Judgment of CAT, Principal Bench, New Delhi in OA No.955/2007 filed by Shri Dinesh Singh (F.No.25/21/2007-R.III) upholding Public Service Commission’s authority to shortlist candidates

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        The gist of the case is as follows:-

        Shri Dinesh Singh, one of the applicants for the post of Principal in the Govt. Senior Secondary Schools under the Directorate of Education, Govt. of NCT of Delhi was not called for interview as he was not fulfilling the short-listing criteria approved by the Commission.  Being aggrieved by this, the applicant approached Hon’ble CAT to quash the impugned act of the Commission in not calling him for interview.  In this matter, Hon’ble CAT, Principal Bench in their order dated 22^nd February, 2008 placed reliance on the case of Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission V/s. Banwarilal and another.  In this case, Hon’ble Supreme Court had held as follows:- 

“In substance and reality, this process of shortisting is part of process of selection.  Once the applications are received and the Selection Board or the Commission applies its mind to evolve any rational and reasonable basis, on which the list of applicants should be short-listed, the process of selection commences.  If with five years of experience an applicant is eligible, then no fault can be found with the Commission if the applicants having completed seven and half years of practice are only called for interview because such applicants having longer period of practice, shall be presumed to have better experience..............”

      On the basis of the above, Hon’ble CAT found no merit in the said OA and it was dismissed.  In this manner, the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, has upheld the authority of the Commission of to formulate short-listing criteria for  candidates to be called for interview.