Ms. Vinita Vs University of Delhi and Another

Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, J.@mdashThe Petitioner working as Section Officer in the Department of Sociology of the University of Delhi had applied through the route of Direct Recruitment for the post of Assistant Registrar/Assistant Controller of Examinations/Administrative Officer for which applications were invited by the Respondent University and appeared in the examination held on 30th October, 2010 but was not found successful. This writ petition has been filed seeking relief of

(i) re-evaluation of the answer sheets from an independent body/authority

(ii) setting aside the change of selection criteria adopted qua candidates seeking appointment through the route of Departmental Promotion or for direction for the same criteria to be applied for Direct Recruitment also, and

(iii) fixing the maximum marks for interview not exceeding 20% of the total marks instead of 35% for direct recruitment. The Petitioner also seeks the relief of restraining the declaration of the further result of interview and of setting aside of the entire selection process.

2. As far as the relief of re-evaluation of answer sheet is concerned, the Petitioner cites past instances of alleged discrimination against her and with respect to which the writ petitions earlier filed by the Petitioner are stated to be still pending.

3. The Division Bench of this Court recently in judgment dated 25th August, 2010 in LPA No. 595/2010 titled Rohit Kumar v. Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board has reiterated that no re-evaluation can be ordered, in the absence of any rule therefore. No rule has been shown in the present case. The Petitioner even otherwise has not been able to establish any possibility of the examiner of the answer books written by the Petitioner being prejudicial to her or being able to know the identity of the Petitioner. On enquiry, it is informed that about 300 candidates had appeared in the examination.

4. The second ground urged by the counsel for the Petitioner is that besides inviting applications for appointments to the said posts through Direct Recruitment, applications for appointments through departmental promotion were also invited and the written test held was common for both routes. The counsel however fairly admits that the Petitioner was not eligible for appointment through the process of departmental promotion and accordingly had not applied for the same. The allegation is that the selection criteria for promotion through the route of departmental promotion, has been changed after the selection process had begun.

5. The Petitioner having not applied for promotion through the departmental process has no locus to challenge the change even if any in selection process therein. Though, the counsel for the Petitioner had sought to urge that ultimately the Petitioner would be affected but admits that the quota of the posts for the departmental promotion is distinct and separate from the quota for direct recruitment. The Petitioner is thus not found to have any locus to challenge the change even if any in the selection process through departmental promotion for which the Petitioner had not participated.

6. As far as the last ground urged by the Petitioner of the Respondent University allocating 35% marks for interview is concerned, the Supreme Court in Lila Dhar Vs. State of Rajasthan and Others, held that the ratio of decisions qua percentage of marks for interview in educational matters cannot be applied in case of services to which recruitment has necessarily to be made from persons of mature personality and that in services, interview test may be the only way to differentiate between all those meeting the basic qualification. Be that as it may, the counsel for the Respondent University appearing on advance notice states that in future, correction if any required in this regard shall be made. However, as far as the Petitioner is concerned, she is not found to have any case on the said ground also for the reason of the Petitioner having participated in the selection process knowing fully well of the marks in the interview being 35%. The Supreme Court in a catena of judgments, to which reference is made in Vipul Bhole and Another Vs. The School of Planning and Architecture and Others, has held that a candidate after having participated in the selection process being fully aware of the same, upon being unsuccessful, is not entitled to challenge the same. Reference may also be made to Manish Kumar Shahi Vs. State of Bihar and Others, where also it was held that after having taken part in the process of selection knowing fully well that 19% marks had been earmarked for viva voce the Petitioner therein could not be held entitled to challenge the criteria or process of selection.

7. No ground is made out; the writ petition is dismissed. No order as to costs.

8. At this stage, the counsel for the Petitioner states that certain queries through the medium of ''Right to Information Act'' have been made and seeks opportunity to file a fresh petition if any fresh cause of action is discovered.

9. Liberty granted if discover fresh ground.