Hriday Shah
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently dismissed a plea by a candidate, Bhuvan Goel, who failed the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Examination 2023-24 by 6.75 marks. Goel scored 543.25 out of 1,100 marks (49.38%), falling short of the 550 marks (50%) required for eligibility as a civil judge or judicial magistrate.
Goel argued that despite obtaining 513.50 marks in the written examination (out of 900), he received only 29.75 marks in the viva-voce (out of 200), which brought his overall score below the qualifying threshold.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh emphasized the distinct nature of judicial recruitment, stating that it cannot rely solely on written tests. The Court underlined the importance of the viva-voce in evaluating candidates for qualities such as integrity, aptitude, character, and merit which are essential attributes for judicial roles.
The Bench noted that Goel was fully aware of the rules, including the requirement to score 50% in aggregate, and could not claim unfairness or a change in rules. Citing the principle of estoppel, the Court highlighted that Goel entered the selection process with full knowledge of the criteria.
The Court acknowledged the candidate’s effort but clarified that personal expectations do not justify interference in the selection process. It concluded that Goel’s low viva-voce score of 29.75 marks led to his failure to meet the aggregate requirement. Accordingly, the plea was dismissed.
Case Name: Bhuvan Goel v. Punjab and Haryana High Court
Diary No.: CWP-32436-2024 (O&M)
Bench: Chief Justice Sheel Nagu & Justice Sudhir Singh