Degrees obtained through distance education study centres located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the parent University are invalid for public employment, and parity cannot be claimed through the doctrine of negative equality based on previous erroneous recruitment practices.

COMMON JUDGMENT

Since the issues that arise in the above writ appeals are integrally one and the same, the writ appeals are being disposed of by this Common Judgment.

2. W.A.Nos.176, 191 and 258 of 2026 are directed against W.P.No.25531 of 2024; W.A.Nos.185, 251 and 260 of 2026 are directed against W.P.No.24496 of 2024 and W.A.Nos.190, 232 and 259 of 2026 are directed against W.P.No.25837 of 2024.

3. All the aforesaid writ appeals are against common order dated 12.12.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.25531, 25837 and 24496 of 2024 by the learned Single Judge, wherein the learned Single Judge has disposed of the writ petitions with a direction to the respondent authorities to consider or reconsider the claim of the respondents herein (writ petitioners) for appointment to the post of Librarian, pursuant to Notification No.30/2022 dated 31.12.2022, purely on the basis of their merit, and without reference to the rejection order, in a manner similar to the cases of other candidates who were allegedly similarly situated and had been appointed or promoted earlier.

4. Heard Sri G.Vidyasagar, learned Senior Counsel representing Sri Sai Prasen Gundavaram, learned counsel for the appellants in W.A.Nos.176, 232 and 251 of 2026; Sri M.Surender Rao, learned Senior Counsel representing Sri Rama Rao Kilaru, learned counsel for the appellant in W.A.Nos.185, 190 and 191 of 2026; Sri P.S.Rajasekhar, learned Standing Counsel for Telangana Public Service Commission; Sri G.Prasanth, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Services-I appearing for the State of Telangana; Sri M.V.Rama Rao, learned counsel appearing for respondent Nos.5 to 9 in W.A.No.176 of 2026 and respondent Nos.2 to 6 in W.A.No.258 of 2026; Ms.B.Rachna Reddy, learned Senior Counsel representing Sri Md.Baseer Riyaz, learned counsel for respondent No.13 in W.A.No.190 of 2026 and respondent Nos.13 to 17 in W.A.No.191 of 2026; Sri P.Rama Sharana Sharma, learned counsel for respondent No.13 in W.A.No.185 of 2026, respondent No.5 in W.A.No.251 of 2026 and respondent No.1 in W.A.No.260 of 2026 and perused the record.

Factual matrix

5. The Telangana State Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as “TGPSC”) issued Notification No.30/2022 dated 31.12.2022 inviting applications for recruitment to the post of Librarian. The notification was issued pursuant to requisitions/indent received from the State Government, notifying a total of 71 vacancies, comprising 40 posts under the control of the Commissioner of Intermediate Education and 31 posts under the control of the Commissioner of Technical Education.

6. Clause 6 of the said notification prescribed the requisite educational qualifications. Insofar as the post of Librarian under Intermediate Education (Post Code No.01) is concerned, the candidates were required to possess, inter alia, a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Science or Commerce, along with a Postgraduate Degree in Library Science with not less than 50% marks. The said clause was accompanied by a specific stipulation governing qualifications obtained through distance education mode, which assumes central relevance in the present lis and is extracted hereunder:

“N.B:- i) Distance Education:- The Applicants who have obtained requisite Degrees through Open Universities / Distance Education mode are required to have recognition by the University Grants Commissi