ando economico inequalityo too makeo equalo opportunitiesoavailableoinoreality.oSocialoandoeconomicojusticeoisoao rightoenshrinedoforoprotectionoofosociety.oTheorightoinosocialoando economicojusticeoenvisagedoinotheoPreambleoandoelongatedoinotheo FundamentaloRightsoandoDirectiveoPrinciplesoofotheoConstitution,o inoparticularoArts.o14,o15,o16,o21,o38,o39oando46oareotoomakeotheo qualityoofotheolifeoofotheopoor,odisadvantagedoandodisabledocitizenso ofotheosocietyomeaningful.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o o 16.o Ino ouro consideredo view,o theo decisiono renderedo ino theo caseo ofoPushpao(supra)o iso ino conformityo witho theo positiono ofo lawolaido downo byothisoCourt,owhichohaveobeenoreferredotoosupra.oTheoDivisionoBenchoofo theoHighoCourtoerredoinoreversingotheojudgmentoandoorderopassedobyotheo learnedo singleo Judge,o withouto noticingo theo bindingo precedento ono theo questionolaidodownobyotheoConstitutionoBenchesoofothisoCourtoinotheocaseso ofoIndraoSawhneyoandoValsammaoPaulo(supra)owhereinothisoCourtoaftero interpretationoofoArticleso14,15,16oando39AoofotheoDirectiveoPrinciplesoofo StateoPolicyoheldothatotheoobjectoofoprovidingoreservationotootheoSC/SToando educationallyoandosociallyobackwardoclassesoofotheosocietyoisotooremoveo inequalityo ino publico employment,o aso candidateso belongingo too theseoIgattestgtogthegaccuracygand CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 12o o categoriesoareounableotoocompeteowithotheocandidatesobelongingotootheo generalo categoryo aso ao resulto ofo facingo centurieso ofo oppressiono ando deprivationoofoopportunity.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx."oo

(vi)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoKarnoSinghoYadavovs.oGovt.oofoNCToofo DelhioandoOrs.oinoSLPo(C)oNo.14948oofo2016,odecidedoono28.09.2022,oao ThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o o "Itomustobeostatedohereothatoanoidenticalofactosituationocameoupoforo considerationo beforeo thiso Courto ino Ramo Kumaro Gijroyao v.o Delhio Subordinateo Serviceso Selectiono Boardo &o Another,o (2016)o 4o SCCo 754,o whereino thiso Courto ruledo ino favouro ofo theo concernedo candidate.o o Theo instantomatteroisothusocompletelyocoveredobyosaidodecision.oo o o However,oitomustobeonotedohereothatoasoaoresultoofocancellationoofo theocandidature,otheoappellantowasoneveroappointedotootheopostoinoquestiono andoatothisolengthoinotime,oitowillonotobeopossibleotoograntoanyosubstantialo reliefotootheoappellant."o

(vii)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Divyao vs.o Uniono ofo Indiao &o Ors.o 2024(1)oSCCo448,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "43.o Ino Charleso K.o Skariao (supra),o mosto candidateso possessedo theo eligibilityoviz.otheodiploma.oOnlyotheoproofoinotheoformoofocertificateowaso awaited.o Theo authoritieso hado alsoo acceptedo themo aso eligible,o expresslyo informingotheoselectionocommitteeothatoforoeligibleocandidatesoevenoifoproofo cameo latero ando beforeo theo finalo selection,o ito shouldo beo consideredo aso valid.oThisowasoalsooequallyotheosituationoinoDollyoChhandao(supra),oAloko KumaroSingho(supra)oandoDheerenderoSinghoPaliwalo(supra)owhereotheo factualopositionoaboutotheoeligibilityowasonotoinodispute.oThoseocasesoando theocasesoofothatoilkocannotosupportotheopetitionersoinothisocaseoforotheo purposeoofoclaimingoeligibilityoinoCSE-2022oasoanoEWSocandidate.o o 44.oo xxxxxxxxo o 45.oo xxxxxxxxo o 46.oo Itoisoalsooveryowellosettledothatoifothereoareorelevantorulesowhicho prescribeotheodateoonowhichotheoeligibilityoshouldobeopossessed,othoseoruleso willoprevail.oInotheoabsenceooforulesooroanyootherodateoprescribedoinotheo prospectus/advertisementoforodeterminingotheoeligibility,othereoisoaojudicialo choruso holdingo thato ito wouldo beo theo lasto dateo foro submissiono ofo theo application.o(SeeoRekhao Chaturvedio v.o Universityo ofo Rajasthano[1993o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 13o o Suppo(3)oSCCo168];oBhupinderpaloSinghov.oStateoofoPunjabo[(2000)o5o SCCo262];oAshokoKumaroSonkarov.oUnionoofoIndiao[(2007)o4oSCCo54].o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 53.o Quiteoapartofromotheoabove,omuchowaterohasoalsooflownounderotheo bridge.o Theo UPSCo haso madeo theo cadreo allocationso ando theo EWSo candidateso againsto theo 298o vacancieso haveo alsoo beeno allottedo theiro respectiveocadres.oToday,oitoisolegallyonotopermissibleoandoadministrativelyo notofeasibleoforotheoUPSCotoounscrambleotheoegg.oAcceptingotheocontentiono ofo theo petitionerso wouldo alsoo resulto ino administrativeo chaoso ando willo prolongotheoselectionoprocessoindefinitely.o o Analysiso(reolaw)o

9.o o Ito iso triteo lawo thatoao candidate,oseekingo publicoemployment,o musto possessotheorequisiteomandatoryoqualification(s)oasoonotheoprescribedocut-off-date.oo TheoThreeoJudgeoBenchojudgmentoofoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoAshoko KumaroSharmao(supra)oandoBedangaoTalukdaro(supra)ounequivocallyoenunciateso thato theo eligibilityo ofo ao candidateo iso requiredo too beo adjudgedo witho scrupulouso referenceotootheocut-off-dateoandothatodateo alone.ooAoperson,owhooacquiresotheo requisiteoprescribedoqualification,osubsequentotoosuchoaoprescribedocut-offodate,o rendersohimselfoineligibleoandocannotobeoshownoanyorelaxationounlessotheoextanto ruleso soo provide.o Aso ao pivotalo imperativeo pre-requisiteo thereof,o ao candidateo iso pertinentlyorequiredotoopossessotheomandatoryoqualification(s),oasosoughtoforobyotheo concernedo selecting/examiningo agency,o ono theo cut-off-date;o whereas,o acquiringo themosubsequentlyowouldonotorenderosuchoaocandidateoeligible&ofailureothereino wouldoincuroinoconsequentialopenaloeffect(s).ooo o o Theogeneralorule,othus,oisothatoaocandidateomustodepositoallorequisiteo certificate(s)oetc.oatotheotimeoofosubmittingohisoapplicationoformoandoheooughtonototoo beopermittedotoorectifyosuchocertificate(s).oHowever,opossessionoofoaoqualificationo 2025.03.20g11:08 isostarklyodistinctofromotheoproofothereof.ooHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 14o o ofCharlesoK.oSkariao(supra)ohasoheldothatowhatoisoessentialoisotheopossessionoofoao qualificationobeforeotheoconcernedodateoandomodeoofoproofothereof,oisoancillary.o Followingothisodicta;otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocasesoofoDollyoChhandao (supra),oRamoKumaroGijroyao(supra)oandoKaranoSinghoYadavo(supra);ohaso carvedo outo exception(s)o wheno ito relateso too submissiono ofo ao certificate/testimonialowithoaotechnicalodefect/irregularity,owhichowasobeyondo theoreasonableocontroloofosuchocandidate(s).oItoisoanounshakenocanonoofoouro jurisprudenceothatowhenosubstantialoandotechnicaloconsiderationsoareopittedoagainsto eachoother,otheocauseoofosubstantialojusticeodeservesotoobeopreferred.ooProceduralo andotechnicalohurdlesooughtonototoobeoallowedotoostandoinotheowayoofosubstantialo justice.ooItomustobeograspedothatotheoconceptoofosubstantialojusticeoisorespectedonoto onoaccountoofoitsopowerotoolegalizeoanootherwiseoinjusticeoconfiguredosooendowedo withoaosceptreonayoSENGOLoonotechnicalogrounds;obutobecauseoitoisoforostrikingo outoandoisoexpectedotoodooso.ooIfotheoproceduraloviolationodoesonotocauseoprejudiceo too anyoneo else,o theo concepto ofo substantialo justiceo requireso thato theo Courts/authoritiesomustoleanotowardsoeffectuatingojusticeoratherothanorelyingoupono proceduraloandotechnicaloviolations.oWhenosubstantialo&oproceduraloconsiderationso standoinoopposition,otheoformeromustoinvariablyoprevail,oforojusticeoisonotoaomereo mechanicaloexerciseobutoaotangibleopursuitoofotrutho&ofairness.oTheodictaoofotheseo judgments,oessentially,ograntsoaolatitudeotootheoreservedocategoryoaspirants,otreatingo theosubmissionoofoirregular/technicallyodefectiveocertificate(s),obeingoessentiallyo proceduralolapse(s)owhichomayobeocondoned,oinoviewoofotheofactsoinvolved.ooTheo commono denominator,o whicho runso througho theseo decisionso iso that,o eveno wheno correcto requisiteo certificate(s)o wereo allowedo too beo submittedo belatedly,o sucho candidateo dido actuallyo possesso sucho qualificationo ono theo cut-off-date.o Ino othero 2025.03.20g11:08 words,otheoApexoCourtohasoenunciatedothatosuchocertificate(s)/testimonial(s)owereo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 15o o proofoofoanoattributeowhichotheocandidateoalreadyopossessedoofoandosuchoattributeo wasonotoattainedoafterotheocut-off-date.ooo o o JudicialonoticeocanowellobeotakenobyothisoCourtothat,osuchoreservationo certificate(s)o are,o moreo ofteno thano not,o issuedo ato theo endo ofo theo concernedo authority(s)o ando ao candidateo doeso noto haveo anyo sayo nayo authoritativeo sayo ino issuanceo thereof.o o Ino actualo life,o ito iso ofteno exasperatinglyo cumbersomeo foro ao candidateotooobtainorequisiteocertificateonayooneoissuedoinotheoexactoprescribedoformo fromotheoconcernedoauthority.ooAotechnicaloirregularity/defectoinosuchocertificate(s)o issuedobyotheoconcernedocompetentoauthorityois,othus,obeyondotheocontroloofoano aspirant.oActualoexcellenceooroevenobasicoeligibility,othus,ocannotobeopermittedotoo beoobliteratedobyotheochoiceoofoanoorthodoxointerpretationoofolawoandoprocedure.oo Equityooughto toooverpowero technicalityo whereo theo justiceosoo demands.ooIno theo realmoofowritojurisdiction,ocourtsoareodutyoboundotooupholdotheoparamountocauseoofo substantialojustice,oensuringothatotheodispensationoofojusticeoisonotothwartedobyomereo technicalities.oWhileoproceduraloconsiderationsoserveoasonecessaryosafeguardsotoo ensureoorderlyoadjudication,otheyomustoneverobeoexaltedotootheoextentothatotheyo eclipseotheofundamentalotenetsoofofairness,oequityoandojusticeooroevenomoribundotheo causeoofojustice.oTheoCourt,oasoaosentineloofojustice,omustowieldoitsodiscretionaryo powerotoopreventomiscarriageoofojusticeoarisingofromorigidoadherenceotooproceduralo formalities.ooEquity,obeingotheosouloofojustice,odemandsothatotheocourtsoadoptoao liberaloandopragmaticoapproach,oensuringothatotheoformodoesonototriumphooverotheo substance.ooAoconstitutionalocourt,ovestedowithoextra-ordinaryojurisdiction,omust,o therefore,o eschewo hyper-technicalo reasoningo ando focuso ono theo broadero endso ofo justice,oforotheolawomustoeveroremainoaohandmaidenotoojusticeo&onotoanoinstrumento ofooppressionooroproceduraloentanglement.ooo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 16o o

10.o o Aoconundrumofacedobyotheoselecting/examiningoagencyoinosuchoao scenario,o seekso attention,o namely;o grantingo latitudeo too theo candidate(s)o foro submissiono ofo correct/technicalo erroro freeo certificate(s)o aftero theo lasto dateo ofo depositingo ofo applicationo formo havingo passed,o poseso ao threato ofo uncertainty,o loomingolargeoinotheoselection/examinationoprocess,oasoalsoomayocauseodelayoino culminationothereof.ooo o o Aocandidate,owhileomakingoanoapplicationoandosubmittingodocumentso inosupportothereof,oindubitablyooughtotoobeodiligentoandoanyolaxityooughtonototoobeo condonedoasohasobeenoinotheocaseoofoDivyao(supra).ooDocument(s)/certificate(s)o requiredo too beo submittedo haveo too beo scrupulouslyo checkedo byo theo candidateo concernedobeforeosubmissionothereof.ooAocandidateocannotobeoaffordedolatitudeoforo omission(s)oonohisopartoasotheoselecting/examiningoagencyohasotooproceedoonotheo basisoofoapplicationoandodocumentsosubmittedobyotheocandidate.ooInocaseoanoerroro hasooccurredoonoaccountoofocircumstancesobeyondotheocontroloofotheoapplicant,o namely,oanoincorrect/technicallyodefectiveocertificate(s),oreceivedobyotheocandidateo fromotheocompetentoauthority,ohavingobeenopresentedobyotheocandidate,oinotheobacko dropo ofo sucho ao candidateo actuallyo possessingo theo requisiteo qualification,o someo latitudeomayobeoextendableotoosuchoaocandidate.ooItoisoindubitableothatoitoisoforotheo candidateotooshowogoodocause,owithocertitude,oforograntoofosuchoaolatitude.ooAlso,o correctiveoororemedialostepsooughtotoobeoundertakenoatotheoendoofotheoconcernedo candidate,oatotheoearliestofeasibleodate,osinceotheotimeolapseomay,obyoitselfoproscribeo anyosucholatitudeoasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoDivyao(supra).o o o Ergo;o theo conundrumo iso seto ato naught;o viz,o ao candidateo seekingo latitudeo foro submissiono ofo ano incorrect/defectiveo certificateo alongwitho theo applicationoformoisorequiredotooshowotangibleocauseooroaccentuatingocircumstances,o 2025.03.20g11:08 atotheoearliestoopportunityolestotheotimelineoitselfomayonon-suitosuchocandidate.ooNoo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 17o o exhaustiveosetoofosuchocircumstances/cause(s)ocanopossiblyobeolaidodownohowevero alluringothisoaspectomayobe.ooItoisoneitherofathomableonorodesirableotoolayodownoanyo straightojacketoformulaoinothisoregard.ooAnyoattemptoinothisocaseowouldobe,otoosayo theo least,o quixotico endeavour.o o Circumstantialo flexibility,o oneo additionalo oro differentofact,omayomakeoaoseaoofodifferenceobetweenoconclusionsoinotwoocases.oo Suchoexerciseowouldothus,oindubitably,obeodependentouponotheofactualomatrixoofoao particularolis,osinceoeveryocaseohasoitsoownopeculiarofactualoconspectus.ooo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheopresentocase)o

11.o o Theopetitioner,owhileolayingoforthoheroclaimoasoaoSCoCandidate,oino responseotootheoadvertisementoinoquestionosubmittedoheroSCoCertificateodatedo

11.07.2016owhichoclearlyostipulatesothatosuchocertificateowasoissuedobyotheo concernedo competento authority,o namely,o theo Tehsildar,o Gurugramo ono theo basiso ofo ano earliero SCo certificateo issuedo ino favouro ofo theo petitionero ono

14.05.2012.ooItoalsoofurtheroreflectsothatotheocertificateohadobeenoissuedoonotheo basisoofoaoScheduledoCasteocertificateodatedo14.07.1976oissuedotootheofathero ofo theo petitioner.o o Twoo foldo objectionso wereo raisedo byo theo HPSCo video communicationo datedo 05.09.2024o i.e.o firstlyo theo SCo Certificateo datedo

11.07.2016odidonotohaveoanyoregistrationonumberoandodateo&,osecondly,otheo domicileo certificateo ofo theo petitionero foro theo Stateo ofo Haryanao waso noto attached.ooo o o AoperusaloofotheoSCoCertificateodatedo11.07.2016oreflectsothato theoregistrationonumberoasoalsoodateoisonotomentionedoonotheotopoleftosideo thereofobutoonotheobottomoleftosideoofotheosame,otheodateoisomentionedoaso

11.07.2016.ooHence,otheoobjectionoraisedobyoHPSCoregardingonon-mentioningo ofodateoonotheotopoleftosideoofotheoSCoCertificateodatedo11.07.2016oisosanso 2025.03.20g11:08 logic.ooItoisoaotrivialoerroroandolawodoesonotoconcernoitselfowithotriflesoasopero CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 18o o salutaryolegaloprincipleoenshrinedoinotheomaximoDeoMinimusoNonoCuratoLex.o Further,o byo noo stretcho ofo imagination,o theo non-mentioningo ofo registrationo numberoonotheotopoleftosideoofotheoSCoCertificateodatedo11.07.2016ocanobeo attributedotootheopetitioneroasoitowasoforotheoconcernedocompetentoauthority,o (Tehsildaro ofo Gurugramo ino theo presento case),o too mentiono theo registrationo number.ooFurther,otheofactumoofonon-mentioningooforegistrationonumberoono theo SCo Certificateo datedo 11.07.2016o haso beeno concededo ino theo stando ofo respondentso No.1,o4o ando5o whichoincludeso theo saido concernedo competento authorityo (Tehsildar,o Gurugram).o o Stillo further,o theo SCo certificateo datedo

14.05.2012oissuedoinofavouroofotheopetitioner,owhichoformsotheobasisoofotheo issuanceoofotheoSCoCertificateodatedo11.07.2016hasobeenovouchsafedobyotheo competentoauthority.ooItoclearlyofurtheroemanatesofromotheofactualomatrixoofo theocaseoinohandothatotheorequisiteodomicileocertificateowas,oinofact,ouploadedo byotheopetitioneroinotermsoofotheoadvertisementoinoquestion.ooTheorefuge,o soughtotoobeotakenobyoHPSC,ounderoclauseso28,o30o&o26isoactuallyosubterfugeo whichocallsofororejectionoforojusticeomustonotobeoshackledobyotheochainsoofo formality.ooo

11.1o o Theoimpugnedoorder,owherebyotheocandidatureoofotheopetitionero wasorejected,owasoissuedoono12.09.2024.ooTheopetitioneroappearsotoohaveogoto draftedotheowritopetitionoinohandoonooroaroundo13.09.2024oandotheosameocameo upo foro preliminaryo hearingo beforeo thiso Courto ono 18.09.2024o whereino ano interimo ordero waso extendedo ino favouroofo theopetitioner,o permittingoherotoo provisionallyoparticipateoinotheoviva-voce.ooInothisofactualobackodrop,oitocannoto beosaidothatotheopetitioner'sopleaocanobeoproscribedoasobeingotimeobarred.oo Further,oitoemergedoasoaocommonogroundobetweenotheolearnedocounseloforo 2025.03.20g11:08 rivalopartiesoduringotheocourseoofoarguments,othatopursuantotootheointerimo CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 19o o orderodatedo18.09.2024opassedobyothisoCourt,otheopetitioneroactuallyoappearedo forotheoviva-voceoandohasoachievedotheorequisiteothresholdomarksoforobeingo appointed.o

11.2o o Keepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofotheofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoino hand;oespeciallyotheofactumoofonoofaultobeingoattributableotootheopetitioneroino theoformato(dateoandoregistrationonumber)oofotheorequisiteoSCocertificate,otheo concernedocompetentoauthorityo(Tehsildar,oGurugram)oratifyingotheoveracityo ofotheoSCocertificateodatedo11.07.2016oofotheopetitioner,otheofaulto(ifoany)o beingosolelyoatotheoendoofotheoconcernedocompetentoauthorityoinoissuingotheo SCo certificateo datedo 11.07.2016ofo theo petitionero withouto ao registrationo numberoandodate,otheopetitioneropursuingoherolegalorightoexpeditiouslyoando diligentlyo&otheocontumaciousorationaleosoughtotoobeoemployedobyoHPSCoforo justifyingotheorejectionoofotheopetitioner'socandidature;otheoquashingoofotheo impugnedo ordero wouldo serveo theo causeo ofo completeo nayo substantialo ando restitutiveojustice.ooo

12.o o Beforeopartingowithothisoorder,oanotheroaspectoofotheolisoinohando cravesoattention.oInodischargingoitsoroleoasoaolitigant,otheoStateo(asoalsooitso instrumentalities)omustoadoptoaobalancedoandojudiciousoapproach,oresistingo theo temptationo too opposeo theo claimso indiscriminately.o Theo Stateo musto exerciseodueodiligenceoinodistinguishingobetweenoaobaselessoandoaolegitimateo claim.oWhileoitoisojustifiedoinodefendingoitselfoagainstospuriousoclaims,othiso dutyomustobeodischargedowithoaosenseooforesponsibility.oTheoConstitutionalo frameworko envisionso theo Stateo aso ao Welfareo State,o whicho iso inherentlyo obligatedotooactoinotheobestointerestoofoitsocitizens.oInolitigationoinvolvingotheo Stateo ando itso citizens,o thiso welfare-orientedo ethoso musto guideo theo State'so 2025.03.20g11:08 conduct.oUnlikeoaoprivateolitigant,owhoseosoleoobjectiveoisooftenotoosecureoao CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 20o o favourableojudgment,otheoStateobearsoaohigheroresponsibilityotooensureothato justiceoisoserved,oconsistentowithotheoprinciplesoofofairnessoandoequity.oo o o TheoCourtsoacrossotheolegalosystemo―othisoCourtobeingonotoano exceptiono―oareochokedowitholitigation.oFrivolousoandogroundlessodispute(s)o constituteoaoseriousomenaceotootheoadministrationoofojustice.oTheyoconsumeo timeoandoclogotheooverburdenedoinfrastructure.oProductiveoresources,owhicho shouldo beo deployedo ino theo handlingo ofo genuineo causes,o areo dissipatedo ino pursuingoworthlessocause(s).oInoourojurisprudentialoeco-system,otheoStateoiso theolargestolitigantotodayoandotheohugeoexpenditureoinvolvedomakesoaobigo draftoonotheopublicoexchequer.oTheopresentocaseoisoanounsoothingoillustrationo of,ohowolitigationsoareopursuedoonobehalfoofotheoStateo(HPSC,otoobeomoreo precise,oinotheocaseoinohand),oinoaototallyomechanicaloandoindifferentofashion.o Theoproceedingsorevealoaolackoofodueodiligence,oreflectiveoofoanoapathetico approacho thato undermineso theo principleso ofo responsibleo governanceo &o judicialopropriety.oSuchoconductoreflectsoanoabsenceoofoseriousoapplicationoofo mind,oresultingoinoanounwarrantedolitigationothatoburdensotheojudicialosystem.o ThisotendencyocanobeocurbedoonlyoifotheoCourtsoacrossotheosystemoadoptoano institutionaloapproachowhichopenalizesosuchocomportment.oTheoimpositionoofo costs,oisoaonecessaryoinstrument,owhichohasotoobeodeployedotooweedoout,osucho anounscrupulousoconduct.oErgo,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotoosaddleo HPSCowithocosts,owhichoindubitablyooughtotoobeoveritableoandorealotimeoino nature.o Decisiono

13.o o Inoviewoofotheoprecedingoratiocination,otheowritopetitionoinohando isodisposedoof,oinofollowingoterms:o CWP-23835-2024oo o o o o o 21o o

(i)oo o Theo impugnedo ordero datedo 12.09.2024o (wherebyo theo candidatureo ofo theo petitionero haso beeno rejectedo byo respondent-HPSC)o iso quashed.o Respondentso areo mandatedo too take,o forthwith,o requisiteo consequentialostepsoaccordingly.o o o

(ii)oo o HPSCoisodirectedotoopayotootheopetitionerocostsoofoRs.50,000/-o withinotwooweeksofromotoday.oExemplaryocostsoofoRs.1,00,000/-oisofurthero saddledouponoHPSCotoobeodepositedoinofavouroofoPooroPatient'soWelfareo FundoPGIMER,oChandigarhowithinotwooweeksofromotodayoforohavingowastedo preciousotimeoofothisoCourtowhichocouldohaveobeenoutilizedoforohearingo&o decidingomoreopressingomatters.oLibertyoisoreservedoinofavouroofotheoHPSCotoo recovero theo costs,o ino accordanceo witho law,o fromo theo concernedo erringo Official(s).oo

(iii)oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedoof.o

14.o o Theo respondent-authoritieso areo directedo too fileo compliance-affidavit(s),oinotermsoofotheodirectionsomadeohereinabove,owithinofouroweekso fromotoday,ofailingowhichotheyo mayoinviteopunitiveoconsequenceso(asopero law)oforothemselvesoasoalsootheiroconcernedofunctionaries.ooBeoputoupoono

05.05.2025oforoconsiderationoofosuchocompliance-affidavit(s).oo o o o o o (SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o (SHEELoNAGU)o ooooooooJUDGEo o o o o ooooooooooCHIEFoJUSTICEoo o o o o o Marcho20,o2025o Ajay/Naveeno o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o o Whetheroreportable:o o o YesoAJAYgKUMAR Igattestgtogthegaccuracygando