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Union Of India & Anr vs Ravi Shankar & Anr

Supreme Court24 February 1998M. Srinivasan

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where recruitment rules prescribe specific qualifications for a post by reference to degrees awarded by named institutions, a degree of the same name awarded by a different institution is not a recognised qualification under those rules, even if degrees with different names awarded by the same institution are recognised. A candidate who possesses only the unrecognised qualification cannot be appointed to the post and the administrative tribunal errs in directing that such a candidate's case be considered upon relaxation of the minimum qualifications, as the minimum qualifications prescribed by recruitment rules cannot be relaxed.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

PETITIONER:UNION OF INDIA & ANR.
Vs.
RESPONDENT:RAVI SHANKAR & ANR.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 24/02/1998
BENCH:G.B. PATTANAIK, M. SRINIVASAN
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:

O R D E R This appeal is directed against the judgment of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi dated 13.11.1992. By the impugned judgment, the Tribunal had called upon the appellants to consider the case of the respondents, who admittedly possessed the qualification of Vaidya Visharad from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad for the post of Pharmacist after relaxing the qualification and experience for the post whenever any future vacancy arises.

Mrs. Amreshwari, the learned senior counsel for the appellants contends that a Vaidya Visharad recognised by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan is not one of the recognised qualifications for the post of Pharmacist and the minimum qualification for a post cannot be relaxed and, therefore, Tribunal was in error in directing to consider the case of the respondents on relaxation of the qualification in question. Learned counsel for the respondents, on the other hand, contended that the degree of Vaidya Visharad awarded by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad is recognised qualification under the Central Government Health Scheme Delhi (Group C) Ayurvedic, Recruitment Rules, 1978. In view of the rival stand taken by the parties, the only question that arises for consideration is whether the degree of Vaidya Visharad awarded by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad can be held to be a recognised qualification under the Recruitment Rules. Looking to the Schedule attached to the Rules which prescribed the qualification, it is apparent that it is `Vaidya Visharad' which is awarded by All India Ayurvedic Congress is recognised and it is only Ayurved Ratna which is awarded by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan which is recognised. Therefore, the degree of Vaidya Visharad awarded by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, which is possessed by the respondents cannot be held to be a recognised qualification under the Recruitment Rules. It may be stated that in the application before the Tribunal, the respondents have categorically asserted that they possessed the qualification of Vaidya Visharad recognised by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. In that view of the matter, the Tribunal was wholly in error in directing consideration of the case of the respondents in case of future vacancies against a post of Pharmacist. The respondents do not possess the requisite qualification under the Recruitment Rules. They cannot have any right of appointment. The impugned judgment of the Tribunal is set aside. The appeal is allowed, but there will be no order as to costs.

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