JUDGMENT

Ramesh Ranganathan, C.J. - The validity of the selection process, undertaken pursuant to the advertisement dated 04.08.2017, is under challenge both in WPSB No. 78 of 2019 and WPSB No. 82 of 2019.

The petitioner in Writ Petition (S/B) No. 78 of 2019, a Ph.D with nearly eight years of service as an Assistant Professor (Drawing and Painting), applied for the post of Assistant Professor (Drawing and Painting) pursuant to the advertisement issued by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (for short the 'Commission') dated 04.08.2017, on 12.08.2017. A screening test was held on 06.05.2018, the results of which were declared on 21.08.2018. The petitioner was among the candidates successful in the screening test, and was therefore called to appear before the interview board constituted by the Commission on 28.12.2018. The results of the interview were declared by the Commission on 04.01.2019, and respondent nos.6 to 9 were declared to have been selected ie two in the General category (ie respondent nos.7 and 9), and two in the Scheduled Castes category (ie respondent nos.6 and 8). The petitioner belongs to the General category. In the interview, respondent no.7 secured 74 marks