Chhattisgarh HC Bars Rejection Of Selected ITI Training Officer Candidate Solely For Missing Bank/Post Office Salary Proof

The petitioner was declared successful in the recruitment process for Training Officer, Workshop Calculation and Engineering Drawing, pursuant to the advertisement dated 5 May 2023, as amended on 13 May 2023.

The Document Verification Committee rejected his candidature because, during his traineeship, he had not received his salary through a bank account or post office, as stated to be required by NCVT guidelines dated 22 March 2021.

The petitioner relied on a Coordinate Bench decision in Yashashvi Pansari v. State of Chhattisgarh and Others, WPS No. 8069 of 2023, concerning rejection of candidates for failure to produce proof of salary-payment mode.

The Court followed the Coordinate Bench decision in Yashashvi Pansari v. State of Chhattisgarh and Others, WPS No. 8069 of 2023, which directed that candidature should not be rejected merely for failure to produce documents regarding the mode of salary payment; the authorities could undertake necessary verification and issue appointment orders to candidates found eligible.

The Court also considered the NCVT guidelines dated 22 March 2021, which were cited as prescribing payment through a bank account or post office.

The petitioner’s candidature had been rejected on the same salary-payment documentation ground addressed by the Coordinate Bench.

The State could not show that the Coordinate Bench decision had been set aside or modified. Finding no reason to depart from that decision, the Court held that this ground alone could not sustain rejection.

It preserved the authorities’ power to examine other eligibility criteria, where necessary.

The exercise was to be completed within 60 days, with appointment orders to be issued to eligible candidates within a further 15 days.