Facts
The applicants applied for the post of Nursing Officer (Group B) following an advertisement dated April 9, 2025, which announced 424 vacancies, including 212 for the Unreserved (UR) category
Source reference: p. 3-4, para 2Both applicants qualified in the written examination held on June 29, 2025, with Rajat Rani ranking 199 and Kanika Joshi ranking 196 in the merit list
Source reference: p. 4, para 2Despite their rankings being within the 212 advertised UR vacancies, the respondents only called the first 180 candidates for Document Verification (DV) on July 18, 2025
Source reference: p. 4, para 2The respondents initially claimed that candidates were being called in phases
Source reference: p. 4, para 3Later, through a short reply and additional affidavit, the respondents contended that they withheld calling candidates beyond rank 180 due to pending litigation (OA Nos. 877/2025, 932/2025, and 422/2025) and interim court orders directing them to keep 41 posts vacant
Source reference: p. 5-7, para 5, 11Issues
Whether the action of the respondents in withholding the document verification and subsequent selection process for merit-listed candidates within the zone of consideration was legally justified.
Source reference: p. 6, para 9Law Applied
The court primarily relied on the constitutional mandates of Articles 14 and 16, which ensure equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and protection against arbitrary state action
Source reference: p. 3, para 1(iii)Principles of Natural Justice and the requirement for fairness in recruitment processes to prevent financial loss and age-barring of qualified candidates
Source reference: p. 5, para 4Reasoning
The Tribunal examined the respondents' justification for stalling the recruitment process for the remaining UR vacancies. The respondents cited an interim order dated September 4, 2025 (Annexure R1), which directed 23 posts to be kept vacant.
Source reference: p. 8, para 12However, the Tribunal observed that this order was issued nearly two months after the scheduled document verification date of July 18, 2025. Consequently, the respondents had no valid cause to stall the DV process for meritorious candidates at that time.
Source reference: p. 8, para 12Furthermore, the respondents admitted in an additional affidavit that 102 additional posts of Nursing Officers had fallen vacant due to recent promotions.
Source reference: p. 6, para 7; p. 8, para 12The Tribunal found that the respondents failed to provide any reasonable justification for the delay, characterizing the inaction as arbitrary and unjustified, especially since candidates ranked lower than the applicants had already undergone medical examinations and received appointment letters.
Source reference: p. 5, para 4; p. 8, para 12Holding
The Tribunal allowed both Original Applications, holding that the applicants were entitled to proceed in the selection process as they fell within the merit-based zone of consideration.
The respondents were directed to complete the document verification process for the applicants and issue appointment letters, subject to medical fitness and eligibility, within four weeks of receiving the order.
Source reference: p. 8, para 13No order was made as to costs
Source reference: p. 8, para 13Original Court PDF
Kanika JoshivsGovernment Medical College and Hospital Chandigarh
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