Court dismisses plea for relaxation citing adherence to statutory service rules.
In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition seeking relaxation from the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) Level-III qualification for the post of Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) Computer Science. The decision, delivered by Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya, reinforces the adherence to the statutory service rules that mandate the HTET Level-III as an essential eligibility criterion.
The case, titled "Diksha Rana v. State of Haryana," was brought before the court by petitioners represented by advocates Mr. Vikas K. Sangwan, Ms. Monika Sangwan, and Ms. Anshika. The petitioners argued for a relaxation in the qualification requirement, citing a shortage of candidates who could clear the selection process. They referenced past instances where the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had granted a one-time relaxation from the B.Ed. qualification, suggesting a similar approach for the HTET Level-III requirement.
However, the court found no merit in the arguments presented. Justice Dahiya emphasized that the inability of candidates to clear the selection process does not justify altering the statutory requirements. He noted that the HTET Level-III qualification has been a consistent requirement and that sufficient opportunities exist for candidates to meet this criterion.
The court also highlighted that past relaxations in B.Ed. qualifications were granted for specific, context-driven reasons that do not apply to the HTET Level-III requirement. The decision underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous standards for educational qualifications, particularly in the context of technical subjects like Computer Science.
As a result, the plea for relaxation was dismissed, affirming the necessity for candidates to meet the prescribed qualifications to ensure a competent pool of educators in Haryana's educational system.
Bottom Line:
Haryana State Education School Cadre Rules - HTET Level-III qualification prescribed for the post of Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) Computer Science cannot be relaxed merely because sufficient number of candidates could not clear the selection process.
Statutory provision(s): Haryana State Education School Cadre (Group B) Service Rules, 2012, Appendix 'B'.
Diksha Rana v. State of Haryana, (Punjab And Haryana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2864852
