HC summons records of selection of lecturers from HPPSC

Updated on: Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the state Public Service Commission to furnish details of members of the selection committee and produce records pertaining to selection of lecturers in Chemistry in 2008.

A pision Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol passed the orders on the appeal of Shyam Lal, a visually handicapped lecturer of Chemistry in School Cadre.

The HPPSC had advertised five posts of lecturers (College Cadre) in Chemistry, out of which three posts were reserved for visually disabled persons.

Only Shyam Lal and another orthopedic handicapped person had applied for the posts.

Though no post was reserved for a candidate of orthopedic disability, his candidature was considered and interview was conducted but the entire selection process was cancelled when the mistake was realised.

Shyam Lal, aggrieved by the cancellation of selection process, filed a writ petition in the High Court, which ordered the Commission to finalise the selection as per the process already commenced and interviews already held.

However, the HPPSC declared the result of the appellant as unsuccessful for securing less marks than prescribed.

The Court also directed the Chairman, HPPSC to remain personally present with the records on September 19 and file affidavit as to whether the selection committee had fixed any guidelines assessing the merit of the candidates.

The Court also directed him to state in affidavit as to how many vacancies are to be filled up in various cadres from the physically challenged candidates and what steps have been taken by the Commission in this regard.

In its earlier orders, the Court had observed that it was shocking to judicial conscience as to how the petitioner who is a teacher in the subject for over 15 years has been awarded such poor marks despite him being a Post Graduate as well as M.Phil in Chemistry with first class and also holding a Ph.D in the subject.

The Court observed that there was something wrong either with the assessment of the Selection Committee or in any case there is definitely something wrong with the selection process, whereby a person, who awards the marks does not know the subject.

HC summons records of selection of lecturers from HPPSC

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