HC quashes selection of 32 MV Inspector candidates

Holding that the criteria which turned out to be a disqualification for a non-selected candidate was also found for a selected candidate for the oral test to the post of Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade-II, the Madras High Court while setting aside the selection of the 32 persons has directed the verification of the Workshop Experience Certificates for all the 1,328 candidates, who participated in the written examination.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh was passing orders on a batch of pleas moved by candidates questioning the process of selection that has been adopted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), which was contrary to the selection procedure specified in the notification. The pleas also questioned the selection of 32 candidates for oral test, who also suffer from the same disqualification that has been put against them.

“It is clear that whatever was found to be a disqualification for the non-selected candidate was also equally found for the selected candidates. In spite of it, they have been selected for the oral test and the final results have also been published. What is sauce for a goose is a sauce for the gander. This term is used to emphasize upon the fact that the selected and the non-selected candidates ought to have been treated equally when it comes to identifying the criteria for disqualification. This principle becomes very important and is required to be followed in all public employments,” Justice Anand Venkatesh said.

Based on this, the judge directed the Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department (MVMD) to take up the process of verification of the Workshop Experience Certificates issued by the approved Automobile Workshop for all the 1328 candidates irrespective of the year in which it was issued.

Also, holding that the benchmark evolved by MVMD shall be equally applied across the board for all the candidates without any discrimination and this will ensure transparency in the entire process, Justice Anand Venkatesh directed MVMD to complete this process within four weeks and submit its report to the TNPSC.

The TNPSC on receipt of the report from the MVMD, shall independently apply its mind and proceed to call all the eligible candidates for the oral test. It is also open to the TNPSC to seek clarification from the candidates in the course of certificate verification and complete the process of final selection within four weeks after it receives the report from the MVMD and publish the fresh list of selected candidates on its website, the judge added.