A candidate must possess a valid caste certificate as prescribed by advertisement requirements to claim reservation benefits, irrespective of their academic qualifications.

JUDGMENT :

ANAND SHARMA, J.

1. By way of instant writ petition, the petitioner has invoked extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of directions to the respondents to extend benefit of appointment to the petitioner on the post of Junior Accountant.

2. It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner hails from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and belongs to Koli community, which has been declared as Scheduled Caste in the State of Madhya Pradesh as well as State of Rajasthan. The petitioner owns to her credit qualification of M.Com. She performed marriage with Dr. Jitendra Verma on 23.06.2003, who resides in Kota, Rajasthan. The petitioner has placed on record Caste Certificate issued by Tehsildar Byavara, District Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh as well as Caste Certificate issued by concerned authority in the State of Rajasthan. The petitioner participated in the recruitment process initiated vide advertisement dated 01.12.2010/04.12.2010 by the respondent-Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited for appointment on the post of Junior Accountant, whereby, applications were invited from eligible candidates. In the above process, as many as five vacancies were reserved for Scheduled Caste (Female) candidates. It was mentioned in the advertisement that married female candidates of SC/ST categories should produce Caste Certificate issued by the competent authorities of Rajasthan with the name and residence of their father/mother and not with the name and residence of husband.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that after submitting application form in Scheduled Caste (Female) category, the petitioner participated in the recruitment process wherein she secured 43.65 marks which were much more than cut off marks declared for Scheduled Caste (Female) category. Hence, vide letter dated 26.05.2011, the petitioner was directed to appear for documents verification before the competent authority. As per the directions, the petitioner appeared for documents verification on 10.06.2011 before the competent authority and produced her original documents including Caste Certificates issued by the authorities of State of Madhya Pradesh as well as State of Rajasthan. However, Caste Certificate issued by the authority of State of Rajasthan was ignored by the respondents on the pretext that the same has been issued with the name and residence of her husband instead of the same being issued with the name and residence of her parents. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the competent authority with request to correct her Caste Certificate and to issue fresh certificate with the name and residence of her parents. Accordingly, another Caste Certificate dated 13.06.2011 was issued by Tehsildar, Ladpura, District Kota with the name and resident of petitioner’s father Kanvar Lal in order to establish that the petitioner belongs to Scheduled Caste category. Despite that, the petitioner has not been extended benefit of appointment by the respondents and the candidates having lesser marks than her were offered appointment on the post of Junior Accountant.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner indicated that while issuing notices vide order dated 22.07.2011, this Court also granted interim order in favour of the petitioner, directing the respondents that one vacancy of Junior Accountant reserved for Scheduled Caste (Female) category shall not be filled on substantive basis without seeking permission of the Court.

5. Lear