Certificates issued during the specified transition period satisfy the educational qualification for GDS consideration.

The Union of India challenged the Central Administrative Tribunal’s order dated 10 September 2025 in O.A. No. 203/37/2022, which held that the respondent was qualified for consideration for engagement as a Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS)

The GDS notification required a Class 10 certificate from a recognised Board, with Mathematics and English as subjects

The respondent relied on a certificate issued by the Board of School and Technical Education (C.G.) on 25 July 2013

The Union argued that this Board was not recognised; the Tribunal had considered a clarification that students whose marksheets were issued between 7 November 2012 and 10 March 2014 should not be disqualified for higher studies

1. Whether the respondent’s Class 10 certificate, issued by the Board of School and Technical Education (C.G.), met the educational qualification for GDS engagement despite the Board’s suspended recognition

2. Whether the Tribunal’s order holding the respondent eligible for consideration for GDS engagement disclosed any infirmity warranting interference in writ jurisdiction

The GDS notification required a Class 10 pass certificate from a recognised Board, with Mathematics and English studied as compulsory or elective subjects

The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education’s clarification, as recorded by the Tribunal, suspended recognition of the Board of School and Technical Education, Chhattisgarh, but stated that students whose marksheets were issued between 7 November 2012 and 10 March 2014 should not be disqualified for higher studies

The High Court noted that the respondent’s certificate and marksheet were issued on 25 July 2013, within the period covered by the clarification

It therefore upheld the Tribunal’s conclusion that the respondent could not be disqualified on the basis of the Board’s suspended recognition and possessed the minimum qualification for consideration for GDS engagement

On that basis, the Court found no infirmity in the Tribunal’s order

dismissed the Union of India’s writ petition as devoid of merit