The 'rules of the game' regarding eligibility criteria for public employment cannot be changed or supplemented with new disqualifications once the recruitment process has commenced, unless such criteria were clearly stipulated in the original advertisement.

NAFR

(Cause Title is taken from CIS System)

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey

Order on Board

(27.3.2026)

1. By way of this petition, petitioner has challenged rejection order issued by the Joint Director, Directorate of Public Instruction, whereby her candidature for appointment to the posts of Lecturer has been rejected on the singular ground that she obtained two degrees simultaneously in the same academic year, typically a combination of B.Ed. in regular mode and a postgraduate degree (M.Sc.) in open or distance mode. Despite the petitioner having successfully cleared the written examination and having been called for document verification, her name were excluded from the provisional selection lists or was shown as ineligible in the list of disqualified candidates. The rejection order relies on the reasoning that “two degrees cannot be pursued in one academic session,” even though the University Grants Commission, through its notification dated 28.12.2012 and the 2022 Guidelines titled “Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes Simultaneously,” expressly permits students to pursue one regular degree along with one additional degree through open/distance mode, whether from the same or a different university. The petitioner assert that she acquired the qualifications strictly in accordance with UGC norms and other regulatory guidelines, and further point out that similarly situated candidates in the Panchayat & Rural Development Department have been granted appointments despite holding simultaneous dual degrees, making the rejection of their candidature discriminatory and arbitrary. The petitioner has approached this Court seeking quashment of the impugned order and a direction to consider her candidature for appointment in accordance with law.

2. The brief facts of the case, are that the respondent–School Education Department issued an advertisement dated 09.03.2019 inviting applications for recruitment to various teaching posts, including 270 posts of Lecturer (Mathematics) under the E-Cadre and 400 posts of Lecturer (Mathematics) under the T-Cadre. As per the said advertisement, the minimum educational qualification prescribed for the post of Lecturer (Mathematics) was a Post Graduation degree in Mathematics along with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. The petitioner, possessing all requisite qualifications, duly submitted his application for the post of Lecturer (Mathematics) under both E-Cadre and T-Cadre. Upon scrutiny of his application, the respondents issued an admit card permitting the petitioner to appear in the written examination. The petitioner appeared in the examination and successfully qualified, demonstrating his merit and eligibility. Upon qualifying the written examination, the petitioner was called for document verification. The Deputy Director, Public Instruction Division, Raipur issued a letter dated 05.05.2022 directing the petitioner to appear for verification of documents on 22.01.2022 along with all original educational testimonials. During the document verification held on 19.05.2022, the verification committee orally informed the petitioner that his candidature was liable to be rejected on the ground that his mark-sheets for B.Ed. and M.Sc. (Mathematics) appeared to relate to the same academic year. Subsequently, the respondents issued the impugned rejection order dated 22.07.2022, formally rejecting the petitioner's candidature on the same ground. The petitioner has duly completed his Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) through regular mode from Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, passing the First Year