K.H. Siraj
Vs. High Court of Kerala & Ors [2006] Insc 335 (23 May 2006)
Dr.
Ar. Lakshmanan & Lokeshwar Singh Panta
WITH CIVIL
APPEAL NOS. 3377-3378 OF 2005 & SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NOS. 14140-14141
OF 2005 Dr. AR. Lakshmanan, J.
Mr.
K.H. Siraj is the appellant in Civil appeal Nos. 2539- 2540 of 2005. Aggrieved
against the judgment and final order dated 1.3.2005 passed by the High Court of
Kerala in Writ Appeal Nos. 1496 & 1584 of 2004 whereby the Division Bench
by its judgment and order allowed the appeals filed by the respondent-High
Court of Kerala, set aside the judgment of the learned single Judge and held
that the selections and appointments made were regular in all respects.
Mr.
C.T. Sivanandan and Mr. Shahjahan M. are the appellants in Civil appeal Nos.
3377-3378 of 2005. Aggrieved against the judgment dated 1.3.2005 in Writ appeal
No. 1584 of 2004 and O.P. No. 6784 of 2002 of the High Court of Keraka, they
filed the above appeals by which the Division Bench set aside the judgment of
the learned single Judge.
Special
Leave Petition(c) Nos. 14140-14141 of 2005 were filed by Mr. V.R. Manu Manaswini
against the common impugned judgment dated 1.3.2005 passed in W.A.No.1497 of
2004 and W.A.No.1719 of 2004 whereby the Division Bench by its final order
allowed Writ Appeal No. 1497 of 2004 filed by the High Court of Keralal and
dismissed Writ Appeal No. 1719 of 2004 filed by the appellant herein Mr. V.R.
Manu Manaswini.
The
short facts are as follows:
The
High Court of Kerala by its Notification dated 26.3.2001 invited applications
for the appointment to the post of Munsiff-Magistrate in the Kerala Judicial
Services in the pay scale of Rs.2500-4000. The relevant part of the
Notification reads as under:
THE
HIGH COURT OF KERALA No. B4-14037/2001 Kochi 682 031 Dated:26.3.2001
NOTIFICATION Applications are invited in the prescribed form from qualified
candidates for appointment to the post of Munsif- Magistrate in the Kerala
Judicial Service.
-
Scale of pay of
the post Rs.2500-4000 (under revision)
-
Probable number
of vacancies 70 (53 candidates to be selected by direct recruitment from the
Bar and 17 by recruited by transfer)
-
Methods of
recruitment:
-
Direct
recruitment from the Bar
-
Recruitment by
transfer.
Selection
shall be after holding examinations, written and oral. The written examination
shall be held on 11th and 12th August, 2001.
-
Qualifications:
-
Direct
recruitment.
-
Recruitment by
transfer.
Note:-..
Feeder
categories of offers for recruitment by transfer:
..
-
-
..
-
..
-
..
-
-
..
-
..
-
.
-
Age limit
-
Direct
recruitment - .
Note.
-
-
-
-
Reservation of
appointment The Rules relating to reservation of appointment for Backward
Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes contained in Part II of the Kerala
State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 (Rules 14 to 17) shall apply to
appointment by direct recruitment.
-
Training..
-
Probation..
-
Tests.
-
Scheme of written and oral
examinations
-
Written
examination
The
written examination shall consist of the following four papers carrying a
maximum of 100 marks each. The time for each paper shall be two and a half
hours.
Paper
I - .
Paper
II - .
Paper
III..
Paper
IV.
-
Oral
Examination : -
There
shall be an oral examination carrying a maximum of 50 marks for deciding the
candidate's general knowledge, grasp of general principles of law, analytical
ability and suitability for appointment as Munsif-Magistrate.
-
Only candidates
who secure not less than 35 per cent marks in each of the papers of the written
examination with an overall minimum of 45 per cent of the total marks of
written examination and 30 per cent of the marks for the oral examination shall
be eligible for appointment provided that the minimum marks required for pass
in each paper of the written examination shall be 30 per cent with an overall
minimum of 35 per cent of the total marks for candidates belonging to Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes. Fraction of half or more than half shall be regarded as
full mark and less than half shall be ignored.
-
No candidate who
has not secured the minimum marks prescribed above in the written examination
shall be called for oral examination.
-
The marks
secured by the candidates at the oral examination shall be added to the total
marks secured by them at the written examination and the names of all those
candidates shall be arranged in the respective lists on the basis of the total
marks secured by them.
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Application form
and application fee - .
-
Certificates/Documents
- ..
-
..
-
.
"Certified
that Shri/Smt. ..has been actually practising an an Court since and that
his/her character and conduct are/were Station: Signature,Name &
Designation Date: of the presiding Officer" Pursuant to the above
Notification, the appellants/petitioners herein submitted their applications.
Written
test was held in the month of August, 2001. Thereafter they were called for an
interview to appear before the Board consisting of five Hon'ble Judges
including Hon'ble the Chief Justice on 17.12.2001. The select list was issued
by the High Court on 7.2.2002. The appellants filed writ petition praying for
quashing the select list insofar as it is contrary to the principles and Rules
relating to reservations. They also moved an application for stay to stay the
training and appointment of candidates from the select list till the disposal
of the writ petition. The learned single Judge passed an order on 16.1.2004 in I.A.No.
425 of 2004 to the effect that the appointments, if any, will be subject to the
result of the original petition. On 23.2.2004, the High Court commences the
training of the last 20 candidates in the select list. The learned single
Judge, by his order dated 6.8.2004, disposed of the original petition declaring
that the decision to fill up the candidates appearing in S.Nos. 60,62,64,66,68
and 70 in the select list from open merit candidates as illegal and
consequently restrained respondent Nos. 1 & 2 (High Court of Kerala and
State of Kerala) from filling up the above posts
from the select list.
The
High Court preferred the appeal being W.A.No.1496 of 2004 on 9.8.2004 against
the judgment of the learned single Judge. The Division Bench by its interim
order dated 12.8.2004 admitted the appeal and stayed the order of the learned
single Judge. The appellant preferred Special Leave Petition(c) No.17535 of
2004 before this Court against the interim order dated 12.8.2004. This Court on
25.8.2004 issued notice and stayed the operation of the impugned order. This
Court disposed of the above special leave petition on 1.11.2004 after recording
the statement of the counsel for the respondents. The order reads thus:
"Delay
condoned.
The petitioner
herein has agreed that by the refusal to grant interim order by the appellate
Bench of the Kerala High Court, he has filed this SLP after issuance of notice.
Respondents
are represented herein. We find that the learned counsel appearing for the contesting
respondents Mr. C.S. Vaidyanathan, learned senior counsel and Mr. Krishnana Venugopal,
learned counsel have stated before this Court that in the event of writ appeal
being allowed, their appointment being quashed and they will not claim equity
on the ground that they have jointed the service earlier.
Recording
the above statement, we think it is not necessary to entertain this petition
hence this special leave petition is disposed of. Sd/- Sd/- (Ganga Thakur) (Prem
Prakash) PS to Registrar Court Master The Division Bench of the High Court by
its final judgment dated 1.3.2005 allowed the appeal filed by the High court,
set aside the judgment of the learned single Judge and held that the selections
and appointments made were regular in all respects.
We
heard Mr. L. Nageswara Rao, learned senior counsel ably assisted by Mr. Haris Beeran,
Mr. Radha Shyam Jena, Mr. E.M.S. Anam and Mr. C.K. Sasi, learned counsel
appearing for the appellants. We also heard Mr. T.L.V. Iyer, learned senior
counsel ably assisted by Mr. Vipin Nair, Mr. P.B. Sursh, Mr. V.K. Biju, learned
counsel and Mr. K.R. Sasiprabhu, learned counsel, Mr. P.V. Dinesh, learned
counsel and Mr. U.U. Lalit, learned senior counsel ably assisted by Mr. Roy
Abraham for the respondents.
The
arguments of Mr. L.N. Rao, learned senior counsel, was adopted by counsel
appearing for the other appellants and the arguments of Mr. T.L.V. Iyer,
learned senior counsel, was adopted by the other counsel appearing for the
respondents.
Mr. Siraj,
appellant in C.A.Nos. 2539-2540 of 2005 belongs to Muslim Community (OBC), the
first appellant in C.A.Nos. 3377-3378 of 2005 is Scheduled Caste candidate and
the second appellant belongs to Muslim Community(OBC) and the third appellant
belongs to Hindu Nadar Community (OBC). The petitioner in S.L.P.)Nos.
14140-14141 of 2005 is a Scheduled Caste candidate. Kerala Judicial Service
Rules, 1991 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules") were made in
exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 234 and 235 of the Constitution of
India and sub-section(1) of Section 2 of the Kerala Public Services Act, 1968
(19 of 1968). Rule 7 of the Rules reads thus:
-
"Preparation
of lists of approved candidates and reservation of appointments
-
The High Court
of Kerala shall, from time to time, hold examinations, written and oral, after
notifying the probable number of vacancies likely to be filled up and prepare a
list of candidates considered suitable for appointment to category 2. The list
shall be prepared after following such procedure as the High Court deems fit
and by following the rules relating to reservation of appointments contained in
rules 14 to 17 of Part II of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules,
1958."
-
The list
consisting of not more than double the number of probable vacancies notified
shall be forwarded for the approval of the Governor. The list approved by the
Governor shall come into force from the date of the approval and shall remain
in force for a period of two years or until a fresh approved list is prepared, whichever
is earlier." Sub-clause (1) of Rule 10 of the Rules reads as under:
Qualifications
(1) No Advocate shall be eligible for appointment to category 2 unless he is
having practice at the Bar for a period of not less than five years and has not
completed 35 years of age on the first day of January of the year in which
applications for appointment are invited.
Rules
14 to 17 of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 read as under:
-
"Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes mean the Castes and Tribes declared as such by the President of India
under Article 341(1) and 342(1) of the Constitution of India and other Backward
Classes mean the classes declared as such by the State Government under Article
16(4) of the Constitution of India.
Lists
of such castes, tribes and classes, so declared are included as Lists I, II and
III respectively in the Schedule to this part.
-
"Service"
means a group of persons classified by the State Government as a State or a
Subordinate service as the case may be.
Note
: Where the context
so requires, 'service' means the period during which a person holds a post or a
lien on a post or is member of a service as above defined.
-
"Special
Rules" shall mean the rules in Part III applicable to each service or
class of service.
-
The Kerala Civil
Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, the rules regulating the
pay of the services issued from time to time, the Government servants' Conduct
Rules, the Travancore Service Regulations, the Cochin Service Regulations, the
Fundamental Rules, the Madras leave Rules, 1933, Kerala Service Rules and the
pension rules for the time being in force shall, in so far as they may be
applicable and except to the extent expressly provided in those rules govern
members of every service in the matter of their pay, allowances, leave, leave
salary, pension and other conditions of service:
Provided
that the said rules and regulations shall in their applications to the members
of the Secretariat Staff of the Governor be construed as if the functions of
the State Government under those rules and regulations were the functions of
the Governor."
INTERPRETATION
OF THE RULES
According
to Mr. L.N. Rao, Rule 7 of the Rules have to be interpreted in the following
manner:
High
Court of Kerala shall hold examination written and oral and prepare a list of
suitable candidates for appointment to category 2. The wording written and oral
means the suitability of a candidate eligible for appointment has to be
considered by the aggregate marks of written examination and oral examination.
The legislative intention is to take the aggregate marks of both written
examination and oral examination to decide the suitability of the candidate.
List has to be prepared after following such a procedure as the High Court
deems fit.
Procedure
means the manner of doing things and not substantive. Fixing a separate minimum
cut off marks is not procedural which is an additional eligibility for the post
which is contrary to rule 7. Rule 7 is silent as to the fixation of cut off
marks which is for relaxation from time to time for the purpose of reservation.
The wording procedure deems fit does not confer any power on the selection
Authority so as to take away a right provided elsewhere, reported in Raja Ram Mahadev
Parjapee's case, 1962 Supp (1)SCR 739 at 749 followed in Babau SCC 128. The
selection authority cannot follow any procedure not in violations of the Rule
of reservation.
Clause
10 of the Notification deals with the Scheme of written and oral examination.
The marks prescribed for written examination is 400 and 50 for oral
examination. The written examination consists of four papers of 100 marks each.
For each paper two and a half hours duration was prescribed.
As per
clause 10(3) of the Notification, the candidates who secure not less than 35%
marks of each of the papers of the written examination with an overall minimum
of 45% of the written examination and 30% of the marks for the oral examination
shall be eligible for appointment provided that the minimum marks required for
pass in each paper of the written examination shall be 35% with an overall
minimum of 35% of the total marks for candidates belonging to SCs/STs. Fraction
of half or more than half shall be regarded as full marks and less than half
shall be ignored.
Clause
10(4) of the Notification stipulates that no candidate who has not secured the
minimum marks prescribed above in the written examination shall be called for
oral examination. Clause 10(5) of the Notification states that the marks
secured by the candidates at the oral examination shall be added to the total
marks secured by them at the written examination and the names of all those
candidates shall be arranged in the respective lists on the basis of the total
marks secured by them.
The
appellant in C.A.Nos. 2539-2540 of 2005 had obtained a total of 213 marks out
of which 200 marks in written examination and 13 marks in oral examination.
The
first appellant in C.A.Nos. 3377-3378 of 2005 who had secured a total of 162
marks out of which 150 marks in written examination and 12 marks in oral
examination.
The
second appellant who had secured a total of 208 marks out of which 195 marks in
written examination and 13 marks in oral examination. The third appellant who
had secured a total of 259 marks out of which 245 marks in written examination
and 14 marks in oral examination. The petitioner in S.L.P.) Nos. 14140-14141 of
2005 had obtained a total of 321.5 marks out of which 217.5 marks in written
examination and 14 marks in oral examination.
Besides
the fact that the appellants are reserved category candidates they were thrown
out from the zone of consideration on the ground that they had not secured 30%
marks in interview. The respondents and other candidates who had been selected
only because they had got 30% marks in interview irrespective of the facts that
the total marks of those candidates are less than the marks obtained by the
appellants.
The
preparation of the Select List was challenged on the ground that Rules 14 to 17
of KSSSR Part II had not been complied since the selection was against the
Rules of reservation and on the ground of illegal prescription of cut off marks
in oral examination made by the first respondent, the selection agency without
statutory sanction.
More
than 1800 candidates have applied of which 1292 applicants were found valid.
118 candidates have passed in written examination of which 88 were passed in
the interview and select list was prepared among these 88 candidates.
No
supplementary list was prepared by the first respondent with respect to the
reserved category candidates. The reserved category candidates who scored
sufficient marks to be considered in the merit list were placed in the reserved
quota. They have to be placed in the merit list. The reserved vacancies are
filled up from the open merit candidates.
According
to Mr. L.N. Rao, the following questions which are posed for the consideration
of this Court in these appeals/petitions are as under:
-
In the absence
of specific legislative mandate under rule 7(i) of the Kerala Judicial Service
Rules, 1991 prescribing cut off marks in oral examination whether the fixing of
separate minimum cut off marks in the interview of further elimination of
candidates after a comprehensive written test touching the required subjects in
detail in violating of the statute.
-
Whether the
select list (Annexure P-2) is prepared in violation of the principles of
reservation as provided under Rules 14 to 17 of the Kerala State Subordinate
Service Rules, 1958?
-
Whether the
first respondent-High Court has the power to decide the reserved post are to be
de-reserved to carry forwarded in the absence of a decision taken by the
government in this regard?
-
Whether Annexure
P-2 List is liable to be strike off at its entirely? Adverting to the first
question, Mr. Rao submitted as follows:
-
Annexure P-1 is
the Notification dated 26.3.2001 in which Rule 10(3) provides that only
candidates who secure not less than 35% marks in each of the papers of the
written examination with an overall minimum of 45 % of the total marks of
written examination and 30% of the marks for the oral examination shall be
eligible for appointment provided that the minimum marks required for pass in
each paper of the written examination shall be 30% with an overall minimum of 35%
of the total marks for candidates belonging to scheduled castes/scheduled
tribes. Fraction of half or more than half shall be regarded as full mark and
less than half shall be ignored.
-
Method of
conducting written test is a well known method for screening the candidates for
the purpose of interview. Interview was conducted for 118 candidates who had
passed in the written examination out of which 9 Muslim candidates and 4 SC/ST
candidates and one Nadar Community candidate participated.
For
the above proposition, learned senior counsel placed reliance on the following
judgments of this Court: Ors., (1984) 2 SCC 141
-
Umesh Chandra Shukla
vs. Union of India, (1985) 3 SCC 72
-
Durga Charan Misra
vs. State of Orissa, (1987) 4 SCC 469.
-
Dr. Krishna
Chandra Sahu & Ors. vs. State of Orissa & Ors. , (1995) 6 SCC 1
-
Praveen Singh
vs. State of Punjab, (2000) 8 SCC 633
-
State of Punjab vs. Manjith Singh, (2003) 2 SCC 559
-
Inder Prakash
Gupta vs. State of J & K & Ors., (2004) 6 SCC
786 Ors. (supra), this Court held as under:
"Once
an additional qualification of obtaining minimum marks at the viva voce test is
adhered to, a candidate who may figure high up in the merit list was likely to
be rejected on the ground that he has not obtained minimum qualifying marks at
the viva voce test..This was impermissible and contrary to the Rules and the
merit list prepared in contravention of the Rules cannot be sustained." In
Umesh Chanda Shukla vs. Union of India (supra), it has been held that the
Selection Committee had no power to prescribe the minimum marks which a
candidate should obtain in the aggregate different from the minimum already
prescribed by the Rules in its Appendix. In the instant case, the Rule is
silent as to the fixation of cut off marks in oral examination. Prescription of
cut off marks in oral examination for the purpose of elimination following a
comprehensive written examination is bad so far it adversely affects
meritorious candidates irrespective of the fact of reservation.
Durga Charan
Misra vs. State of Orissa (supra) was a case relating to the
selection and appointment of Munsiffs in the State of Orissa, where this Court held that
prescribing of minimum marks for viva voce test could not be justified as the
Rules do not prescribe minimum marks for viva voce test. It was also observed
by this Court in paragraph 12 of the said judgment that, "in the light of
these discussions, the conclusion is inevitable that the commission in the
instant case also has no power to prescribe the minimum standard at viva voce
test for determining the suitability of candidate." & Ors., (supra),
this Court observed as under:
"The
members of the Selection Board or for that matter any other Selection
Committee, do not have the jurisdiction to lay down the criteria for selection
unless they are authorised specifically in that regard by the rules made under
Art. 309. It is basically the function of the rule making authority to provide
for the basis for selection." So in the instant case, Rule 7 of the Kerala
Judicial Service Rules did not provide selection criteria for elimination of
the candidate by oral examination after a comprehensive written examination.
The first respondent has no inherent power to prescribe such a criteria for
selection since the same is arbitrary and illegal.
In
this context, the decision of this Court in Praveen Singh vs. State of Punjab,
(supra) is very relevant. In that case, the Public Service Commission invited
applications for appointment to the post of Block Development Officer and Panchayat
Officer. The Public Service Commission conducted a qualifying written
examination for 400 marks of 4 papers and thereafter the persons who qualified
in the written test was called for an interview of 50 marks and the merit list
was prepared on account of the viva voce test only. The qualifying test becomes
meaningless and the propriety of selection only on the basis of the interview
was challenged. This Court held that viva voce test as sole basis for selection
is not proper. In the instant case, only 118 candidates were got qualified out
of 1292 candidates appeared in the written examination. The written examination
consists of 24 legal subjects divided into four papers of 100 marks each. For
each paper, two and a half hours examination was conducted. A comprehensive
written examination touching the required subjects in detail which assess the
candidate's general knowledge, intellectual capacity, legal learning and legal
grasping. Thereafter conducted an oral examination fixing cut off marks for
further elimination of the candidates including backward classes, scheduled
castes and scheduled tribes. So the mode of selection procedure is unfair and
illegal so far it considers the interview which figure up 11.1% of the total
marks is the sole decisive factor. Such consideration makes the written test
meaningless.
Mr.
L.N. Rao illustrated the gravity of the situation as follows:
A
candidate who secures 350 marks in the written examination and obtains 14 marks
in the oral examination taken out from the zone of the consideration where as
the candidate secures 180 marks in the written examination and 15 marks in the
oral examination find a place in the merit list.
In the
present system, the latter having 43% of marks will outweigh the former having
65% of marks on account of the illegal fixation of separate minimum cut off
marks in the oral examination. So, the arbitrary approach of the first
respondent prescribed additional qualification with regard to the scheme of
selection made the written test meaningless and thereby vitiated the whole
process unfair and illegal.
In
Praveen Singh vs. State of Punjab & Ors., (supra), this Court held that for
appointments viva voce test as sole basis not proper. In paragraph 9, this
Court observed that the "interview should not" be the only method of
assessment of the merits of candidates. The vice of manipulation cannot be
rules out in viva voce test. Though interview undoubtedly is a significant
factor in the matter of appointments. It plays a strategic role but it also
allows creeping in of a lacuna rendering the appointments illegitimate.
Obviously, it is an important factor but ought not to be the sole guiding
factor since reliance thereon only may lead to a "sabotage of the purity
of the proceedings".
It was
also observed that the freedom for appointing authorities to adopt any
procedure for selection cannot be at the cost of fair play, god conscience and
equity.
In the
case of State of Punjab vs. Manjith Singh (supra), Public
Service Commission's power to shortlist candidates for appointment has been
considered. It has been decided that commission can shortlist candidates. But
not by fixing minimum qualifying marks. Commission cannot impose any extra
qualification/standard for maintaining efficient in services.
In Indre
Prakash Gupta vs. State of J & K
& Ors. (supra), this Court while dealing with the J & K Public Service
Commission (Conduct of Business and Procedure) Rules, 1980 vis-`-vis J & K
Medical Education (Gazetted) Services Recruitment Rules, 1979 held as follows:
"The
Public Service Commission is a body created under the Constitution. Each State
constitutes its own Public Commission to meet the constitutional requirement
for the purpose of discharging its duties under the Constitution.
Appointment
to service in a State must be in consonance with the constitutional provisions
and in conformity with the autonomy and freedom of executive action. Section
133 of the Constitution imposes duty upon the State to conduct examination for
appointment to the services of the State. The Public Service Commission is also
required to be consulted on the matters enumerated under Section 133. While
going through the selection process the Commission, however, must scrupulously
follow the statutory Rules operating in the field. It may be that for certain
purposes, for example, for the purpose of shortlisting; it can lay down its own
procedure. The Commission, however, must lay down the procedure strictly in
consonance with the statutory Rules. It cannot take any action which per se
would be violative of the statutory Rules or makes the same inoperative for all
intent and purport. Even for the purpose of shortlisting, the Commission cannot
fix any kind of cut off marks." whether the fixing of separate minimum cut
off marks in the interview of further elimination of candidates after a
comprehensive written test touching the required subjects in detail is
violating of the statute.
Mr.
L.N. Rao submitted that in the present case, apart from the candidates
belonging to backward classes, SC/ST candidates are also disqualified for
selection by fixing 30% minimum cut off marks for the oral examination which is
arbitrary because unequal are treated alike. Clause 10(3) of the Notification
did not contemplate 30% cut off marks in interview for SC/ST candidates.
Moreover, the selection agency has no inherent power to prescribe selection
criteria.
The
first respondent has no authority to override the legislative intention. The
Legislature did not provide criteria for selection by exclusion of candidates
by oral examination. Rule 7 of the Kerala Judicial Service Rules did not
provide a selection criteria based on the exclusion of candidates on account of
not securing a separate minimum cut off marks in the oral examination. Hence,
the system followed by the High Court is in clear violation of the Rules and
the principles laid down by this Court in catena of decisions and also against
the norms suggested by Shetty Commission with regard to the Judicial Service
appointments.
Whether
there is violation of Rules of reservation as contemplated under Rules 14 to 17
of the KSSSR 1958 For this proposition, the following aspects are to be
considered:
-
Clause 6 of the
Notification clearly states that "the Rules relating to reservation for
appointment for backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
contained in Part II of the KSSSR, 1958 (Rules 14-17) shall apply to
appointment by direct recruitment." It is in clear terms the first
respondent admitted that the Rules of reservation shall be followed.
Thereby
the first respondent is estopped from denying the fact that the Rules of
reservation is not necessarily be followed in the event of sufficient number of
reservation, candidates were got qualified in the selection process.
Where
a statute requires a particular formality to be complied with there is no estoppel
where such statutory requirement is violated. In the present system, there is
every chance of illegal elimination. In order to give effect to the Rules or
reservation, there should be some relaxation in selection criteria. This aspect
has been accepted by this Court in a number of decisions.
-
The SC/ST
community is entitled to 10% reservation and Muslim community is entitled to
12% reservation under the provisions of KSSSR and Rules 14 to 17 of the same are
applicable in the instant case. According to the Select List (Annexure P-2),
only five Muslim candidates and 1 SC/ST candidate were appointed. The remaining
candidates in the list can be appointed in merit or reservation if followed the
Rules in strict sense. The reservation roster provided in KSSSR for Muslim
candidates are 6,16,26,30,46,56,66,76,80,86 and 96.
-
"Backward
classes a rational classification recognized by our Constitution, therefore,
differential treatment in standards of selection are within the concept of
equality." (Para 44 in State of Kerala vs. N.M. Thomas, AIR 1976 SC 490).
The reservation rosters are to be filled up from the reservation candidates
alone, that is reserved for their community (R.K.Sabharwal vs. State of Punjab
& Ors., (1995) 2 SCC 745).
The
reservation rosters are to be strictly followed as per the Rules. No deviation
is permissible (Union of India vs. Virpal Singh, AIR 1996 SC 448). This Court
held that candidates of reserved category selected on their own merit are not
to be counted as reserved category candidates. A reserved candidate comes in
the merit list is to be considered in merit rather than reservation.
-
82nd
Constitution Amendment (2000) provides that nothing in Article 335 shall
prevent the State from making any provision in favour of the members of the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for relaxation in qualifying marks with
respect to examination/job/promotion. So there should be relaxation in
selection criteria with respect to reserved candidates. The non-creamy layer
section of the Muslim community is socially and educationally most backward.
They cannot be equated with a high pedestal than the scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes. Backward class is a caste within the ambit of Article 15(4)
and Article 16(4). So, the non-creamy layer section of the Muslim community is
allotted 12% reservation by the State of Kerala.
-
In order to fill
up reserved quota, the inter se merit of the reserved candidates has to be
taken into account. In State of Andhra Pradesh vs. Vijaya Kumar, AIR 1995 SC
1648, this Court held that the reservation is permissible under the
Constitution and that cannot be whittled down in any manner. So, the
reservation is the policy of the State and for which Rules 14-17 of KSSSR are
provided for protecting the constitutional mandate under Art.15.
-
What is meant by
reservation and the effect of reservation is much discussed in Ajith Singh
& 2471. In paragraph 38, this Court held as under:
"It
must be noted that whenever a reserved candidate goes for selection at the
initial level (say level 1) he is not going through the normal process but gets
appointment to a post reserved for his group. That is what is meant by
reservation." That is the effect of reservation." So, the reservation
is a legally accepted aspect. Therefore, in the case of reservation of
candidates, there should be relaxation in the selection procedure. In the
present case, the first respondent did not prepare a supplementary list consisting
the names of the candidates in reservation quota. For the compliance of Rules
14 to 17 of KSSSR, there should be a supplementary list as per Kerala Public
Service Commission Rules of Procedure Rules 4(iv) and 12. So supplementary list
of candidates coming under the reserved categories has to be prepared and the
same is to be considered as part of the rank list for the purpose of filling up
of reserved candidates. Articles 15(4) and 16(4) mandate maximum possible
reservation shall be given to socially educationally backward classes including
Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in order to bring them in the main
stream.
-
The Division
Bench without any factual foundation relied on the decision of this Court in
State of Bihar vs. Bal Mukund Shah, (2004) 4 SCC
640. In that case, this Court discussed the legislative competence of the State
Government under Art.309. It was held that legislation for reservation in Judicial
appointments can only be made after consultation with the High Court. In that
case, Bihar Government made a legislation prescribing 50% posts of District
Judges under reservation quota without consulting the High Court. In the
instant case, the High Court has no case that the reservation is not
applicable.
Judicial
Service Rules of 1991 is made in consultation with the High Court under Art. 234
of the Constitution of India.
-
The learned
single Judge is of the view that the Select List (Ann. P-2) can be interfered
with only to the extent that the decision to fill up S.Nos. 60,62, 64, 66, 70
which are reserved posts from the open merit candidates. The learned single
Judge has observed in paragraph 10 of his judgment that , "But under the
pretext of shortlisting many qualified candidates were irregularly and
illegally taken out from the zone of consideration for the reason that they had
not obtained qualifying marks in the total examination. Annexure P-2 (Select
List) published by the High Court is in clear violation of the provisions of
the Rules. So, it is very clear that the procedure adopted by the first
respondent High Court made the written test meaningless. It can be seen that
the Annexure P-2 list is prepared not as per the merit and rules of reservation
since the open merit candidates are arranged in the reservation quota. The
reservation candidates who come out in merit also placed in the reserved quota
instead of placing them in the merit list. That is against the dictum laid down
in R.K. Sabharwal's case(supra). The illegality strikes at the root of
appointment cannot be validated. So, it is for the interest of justice, equity
and good conscience the entire list is to be quashed and the same is to be
re-arranged in the order of merit considering the aggregate marks secured by
the candidate in the written as well as oral examination strictly following
Rules 14 to 17 of the KSSSR to secure reservation under Art.
15(4)
of the Constitution of India. The procedure adopted by the first
respondent is not legally valid since statutory requirements have been
violated.
ESTOPPEL
It is
submitted by Mr. L.N. Rao that estoppel is not available to the respondents
inasmuch as the Division Bench itself while allowing the appeal of the
respondent, specially rejecting the contentions of plea of estoppel in paras 47
and 48 of the impugned judgment. According to Mr. Rao, none of the respondents
before this Court has neither challenged the said findings nor filed any cros-
appeal in this regard. He would, therefore, submit that it is impermissible to
the respondent to take the plea of estoppel where they themselves have waived
of their right to file cross appeal challenging the said findings in para 48 of
the impugned judgment. He would further submit that there is no plea of estoppel
against the violation of statutory rules. Similarly there cannot be any plea of
estoppel against the Constitution. It is submitted that the
appellants/petitioners have approached this Court against the violation of
their fundamental right also being unequal or treated alike by fixing equal cut
off marks for all candidates thereby violating Arts. 14 & 16 of the
Constitution of India. For this proposition, Mr. Rao
relied on a Constitution Bench decision of this Court in Olga 1986 SC 180 in
which this Court held that there can be no estoppel against Constitution and
that the Constitution is not only the paramount law of the land but it is the
source and sustenance of all laws. In this regard, he invited our attention to
paragraphs 28 and 29 of the above decision.
Concluding
his elaborate submissions, Mr. Rao submitted that the prayer of the
appellants/petitioners is not to quash the select list published by the High
Court in its entirety and that the select list may be redone on the basis of
the aggregate marks obtained by the candidates in the written and oral
examination as envisaged in Rule 7(i). It is submitted that by doing this only
5 or 6 candidates will be affected.
Elaborating,
Mr. Rao submitted that if this Court is not inclined to redo the list as
aforesaid, the case of the appellants/petitioners before this Court be
considered on individual basis. The appellants/petitioners are age barred and
will not be able to attempt another examination. It is stated that there are 50
vacancies existing and so the interest of the appellants/petitioners can be
protected if this Court issues a direction to accommodate the 5 appellants/petitioners
before this Court which will not cause any prejudice to any of the respondents.
Per
contra, Mr. T.L.Vishwanatha Iyer, learned senior counsel, appearing for the
respondents made elaborate submissions by way of reply to the arguments
advanced by Mr. Rao. In regard to his main submissions made on behalf of the
appellants in challenge of the decision of the Division Bench accepting the
High Court's appeal and reversing the judgment of the learned single Judge, Mr.
T.L.Vishwanatha Iyer submitted that the selection in question was pursuant to
the Notification issued by the High Court of Kerala on 26.3.2001 notifying 70
vacancies of Munsif Magistrates to be filled up. We have already reproduced the
Notification in paragraphs supra. He invited our attention to clause 10 of the
Notification which prescribed a scheme of written and oral examination to be
taken by the candidate. The written examination was to consist of four papers
carrying 100 marks each, the subjects for which the examinations were to be
held being specified in the Notification. There was also to be an oral
examination carrying 50 marks for deciding the candidate's general knowledge,
grasp of general principles of law, analytical ability and suitability for
appointment as Munsif Magistrate. Sub-clause 3 provides that only candidates
securing not less than 35% marks in each of the four papers of the written
examination with an overall minimum of 45% of the total marks of the written
examination and 30% of the marks for the oral examination shall be eligible for
appointment. There was a relaxation of the marks in the written examination in favour
of candidates belonging to Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes. The rank list
is to be prepared of the eligible candidates, i.e. those who secure the minimum
in the written and oral examinations, as stated above, adding together the
marks of the written and oral examinations. The Notification itself stated that
the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be
given a pre-examination training.
This
was done with a view to equip them for the examination.
It is
pertinent to notice that Rules of 1991 were formulated after the integration of
the Civil and Criminal wings of the Judiciary and formation of the cadre of Munsif
Magistrate at the entry point. Two earlier selections had been made in 1991 and
1998 in accordance with the same procedure as laid down in the Notification
dated 26.3.2001 by prescribing the securing of minimum marks in the written and
oral examinations as a condition of eligibility. The same procedure was
followed in the impugned selection also.
It is
also pertinent to notice that the prescription of a minimum mark for the oral
examination as a condition of eligibility for appointment was questioned in the
High Court by an aspirant by name Remani, by filing a writ petition. That writ
petition was dismissed by a learned single Judge in 1996(2) KLT 439, wherein
the learned single Judge upheld the prescription of a minimum mark for the oral
examination as valid and in accordance with Rule 7 of the Rules. This decision
made on the judicial side was binding on the administrative side of the High
Court and was followed in the subsequent selection in 1998 and in the impugned
selection.
The
oral examination in this case was conducted by the Chief Justice and four seniormost
Judges, to whom the marks in the written test were not available at the time of
the interview. The Judges had to assess the suitability of the candidates for
selection as Munsif Magistrate, keeping in mind various factors. The Judges
have awarded marks and found that the appellants have not been able to secure
even 30% marks which has been prescribed as the minimum for eligibility.
Mr.
T.L.V. Iyer also pointed out that over 1200 candidates had taken the written
examination and out of them, a total of 118 secured the minimum marks
prescribed for the written examination. These 118 were interviewed by the five
Judges including the Chief Justice.
Of
these, 88 secured over 30% marks of the 50 marks prescribed for the oral
examination. 88 candidates who were thus successful and eligible to be
considered were arranged in the order of merit following the rules of
reservation prescribed in Rules 14 to 17 of the KSSSR.
The
list so prepared was forwarded to the Government for appointment to 70
vacancies notified.
It was
also stated that 88 eligible candidates as aforesaid contained 37 persons
belonging to reserved categories like other backward classes, Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes. Of these, 8 persons got appointed in the open merit
quota and the rest 29 got appointed in the reservation quota. 70 persons
recommended to be appointed contained all these 37 candidates including 29 who
got selected and ranked in the reservation quota. It may be mentioned that none
of the eligible candidates belonging to the reserved categories failed to
secure appointment and all of them found a place in the list of 70 persons
selected for the appointment.
The
select list so prepared in accordance with the reservation Rules was forwarded
to the Government for approval under Rule 7(2) of the Rules. Government
approved the same, after due scrutiny of all aspects and all the 70 persons
have been appointed as Munsif Magistrates after undergoing the statutory
training and are now functioning as Munsif Magistrates.
In
this background, two questions raise by Mr. L.N. Rao have to be considered.
-
The prescription
of minimum mark for the oral examination as a condition of eligibility for
selection as Munsif Magistrate is not authorized by Rule 7 of the Kerala
Judicial Service Rules, 1991;
-
The select list
has not been prepared in accordance with Rules 14 to 17 of KSSR 1958.
So far
as the first submission is concerned, we have already extracted Rule 7 in
paragraph supra. Rule 7 has to be read in this background and High Court's
power conferred under Rule 7 has to be adjudged in this basis.
The
said Rule requires the High Court firstly to hold examinations written and
oral. Secondly the mandate is to prepare a select list of candidates suitable
for appointment as Munsif Magistrates. The very use of the word 'suitable'
gives the nature and extent of the power conferred upon the High Court and the
duty that it has to perform in the matter of selection of candidates. The High
Court alone knows what are the requirements of the subordinate judiciary, what
qualities the Judicial Officer should possess both on the judicial side and on
the administrative side since the performance of duties as a Munsif or in the
higher categories of subordinate Judge.
Chief
Judicial Magistrate or District Judge to which the candidates may get promoted require
administrative abilities as well. Since the High Court is the best Judge of
what should be the proper mode of selection, Rule 7 has left it to the High Court
to follow such procedure as it deems fit. The High Court has to exercise its
powers in the light of the constitutional scheme so that the best available
talent, suitable for manning the judiciary may get selected.
What
the High Court has done by the Notification dated 26.3.2001 is to evolve a
procedure to choose the best available talent. It cannot for a moment be stated
that prescription of minimum pass marks for the written examination or for the
oral examination is in any manner irrelevant or not having any nexus to the
object sought to be achieved. The merit of a candidate and his suitability are
always assessed with reference to his performance at the examination and it is
a well accepted norm to adjudge the merit and suitability of any candidate for
any service, whether it be the Public Service Commission (I.A.S., I.A.F. etc.)
or any other. Therefore, the powers conferred by Rule 7 fully justified the
prescription of the minimum eligibility condition in Rule 10 of the
Notification dated 26.3.2001. The very concept of examination envisaged by Rule
7 is a concept justifying prescription of a minimum as bench mark for passing
the same. In addition, further requirements are necessary for assessment of
suitability of the candidate and that is why power is vested in a high powered
body like High Court to evolve its own procedure as it is the best Judge in the
matter. It will not be proper in any other authority to confine the High Court
within any limits and it is, therefore, that the evolution of the procedure has
been left to the High Court itself. When a high powered constitutional
authority is left with such power and it has evolved the procedure which is
germane and best suited to achieve the object, it is not proper to scuttle the
same as beyond its powers. Reference in this connection may be made to the
decision of this Court in 2006(1) SCC 779 wherein an action of the Chief
Justice of India was sought to be questioned before the High Court and it was
held to be improper.
The
very scheme and amplitude of Rule 7 under which the selection is made is
sufficient answer to the contention of the appellants. Under the scheme of the
Indian Constitution, the High Court is vested with the entire administration of
the subordinate judiciary under Arts. 233, 234 and 235 of the Constitution of India. The High Court is vested with the
power to see that the high traditions and standards of the judiciary are
maintained by the selection of proper persons to man the subordinate judiciary.
The
place of the High Court in the matter of administration of justice was very
elaborately and poignantly delineated by S.B.Majmudar,J., speaking for the
Constitution Bench in (2000) 4 SCC 640, said that the very responsible and
onerous duty is cast on the High Court under the Constitutional scheme and it
has been given a prime and paramount position in this mater, with the necessity
of choosing the best available talent for manning the subordinate judiciary.
The repercussions of wrongful choice is also pointed out in the said judgment.
It is
significant to note that the appellants/petitioners themselves have not
challenged the prescription of minimum cut off marks for the written
examination though if their contention is to be accepted, the prescription of
such minimum cut off will also be equally invalid. Their contention, in our
view, is without any substance and merit.
In our
opinion, the interview is the best mode of assessing the suitability of a
candidate for a particular position. While the written examination will testify
the candidates' academic knowledge, the oral test alone can bring out or
disclose his overall intellectual and personal qualities like alertness,
resourcefulness, dependability, capacity for discussion, ability to take
decisions, qualities of leadership etc. which are also essential for a judicial
officer.
We may
usefully refer to a decision of this Court in Mills (P) Ltd., (1981) 4 SCC 149
in which this Court observed as under:
"The
object of any process of selection for entry into a public service is to secure
the best and the most suitable person for the job, avoiding patronage and favouritism.
Selection based on merit, tested impartially and objectively, is the essential
foundation of any useful and efficient public service. So, open competitive
examination has come to be accepted almost universally as the gateway to public
services.
The
ideal in recruitment is to do away with unfairness." .
A
system of recruitment almost totally dependent on assessment of a person's
academic knowledge and skills, as distinct from ability to deal with pressing
problems of economic and social development, with people, and with novel
situations cannot serve the needs of today, much less of tomorrow.We venture to
suggest that out recruitment procedures should be such that we can select
candidates who cannot only assimilate knowledge and sift material to understand
the ramifications of a situation or a problem but have the potential to develop
an original or innovative approach to the solution of problems.
It is
now well recognised that while a written examination assesses a candidate's
knowledge and intellectual ability, an interview test is valuable to assess a
candidate's overall intellectual and personal qualities. While a written
examination has certain distinct advantage over the interview-test there are
yet no written tests which can evaluate a candidate's initiative, alertness,
resourcefulness, dependableness, cooperativeness, capacity for clear and
logical presentation, effectiveness in discussion, effectiveness in meeting and
dealing with others, adaptability, judgment, ability to make decision, ability
to lead, intellectual and moral integrity ... " "While we do feel
that the marks allotted for interview are on the high side and it may be
appropriate for the Government to re-examine the question, we are unable to
uphold the contention that it was not within the power of the Government to
provide such high marks for interview or that there was any arbitrary exercise
of power." India & Ors., (1992) suppl. 1 SCC 594 , S.Ratnavel Pandian,
J. speaking for the Bench, observed as under:
"Hermer
Finer in his textbook under the caption The Theory and Practice of Modern
government states:
"The
problem of selection for character is still the pons asinorum of recruitment to
the public services everywhere. The British Civil Service experiments with the
interview." The purpose of viva voce test for the ICS Examination in 1935
could be best understood from the following extract of the Civil Service
Commission's pamphlet:
"Viva
Voce the examination will be in matters of general interest : it is intended
to test the candidate's alertness, intelligence and intellectual outlook. The
candidate will be accorded an opportunity of furnishing the record of his life
and education." "It is apposite, in this connection, to have
reference to an excerpt from the United Nations Handbook on Civil Service Laws
and Practice, which reads thus:
"the
written papers permit an assessment of culture and intellectual competence.
This interview permits an assessment of qualities of character which written
papers ignore; it attempts to assess the man himself and not his intellectual
abilities." "This Court in Lila Dhar vs. State of Rajasthan, (1984) 2
SCC 159 while expressing the view about the importance and significance of the
two tests, namely, the written and interview has observed thus:
"the
written examination assess the man's intellect and the interview test the man
himself and the 'the twain shall meet' for a proper selection." The
qualities which a Judicial Officer would possess are delineated by this Court
in Delhi Bar Association vs. Union of India & Ors., (2002) 10 SCC 159. A
Judicial Officer must, apart from academic knowledge, have the capacity to
communicate his thoughts, he must be tactful, he must be diplomatic, he must
have a sense of humour, he must have the ability to defuse situations, to
control the examination of witnesses and also lengthy irrelevant arguments and
the like.
Existence
of such capacities can be brought out only in an oral interview. It is
imperative that only persons with a minimum of such capacities should be
selected for the judiciary as otherwise the standards would get diluted and
substandard stuff may be getting into the judiciary.
Acceptance
of the contention of the appellants/petitioners can even lead to a postulate
that a candidate who scores high in the written examination but is totally
inadequate for the job as evident from the oral interview and gets 0 marks may
still find it a place in the judiciary. It will spell disaster to the standards
to be maintained by the subordinate judiciary. It is, therefore, the High Court
has set a bench mark for the oral interview, a bench mark which is actually low
as it requires 30% for a pass. The total marks for the interview are only 50
out of a total of 450. The prescription is, therefore, kept to the bare minimum
and if a candidate fails to secure even this bare minimum, it cannot be postulated
that he is suitable for the job of Munsif Magistrate, as assessed by five
experienced Judges of the High Court.
In
this connection, reference may be made to the State Insurance Corporation &
Anr., (1990) 2 SCC 367 at 371 wherein the Rules did not prescribe any minimum
marks for the interview. The advertisement for the job set a minimum of 40% to
the written test and without a minimum for the interview. However, candidates
with less than 40% at the interview were not selected. The selection was upheld
by this Court relying on a judgment of Punchhi,J in Rajesh Sood vs.
Director-General, Employees State Insurance Corporation, 1985 (2) Singh &
Ors., (1994) 1 SCC 269, though there was no specification in the statutory
Rules regarding the minimum length of service for promotion, such prescription
was laid by administrative instructions. In para 7, this Court said that the
instructions so issued were not inconsistent with the Rules. Reference may also
be made to a decision of this Court in Jasbir Singh & which the relevant
Rules did not specify as to the relevant date for considering the age
qualification. The advertisement, however, fixed a cut off date, which was
contended to be illegal. This Court held that the said prescription was for the
purpose of implementation of the Rules regarding age.
We may
now refer to few decisions cited by Mr. T.L.V. Iyer, learned senior counsel
appearing for the respondents, in support of his contentions.
In
State of Haryana vs. Subash Chander Marwaha &
Ors. , 1974 (3) SCC 220, the Rules specified that a candidate obtaining 45%
marks was eligible for appointment. However, the Government restricted the
appointments to candidates getting over 55%. Candidates who had obtained less
than 55% but over 45% challenged the non-appointment despite existence of
vacancies, on the ground that all those got over 45% should have been
appointed. This was not accepted by this Court.
It has
been held by this Court in Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission vs. Navnit
Kumar Potdar & Anr., 1994 (6) SCC 293 that in a selection based interview,
it was open to the Selecting Board to insist on a higher qualification than
that prescribed by the Rules. In that case, five years' experience was the
prescribed qualification. But this Court held that there was nothing wrong in
confining the selection to candidates with experience of 7 = years.
Thus
it is seen that apart from the amplitude of the power under Rule 7 it is
clearly open for the High Court to prescribe bench marks for the written test
and oral test in order to achieve the purpose of getting the best available
talent. There is nothing in the Rules barring such a procedure from being
adopted. It may also be mentioned that executive instructions can always
supplement the Rules which may not deal with every aspect of a matter.
Even
assuming that Rule 7 did not prescribe any particular minimum, it was open to
the High Court to supplement the Rule with a view to implement them by
prescribing relevant standards in the advertisement for selection. Reference
may be made to the decision of this Court in State of Gujarat vs. Akhilesh C. Bhargav & Ors. ,
(1987) 4 SCC 482.
We
shall now advert to the decisions relied on by Mr. L.N. Rao : India & Ors.,
(supra)
-
Umesh Chandra Shukla
vs. Union of India, (supra)
-
Durga Charan Misra
vs. State of Orissa,(supra)
These
decisions do not deal with a situation like Rule 7. Even otherwise, these
decisions are totally distinguishable as was virtually conceded by the
appellants/petitioners' learned counsel as recorded by the High Court in
paragraph 27 of the judgment which reads as under:
"Before
we examine the rest of the issues, this could be a resting point, so as to take
notice of the reply made. It has to be observed that these points highlighted
practically go unanswered. Of course, valiant effort had been mad by Mr. Sudhkara
Prasad, learned counsel appearing for the respondent, to salvage the situation.
He had to agree that the decisions relied on by the learned Judge, referred to
earlier, may not apply on all fours.
But
the submission is that substantial rights cannot at all be circumscribed by a
prescription for adopting a procedure. When the Rule does not give power to the
authority to prescribe minimum cut off marks, the discretion has to be
understood as circumscribed" This apart, those cases deal with particular
situations based on interpretation of the Rules concerned in those cases. In Ramachandra
Iyer's case(supra), Rule 14 (paragraph 43 of the judgment) mandated that the
marks at the written test and the oral examination have to be aggregated and
the merit list prepared on the basis of such aggregation of marks. Therefore,
the marks obtained at the written test and the oral test were both relevant
whatever be the percentage, in the preparation of the merit list. Nevertheless,
the examining Board prescribed minimum for viva voce test and eliminated those
who failed to get the minimum. Resultantly, candidates who would have found a
place in the rank list based on the aggregate of the marks for the two tests stood
eliminated because they did not get the minimum in the viva voce test. This was
contrary to Rule 14 and that was the reason why the prescription of minimum
marks for viva voce test was held invalid in Ramachandra Iyer's case(supra).
That this is the reason evident from a reading of paragraph 44 of the judgment
where, inter alia, this Court observed as under:
"Neither
Rule 13 nor Rule 14 nor any other Rule enables the ASRB to prescribe minimum
qualifying marks to be obtained by the candidates at the viva voce test. On the
contrary, the language of rule 14 clearly negatives any such power in the ASRB
when it provides that after the written test if the candidate has obtained the
minimum marks, he is eligible for being called for viva voce test and final merit
list would be drawn up according to the aggregation of marks obtained by the
candidates in the written test plus viva voce examination." "This
prescription of impermissible additional qualification has a direct impact on
the merit list because the merit list has to be prepared according to the
aggregate marks obtained by the candidates at the written test plus viva voce
test. Once an additional qualification of obtaining minimum marks at the viva
voce test is adhered to, a candidate who may figure high in the merit list was
likely to be rejected on the ground that he has not obtained qualifying marks
at the viva voce test." The decision is, therefore, based on Rule 14 and
the necessity to aggregate the marks at the written test and the oral test.
Similar
is the question in Durga Charan Misra vs. State of Orissa,(supra) where the decision turned
on Rule 18 of the Orissa Judicial Service Rules. The said Rule is quoted in para
6 of that judgment and it requires the marks obtained at the viva voce test to
be added to the marks obtained in the written examination and merit list to be
prepared in accordance with the aggregate of these two marks. It was,
therefore, held that the prescription of a minimum of 30% at the viva voce test
and elimination of candidates accordingly a counter to this express provision
in Rule 18. This case is analogous to the decision in P.K. Ramachandra Iyer's
case (supra) and what is stated earlier as the distinguishing feature of P.K.Ramachandra
Iyer's case applies equally to this decision as well.
The
third case is Umesh Chandra Shukla vs. Union of India, (supra). In that case,
the Delhi High Court had made a list of 27 candidates after eliminating those
who had not obtained the requisite minimum at the test conducted for the
purpose. However, the High Court modified the select list prepared in
accordance with the Rules by awarding moderation marks to those who did not
obtain the prescribed minimum marks at the written test and the viva voce. This
was held to be bad because awarding marks by moderation amounted to amendment
of the Rules which could not be done by the High Court or the Selection
Committee. This decision, therefore, turned on the interpretation of the Rules
involved in that case and violation thereof by the High Court by adding
moderation marks is contrary to the Rules. This case is also, therefore,
distinguishable and has no application to the case on hand. The learned single
Judge relied on these three decisions to decide against the High Court.
Apart
from the fact that these decisions are distinguishable and pertain to the Rules
involved in those cases, the learned Judge did not correctly appreciate the
amplitude of Rule 7 and the wide powers conferred on the High Court to evolve
its own procedure under the said Rule.
Rule
of Reservation Contention No. 2 relates to correctness of the application of
the Rule of reservation. This point, in our opinion, will arise for
consideration only if the first contention of the appellants/petitioners is
accepted. If that contention is rejected, the question of considering this
point will not arise. In fact, in that event, the appellants/petitioners are
not even entitled to question the correctness of the list, as laid down by this
Court in Dr. Umakant Saran vs. State of Bihar & Ors., (1973) 1 SCC 485 and
only those who are eligible or in the zone of consideration can question the
legality or otherwise of a select list. It is the submission of Mr. T.L.V. Iyer
that the Select List has been prepared fully in accordance with Rules 14-17 of
the Rules. The appellants/petitioners' challenge is the filling up of slot Nos.
60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 which come within the reservation slots by candidates
in the merit list. This is misconceived and incorrect. Rule 15(a) & (b) of
KSSSR specially mandates that if candidate belonging to a particular community OBC,
SC/ST is not available to fill up any particular slot, then it should be passed
over and filled up by a candidate available from the next reserved community
and so on. If no member of a reserved community is ultimately available for
filling up that slot, that slot should be filled up by an open merit candidate.
That is the position here.
There
were no eligible reserved candidates available for filling up the aforesaid
slots 60 etc. As mentioned earlier, from all the reserved candidates, 37 of
them available among the 88 eligible candidates had already been given place
above Slot No. 60 and there was not a single reserved candidate available to
fill up slots 60 etc.
Therefore,
under Rule 15, the aforesaid slots had mandatorily to be filled up by open
merit candidates. It is not possible for the Government to keep those vacancies
unfilled particularly, when there was a total of 70 vacancies to be filled up
and open merit candidates were also available. Non-filling up of those
vacancies by open merit candidates would have resulted in violation of Rule
-
In fact, the Division Bench had gone
into this aspect and examined this matter with reference to Rules and found
that there was no departure from Rules 14 to 17 in the preparation of the list.
The
list so prepared in accordance with the reservation Rules was forwarded to the
Government and the Government, in its turn, examined the matter again in all
its aspects and approved the same.
Mr.
L.N. Rao cited the decision in the case of Harish Kumar Purohit & Ors.,
(2003) 5 SCC 480. He raised the contention that the so called de-reservation
had to be done only by the Government and not by the Selecting authority viz.
the High Court. This question is not relevant in this context. There is no
question of de- reservation so far as the case on hand is concerned for the
reason that it was an application of Rule 15 and the filling up of the posts by
open merit candidates as required therein. There is no de-reservation involved
at all. The High Court has only followed the mandate of Rule15.
Mr.
L.N. Rao made a further contention based on the above decision that the
de-reservation of any post has to be done by the Government. This contention,
in our view, has also no force. Assuming that this is a case of de-
reservation, the High Court only forwarded the list to the Government and it is
the Government who approved the same. De-reservation, if any, of the posts was,
therefore, done only by the Government and not by the High Court.
But as
stated earlier, the question of de-reservation does not arise, as this is a
case of application of the mandate of Rule 15. In the circumstances, the second
contentions raised by Mr. L.N. Rao is also incorrect and untenable, apart from
the fact that the appellants/petitioners who are not eligible candidates are
not entitled to contest the validity of the select list on this ground. Since
they are ineligible for appointment, no relief, in any case, be afforded to
them in any event.
The
appellants/petitioners, in any event, are not entitled to any relief under Art.
226 of the Constitution of India for more reasons than one. They had
participated in the written test and in the oral test without raising any
objection. They knew well from the High Court's Notification that a minimum
marks had to be secured both at the written test and in the oral test. They
were also aware of the High Court decision on the judicial side reported in Remany
vs. High Court of Kerala, 1996 (2) KLT 439. This case deals with prescription
of minimum qualifying marks of 30% for viva voce test. C.S. Rajan, J., in the
above judgment, observed as under:
"..On
the basis of the aggregate marks in both the tests, the selection has to be
made. In I.C.A.R's case, AIR 1984 SC 541 also the relevant rules did not enable
the selection Board to prescribe minimum qualifying marks to be obtained by the
candidate at the viva voce test. In the Delhi Judicial Service's case also (AIR
1985 SC 1351, the rules did not empower the committee to exclude candidates
securing less than 600 marks in the aggregate.
Therefore,
in all these cases, the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that prescription
of separate minimum marks for viva voce test is bad in law because under the
rules, no minimum qualifying marks were prescribed." The High Court also
relied on P.K. Ramachandra Iyer's case (supra) and Umesh Chandra's case
(Supra).
The
appellants/petitioners having participated in the interview in this background,
it is not open to the appellants/petitioners to turn round thereafter when they
failed at the interview and contend that the provision of a minimum mark for
the interview was not proper. It was so held by this Court in paragraph 9 of Madan
Lal & Ors.
"Before
dealing with this contention, we must keep in view the salient fact that the
petitioners as well as the contesting successful candidates being respondents
concerned herein, were all found eligible in the light of marks obtained in the
written test, to be eligible to be called for oral interview.
Up to
this stage there is no dispute between the parties. The Petitioners also
appeared at the oral interview conducted by the Members concerned of the
Commission who interviewed the petitions as well as the contesting respondents
concerned. Thus the petitioners took a chance to get themselves selected at the
said oral interview. Only because they did not find themselves to have emerged
successful as a result of their combined performance both at written test and
oral interview, they have filed this petition. It is now well settled that if a
candidate takes a calculated chance and appears at the interview, then, only
because the result of the interview is not palatable to him, he cannot turn
round and subsequently contend that the process of interview was unfair or the
Selection Committee was not properly constituted. In the case of Om Prakash Shukla
vs. Akhilesh Kumar Shukla, 1986 suppl SCC 283, it has been clearly laid down by
a Bench of three learned Judges of this Court that when the petitioner appeared
at the examination without protect and when he found that he would not succeed
in examination he filed a petition challenging the said examination, the High
Court should not have granted any relief to such a petitioner." Therefore,
the writ petition filed by the appellants/petitioners should be dismissed on
the ground of estoppel is correct in view of the above ruling of this Court.
The decision of the High Court holding to the contrary is in per curiam without
reference to the aforesaid decisions.
The
writ petitions have also to fall on the ground of absence of necessary parties
in the party array. Though the appellants/petitioners contend that they are
only challenging the list to a limited extent, acceptance of their contention
will result in a total re-arrangement of the select list. The candidates will
be displaced from their present ranks, besides some of them may also be out of
the select list of 70. It was, therefore, imperative that all the candidates in
the select list should have been impleaded as parties to the writ petitions as
otherwise they will be affected without being heard. Publication in the
newspaper does not cure this defect. There are only a specified definite number
of candidates who had to be impleaded namely, 70. It is not as if there are a
large unspecified number of people to be affected. In such cases, resort cannot
be made to Rule 148 of the Kerala High Court Rules. That Rule can be applied
only when very large number of candidates are involved and it may be not able
to pin point those candidates with details. In our view, the writ petitions
have to fail for non-joinder of necessary parties also.
One
more factor has also to be noticed in regard to the civil appeals filed by Mr.
K.H. Siraj which, in our opinion, is also hit by res judicata. His writ
petition in the High Court was O.P. No. 5219 of 2002. That was partly allowed
without giving him any relief for a direction for appointment. On the other
hand, the High Court set aside the selection of candidates occupying Rank Nos.
60, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70. The High Court filed Writ Appeal No. 1496 of 2004
before the Division Bench. Mr. K.H. Siraj himself filed W.A. No.1584 of 2004
against that part of the impugned judgment which was against him.
Candidates
occupying Rank Nos. 60 etc. who are affected by the judgment had themselves
filed W.A.Nos. 1498, 1510, 1526, 1527, 1541, 1588 and 1574 of 2004. All these
appeals filed by the High Court and by these parties were allowed setting aside
the judgment of the learned single Judge. Mr. K.H. Siraj's appeal (W.A.
1584/2004) was dismissed. However, Mr. Siraj has chosen to file appeals only
against the decision in W.A.No. 1496/2004 filed by the High Court and W.A. No.
1584 of 2004 filed by himself and has not chosen to file any appeal against the
decision in the other appeals, W.A.No. 1498 of 2004 etc. filed by the affected
parties. The decision therein has become final and, therefore, operates as res judicata
and Mr. K.H. Siraj's appeal is to be dismissed as such.
Mr.
L.N. Rao, concluding his arguments, sought to the argument of sympathy. The
flimsy plea was made by him in this regard. We are unable to countenance the
plea of sympathy. The appellants/petitioners could not secure even the minimum
of 30% marks prescribed by the High Court. The five learned Judges including
the Chief Justice who had interviewed the candidates in an objective way, have
found these appellants/petitioners as not suitable for the job and, therefore,
not awarded them even the minimum marks required in the oral test. As pointed
out earlier, there is no mala fide or bias attributed to the selection
committee. It is irrelevant to say that they failed to make only one or two
marks when it is evident that they were not able to score even the very low
minimum of 30% marks prescribed for the oral test.
Likewise,
the request of Mr. L.N. Rao for relaxation of the age qualification in future
selection in so far as the appellants/petitioners are concerned is again not a
valid request. This is a case where the High Court has gone strictly by the
Rules and found the appellants/petitioners as unsuitable. When the
Constitutional mandate is that the High Court should perform its duty in having
the best available talent chosen for the subordinate judiciary, it is not possible
to dilute the standards by any process. It is only this mala fide of the Constitution,
that the select committee in this case has performed and found the
appellants/petitioners unsuitable. There is no case for any relaxation of age
in future recruitment to be given so far as the appellants/petitioners are
concerned.
Mr. Uday
U. Lalit, learned senior counsel appearing for respondent Nos. 6, 7, 8 & 9
in C.A. Nos. 2539-2540 of 2005. He also advanced the similar arguments as that
of Mr. T.L.V. Iyer. He also submitted that since mala fides is not alleged, the
selection made by five Hon'ble Judges of the High Court should not be
interfered with. He also advanced the argument on Rule 7. On the question of
equality, Mr. Uday U. Lalit submitted that the list was published in the year
2002 and that is more than four years after and that the respondents were
selected and once they selected, they seized to be advocates and that since
then they are working and, therefore, to put the clock back completely at this distance
of time is not proper. Mr Lalit also placed reliance on the decision of State
Insurance Corporation & Anr.,(supra) which in turn refers to the views
expressed by Punchhi,J (as he then was) in decision Rajesh Sood vs.
Director-General, Employees State Insurance Corporation (supra).
The
Division Bench summoned the original files and verified as to whether proper
procedure has been followed in the pattern of awarding of marks and prepared of
the lists. The learned Judges in paragraph 50 of their judgment observed as
under:
".The
compilation of records are immediately done, and at every stage, the senior
Judges including the Chief Justice, who were in office, had been closely
monitoring the selection process. The details of marks awarded in the written
and oral examinations were available, as arising from the selection process.
Details of candidates with permissible amount of secrecy and the marks
respectively secured by them were available, under the signature of the Chief
Justice and his companion Judges. The records reveal that principles of
rotation have been borne in mind." For the foregoing reasons, we are of
the opinion that the appellants in the civil appeals and petitioners in the
special leave petitions are not entitled to any of the reliefs prayed for as
they have not made out any valid or sustainable ground. We, therefore, set
aside the judgment passed by the learned single Judge and affirm the judgment
passed by the Division Bench which, in our opinion, does not warrant
interference.
Accordingly,
the civil appeals and the special leave petitions are dismissed. There shall be
no order as to costs.
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