M.Tech in specialized subjects from recognized departments satisfies prescribed field-specific educational qualifications for recruitment.

The Petitioner (Applicant No. 2 before the Tribunal) challenged the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dated 18 April 2023, which dismissed his plea for recruitment as Scientist-B.

The recruitment required specific educational qualifications in fields like Electronics and Communication.

The Petitioner held a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications. The CAT held that this was not equivalent to the prescribed Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication.

In the present writ petition, the Petitioner contended that while his Bachelor's degree was questioned, he also possessed an M.Tech in "Signal Processing and Digital Design" from Delhi Technological University, obtained while being a student of the Electronics & Communication Engineering Department.

He argued this M.Tech degree satisfies the essential qualifications, a plea he claimed was raised in para 4.13 of his original OA but not specifically addressed by the CAT.

1. Whether a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications can be treated as equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication for the post of Scientist-B.

2. Whether the Petitioner’s M.Tech in Signal Processing and Digital Design from the Electronics & Communication Engineering Department fulfills the prescribed eligibility criteria.

The recruitment notification's prescribed educational qualifications required a Bachelor’s Degree (B.E./B.Tech) or Master’s Degree (M.Sc/MCA/ME/M.Tech) in specified fields, including Electronics and Communication.

The court applied the principle of judicial restraint regarding the equivalence of educational qualifications, affirming that courts should not readily treat two distinct technical degrees as equivalent.

The court acknowledged the right of a candidate for public service to have all pleaded qualifications duly considered by the adjudicating body.

The High Court initially upheld the Tribunal's finding that a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications is not the same as Electronics and Communication.

The Court noted the Petitioner's secondary qualification—an M.Tech degree—and the argument that while specialized (Signal Processing), it falls under the umbrella of the Department of Electronics & Communication.

The Court noted that this specific plea (para 4.13 of the OA) regarding the Master's degree was seemingly overlooked or not specifically argued during the Tribunal's proceedings.

Given that the case involves the right to be considered for public service, the Court found it "appropriate" to allow the Petitioner to re-agitate this specific point before the Tribunal rather than deciding the technical equivalence itself.

The Court directed the parties to appear before the Tribunal on 13 July 2026 for an expedited hearing, with the final entitlement to appointment subject to the Tribunal's fresh determination.