Supreme Court: Selection Authorities Cannot Add Eligibility Criteria Beyond Recruitment Rules

• The Supreme Court ruled that selection authorities cannot add eligibility criteria not prescribed by recruitment rules.
• Introducing additional eligibility thresholds beyond what is specified in the rules would be an arbitrary exercise of power.
• Selection authorities must adhere strictly to the prescribed procedures and comply with recruitment rules in India.
• Candidates can challenge illegality or arbitrariness in the selection process, even if they have participated without objection.

The Supreme Court held that introducing additional eligibility thresholds beyond what is specified in the rules would be an arbitrary exercise of power.

The Supreme Court has ruled that selection authorities cannot add eligibility criteria not prescribed by recruitment rules, dealing a blow to arbitrary cut-offs in recruitment processes. In a recent judgment, the Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih held that introducing additional eligibility thresholds beyond what is specified in the rules would be an arbitrary exercise of power. This ruling has significant implications for selection authorities across India, who must now adhere strictly to the prescribed procedures. The Court's decision was made in a case where candidates had challenged the recruitment process for instructors in Uttar Pradesh, which had introduced cut-off marks not provided for in the rules.

The Supreme Court's ruling is based on the principle that selection authorities cannot deviate from the prescribed procedure. The Court noted that where a statute or rule provides a specific and exhaustive mechanism for shortlisting candidates, the selection authority cannot introduce additional eligibility thresholds. This means that selection authorities must carefully review their recruitment processes to ensure they are not imposing arbitrary cut-offs that exclude eligible candidates. The ruling also highlights the importance of compliance with recruitment rules in India, which have been superseded by new rules in some cases.

The Supreme Court's decision has significant implications for lawyers and their clients who participate in selection processes. Lawyers should be aware that selection authorities cannot add eligibility criteria not prescribed by recruitment rules, which may impact their clients' chances of being selected. The ruling also emphasizes the importance of challenging illegality or arbitrariness in the selection process, even if a candidate has participated without objection. This means that lawyers must carefully review their clients' participation in selection processes and advise them to challenge any illegality or arbitrariness in the process.

Lawyers should be aware that the Supreme Court has clarified that selection authorities cannot add eligibility criteria not prescribed by recruitment rules, which may impact their clients' chances of being selected for positions. They should review their clients' participation in selection processes and advise them to challenge any illegality or arbitrariness in the process.

Source: Original reporting via Supreme Court Judgments