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
