HC raps HSSC for opaque department allocation process The Punjab and Haryana High Court has criticized the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) for its "opaque and arbitrary" method of allocating government departments to selected candidates. In a detailed ruling, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar stated that the commission’s practice of prioritizing candidates based on the number of preferences they listed, rather than their merit rankings, violated constitutional principles of equality and fairness. The court emphasized that the current system constitutes a clear case of misconduct and directed the Haryana chief secretary to investigate the conduct of HSSC members and office-bearers. The court highlighted that the HSSC adopted a resolution in October 2019, which gave preference to candidates who submitted three or fewer preferences. However, this criterion was never disclosed to applicants, depriving them of the opportunity to make informed choices. The court noted that the concealment of such a critical factor undermines transparency and fairness in the recruitment process. It further ordered the chief secretaries of Haryana and Punjab to issue clear instructions ensuring that future department allocations follow lawful, comprehensive, and rational criteria to maintain transparency and integrity in public employment. The ruling underscores the importance of accountability in administrative processes and aims to prevent similar issues in the future. The court’s directive to review the conduct of HSSC officials reflects its commitment to upholding constitutional values and ensuring equitable treatment for all candidates.#haryana #haryana_staff_selection_commission #punjab_and_haryana_high_court #justice_harpreet_singh_brar #haryana_chief_secretary
Merit Must Prevail For Department Allocation In Combined Recruitment: Punjab & Haryana High Court The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that department allocation in combined recruitment processes must prioritize inter se merit, ensuring that higher-ranked candidates are not disadvantaged by arbitrary or undisclosed criteria. The court emphasized that deviations from merit-based allocation violate constitutional principles of equality and fairness under Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution. The ruling followed a batch of writ petitions challenging the allocation of departments to Junior Engineers (Civil) by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. Petitioners argued that candidates with higher marks were denied preferred postings, while lower-ranked individuals secured more desirable departments based on an internal, undisclosed criterion. The court acknowledged that such practices undermine the integrity of competitive selection processes and create unequal treatment among similarly situated candidates. The court underscored that merit-based allocation is not merely an administrative practice but a constitutional mandate. It clarified that the principle of merit must extend beyond the preparation of a merit list to the actual distribution of departments. The court noted that the current allocation mechanism allowed candidates with lower merit to secure more preferred postings, thereby defeating the purpose of a fair and transparent recruitment system. The ruling highlighted the importance of transparency and fairness in public employment, stating that state actions must adhere to constitutional provisions and statutory rules.#punjab_haryana_high_court #haryana_staff_selection_commission #aman_duddi #junior_engineers_civil #combined_recruitment_process
