Court rules against altering eligibility criteria in recruitment process, upholding administrative efficiency and uniformity.
Chandigarh, May 27, 2026 - In a significant judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the eligibility criteria for recruitment to the post of Junior Engineer/Electrical with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The petitioner, Manpreet Kaur, contested the cut-off date set for possessing requisite qualifications as arbitrary and discriminatory.
The court, presided over by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, upheld the validity of the cut-off date specified in the recruitment advertisement issued by PSPCL. The court found that the fixation of such a date ensures uniformity, transparency, and administrative efficiency in the recruitment process. It further emphasized that the cut-off date is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable and does not violate Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
Manpreet Kaur, represented by Advocate Sirat Sapra, argued that the eligibility criterion requiring possession of the requisite qualification by the last date of online application submission was unfair, particularly for candidates like her who were on the verge of completing their qualifications. Despite her representation to PSPCL seeking provisional permission to participate in the recruitment process, the petitioner did not receive a favorable response.
The court, however, reiterated the necessity of adhering to the terms and conditions stipulated in the recruitment advertisement. It cited precedents from the Supreme Court, reinforcing the principle that eligibility must be determined as per the cut-off date prescribed in the advertisement. The judgment emphasized that relaxing eligibility criteria post-advertisement would disrupt the fairness and integrity of the recruitment process.
Justice Brar remarked that the recruitment process's integrity relies on clear guidelines and that the court should not interfere unless there is compelling evidence of arbitrariness or mala fide intentions. The court concluded that the petitioner, having failed to meet the eligibility criteria by the prescribed date, is not entitled to any relief.
This judgment reaffirms the importance of cut-off dates in recruitment processes, ensuring that all candidates are treated equally and that the selection process remains transparent and efficient.
Bottom line:-
Recruitment process - Eligibility criteria requiring possession of requisite qualification by the last date of submission of online applications is valid, reasonable, and not violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
Statutory provision(s): Articles 14, 16, 226, and 227 of the Constitution of India.
