The court determined that deviations from prescribed selection processes and involvement of candidates in influencing decisions voided the selection process, emphasizing the need for procedural fairness.

JUDGMENT :

SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY, J.

1. Petitioner before this Court is holding the post of Professor in Respondent-Institute, i.e., Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (hereinafter referred to as “IIIT, Allahabad”) and was handed over charge to the post of Registrar (Acting) of Institute on 01.12.2022 due to unfortunate demise of earlier Acting Registrar, Professor Shirshu Verma.

2. In order to appoint a permanent Registrar, the Institute has issued Advertisement dated 27.07.2021 advertising one post of Registrar and one post of Deputy Registrar. “General Instructions” for candidates, being relevant as mentioned in the advertisement, are reproduced hereinafter:

“GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES

1. Preference will be given to 'Persons with Disabilities', even where reservation is not marked in the table given on 1st page of this advertisement, if suitable PwDs are available.

2.....

(a) The Institute reserves its right to place a reasonable limit by putting a certain criteria on the total number of candidates to be called for written test/presentation/seminar/Interview.

(b) Merely fulfillment of qualifications does not entitle a candidate to be called for written test/presentation/ seminar/Interview.

(c) The Institute reserves the right not to fill up the posts, cancel the Advt. in whole or in part without assigning any reason and its decision in this regard shall be final.

3.....

(a) The SC/ST and OBCS-NCL are required to attach a copy of the Caste Certificate with the application in the format prescribed by the Govt. of India.

(b) The Institute follows the reservation norms as per GOI rules for SC/ST/OBC and PwDs. Central Govt. approved list of SC, ST and OBC categories as applicable at IIIT Allahabad.

4. Candidates must ensure before applying that they are eligible according to the criteria stipulated in the advertisement. If the candidate is found ineligible at any stage of recruitment process, he/she will be disqualified and their candidature will be cancelled. Hiding of Information or submitting false Information will lead to cancellation of candidature at any stage of recruitment. The Institute reserves the right to reject any application without assigning any reason whatsoever.

5. Candidates desirous of applying for more than one post should submit separate application for each post along with requisite application fees.

6. The Institute reserves the right to assign/transfer the selected candidates to any section/department within the Institute and appointments will be offered accordingly.

7.....

(a) The Institute reserves the right to relax any of the qualifications/ experience in exceptional cases.

(b) Higher initial basic pay may be given to exceptionally qualified and deserving candidate(s).

(c) Requirement of experience is relaxable at the discretion of the competent authority in the cases of SCs/STs.

8. The date of determining the eligibility of all candidates in every respect shall be the normal closing date of Advt.

9. The selection process will consist of:

(i) Presentation/Seminar & Interview for S. No. 1

(ii) Written Test/Presentation/Seminar and Interview for S. Nos. 2

10. Those candidates who will be shortlisted for the Interview will be paid to & fro journey fare by direct shortest route on submission of tickets in original as under:

Group-A posts at S. Nos. 1 - AC-II (Rajdhani Exp. Also)/Chair car in Shatabdi Exp.

Group-A posts at S. Nos. 2 - AC-III (Ra)dhanl Exp. Also)/Cha