Court Directs HPSC to Finalize Selection on Original Criteria, Citing Constitutional Violations
In a significant decision, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the Haryana Public Service Commission's (HPSC) decision to introduce minimum qualifying marks for interviews midway through the recruitment process for the posts of Assistant Professors in Government Medical Colleges. The judgment was delivered by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar on 19th August 2026, addressing petitions filed by candidates affected by the rule change.
The case involved multiple petitions, including those filed by Dr. Surender Singh and others, against the State of Haryana and the HPSC. The petitioners contended that the introduction of minimum qualifying marks at the interview stage, after the recruitment process had commenced, was arbitrary and violated their legitimate expectations as per Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
The court observed that altering the "rules of the game" midway through the process undermines transparency and fairness. It was noted that the original advertisement for the recruitment did not specify any minimum marks for interviews, and the HPSC's subsequent imposition of such criteria without prior notice was impermissible. The court held that such changes violate principles of natural justice and create arbitrariness, which are antithetical to the constitutional guarantees of equality and fair play in public employment.
The High Court directed the HPSC to re-evaluate and finalize the selection process based solely on the criteria originally stipulated in the advertisement, without applying any minimum qualifying cut-off for the interview. If the petitioners are found successful upon re-evaluation, the court instructed that they be issued appointment letters and granted notional benefits from the date their peers received similar benefits.
This judgment reinforces the principle that recruiting agencies must adhere to the criteria publicized at the commencement of the recruitment process, ensuring that candidates are evaluated transparently and fairly. The decision underscores the constitutional mandate for non-arbitrary administrative actions and upholds the candidates' rights to be assessed based on the initially advertised criteria.
Bottom Line :
Recruitment process - Introduction of minimum qualifying marks for interview after commencement of the recruitment process is arbitrary and violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
Statutory provision(s): Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India.
Dr. Surender Singh v. State of Haryana, (Punjab And Haryana) : Law Finder Doc id # 2964200
