SC to States: No More Arbitrary Cut-Offs in Government Job Selections

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has firmly told selection authorities they cannot set extra cut-off marks for government jobs beyond what's already stated in the official recruitment rules. This judgment, delivered by a bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih, directly impacts hundreds of candidates who were unfairly excluded from Craft Instructor recruitments in Uttar Pradesh in 2014-15, despite being eligible. The court stressed that the 'rules of the game' cannot be changed after the selection process has begun, reinforcing fairness in public employment. This dispute began over recruitment drives in 2014 and 2015 for Instructor posts in Uttar Pradesh Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The core issue arose when the State Government's 2014 rules changed the mandatory Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) certificate from an 'essential' to a 'preferential' qualification, and then the Selection Committee imposed arbitrary cut-off marks that were not part of these rules. This led to many qualified candidates, particularly those with CITS certificates, being left out of interviews, leaving thousands of sanctioned posts vacant. The Allahabad High Court had previously dismissed petitions from these candidates, leading them to appeal to the apex court. The Supreme Court has now directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to re-evaluate eligible candidates, particularly those holding CITS certificates, and offer them appointments against existing vacancies. The court has even suggested creating 'supernumerary posts' if necessary to accommodate all deserving candidates. Affected candidates have been given a two-week window to approach the appointing authorities with the judgment. This landmark decision serves as a powerful precedent, ensuring greater transparency and adherence to established rules in government recruitment processes across India, safeguarding the rights of job aspirants.