| DB upholds PSC selection criteria, dismisses appeals of aspirants | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 12: In a significant ruling affecting recruitment to Assistant Professor posts in Jammu & Kashmir, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has dismissed a batch of three intra-court appeals challenging the Public Service Commission's (PSC) shortlisting and weightage criteria. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal upheld the 2018 judgment of the Writ Court, ruling that the PSC's selection process and Rule 51 of the PSC Rules, 1980, suffer from no illegality. The appellants had argued that candidates possessing NET/SLET/SET and Ph.D. qualifications, which form part of the essential eligibility criteria, should have been given additional weightage during shortlisting and final selection. They contended that the absence of marks for NET/SLET/SET and unequal weightage for Ph.D. holders rendered the PSC criteria arbitrary. Rejecting the plea, the Bench observed that NET/SLET/SET are not higher qualifications but basic eligibility requirements, and therefore do not warrant the award of marks. It further clarified that weightage is granted only for the highest qualification, and if the Ph.D. degree itself is utilized to meet eligibility conditions, no additional points can be awarded.
Finding no "illegality, infirmity, or impropriety" in the Writ Court's earlier decision, the Bench dismissed all three appeals along with pending applications. —(JNF) |
|
