Court criticizes Haryana Staff Selection Commission for arbitrary allocation of departments, mandates adherence to merit-based principles.
In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of departments for public recruitment. The decision came in response to a series of petitions filed by candidates, including Aman Duddi, who alleged that the HSSC had unjustly allotted departments to candidates with lower merit scores.
Presiding Judge, Mr. Harpreet Singh Brar, emphasized that allocation of departments in a combined recruitment process must adhere to principles of merit and transparency. The court found that the HSSC had deviated from these principles by prioritizing candidates with fewer department preferences over those with higher merit scores, without notifying candidates of this change in criteria.
The court highlighted that such practices violate Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality before the law and equal opportunity in public employment. The judgment asserted that higher-ranked candidates must be given priority in choosing departments to maintain the integrity of the merit-based selection process.
The court directed the Chief Secretaries of Haryana and Punjab to establish clear, lawful criteria for department allocation in consolidated recruitment processes. These criteria must be declared at the advertisement stage to ensure transparency and prevent any future arbitrary deviations.
Furthermore, the court instructed the Chief Secretary of Haryana to consider investigating the conduct of HSSC members and officials involved in the irregularities. The court emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of public employment processes to maintain public trust and confidence.
The judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding constitutional values of fairness and equality in public service recruitment, setting a precedent for future recruitment processes in the region.
Bottom Line:
Allocation of departments in combined recruitment must adhere to principles of merit and transparency, ensuring compliance with Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. Arbitrary deviation from merit is unconstitutional.
Statutory provision(s): Articles 14, 16 of the Constitution of India
Aman Duddi v. Haryana Staff Selection Commission, (Punjab And Haryana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2868952
