Kanoon Ki Dastak
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the mandatory requirement for district judiciary exam candidates to secure a minimum of 50% marks (500 out of 1,000) in both the written test and viva voce.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel ruled that this criterion ensures only qualified individuals enter the judiciary, preventing dilution of standards. The Court emphasized that while the written test assesses academic knowledge, the viva voce evaluates intellectual attributes, judicial temperament, and leadership skills.
The petitioner, who missed the qualifying mark by 33 points, challenged the selection process, alleging irregularities and unfair practices. However, the Court dismissed his plea, affirming that eligibility criteria, once lawfully set, are binding and essential for fair appointments. Citing precedents, including Abhimeet Sinha and Gurushanan Singh, the Bench held that granting grace marks without justification would violate constitutional principles of fairness under Articles 14 and 16.
The plea was consequently dismissed.
Case: Rajesh Gupta v. Punjab and Haryana High Court & Ors.
Neutral Citation: 2025:PHHC:036129-DB
Petitioner’s Counsel: Advocate R.N. Lohan
Respondents’ Counsel: Advocates Vikas Chatrath, Preet Arora, Tanya Sehgal, Puneet Bali, and Senior Advocate Aakash Sharma