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Showing posts with label Rajasthan Highcourt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rajasthan Highcourt. Show all posts

Saturday, August 2, 2014

RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -W

RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -W
Rajasthan Highcourt Chief Justice Bench Decision, Rajasthan Highcourt,




Read more: http://naukri-recruitment-result.blogspot.com/#ixzz36cV9AUCl



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2013 mein TET KE SAMBANDH MEIN RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT KI CHIEF JUSTICE KEE BENCH DWARA DIYA GAYA NIRNAY.

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT DECISION REGARDING TET EXAM AND RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF THIS EXAM
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PART -W
Though the proposition laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court based on the doctrine of approbation and reprobation vis-a-vis candidates who had unsuccessfully participated in a selection process does not admit of any analysis, the invocation of the said doctrine has always been fact oriented.
Noticeably the, oppugnment laid by the respondents/writ petitioners is not merely in the procedural perspectives, but questions the legality and validity of the grundnorms of the recruitment process as a
whole. This plea against the maintainability of the challenge on the ground of estoppel also does not weigh with us.
The radix of the contentious debate, being patently traceable to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education   Act,   2009   (referred   to   also   as   'Act   2009'), expedient it would be to retrace the Statement of Objects and Reasons therefor summarily, before adverting to the
rival assertions.
With the insertion of Article 21A in the Constitution of India by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 making it obligatory for the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children  of   the age of six to fourteen years, in  a manner, as prescribed by a statute law to the effect i.e. Act 2009 was enacted, to effectuate this ordainment of the National Charter.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of this legislative instrument, while acknowledging the crucial role of universal elementary education for strengthening the social fabric of democracy through equal opportunities to all, have  recorded that notwithstanding, significant spatial and numerical
expansion of elementary schools in the country, yet the goal of universal elementary education had remained elusive. Not only the quality of learning  had not been entirely satisfactory in the case of children who could complete elementary education, the number of children belonging to the disadvantaged groups  and weaker sections, who dropped out from schools even before completing elementary education, had been noticeably large. In keeping with the underlying objective of Article
21A, the enactment thus,  sought to guarantee the following :-
“(a) every child has a right to be provided full time elementary education of satisfactory and
equitable quality in a formal school which satisfies certain essential norms and standards;
(b) 'compulsory education' casts an obligation on the appropriate Government to provide and
ensure admission, attendance and completion of elementary education

(c)   'free   education'   means that no child, other than a child who has been admitted by his or her
parents to a school which is not supported by the appropriate Government,  shall be liable to pay
any kind of fee or charges or expenses which may prevent him or her from pursuing and
completing elementary education;
(d) the duties and responsibilities of the appropriate Governments, local authorities, parents, schools and teachers in providing free and compulsory education; and (e) a system for protection of the right of children and a decentralized grievance redressal mechanism.”
Not only, as it is clearly decipherable from the Statement of Objects and Reasons of this enactment that the avowed objective thereof, is to guarantee full time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality to every child, the statute is edificed on the belief that the values of equality, social justice and democracy and the creation of a just and humane society can be achieved only through a provision of inclusive elementary education to all. Free and compulsory education of satisfactory
quality thus, is the salubrious mission of this enactment.
For the present adjudicative purpose, it is however, inessential to traverse the framework of the statute Suffice it to state that the comprehension for providing free and compulsory quality education to children is discernibly the quintessential precept of the Act 2009.
 Section 23 thereof deals with qualifications for appointment and terms and  conditions of service of
teachers and endows the academic authority authorized by the Central Government by notification to prescribe the same, so as to be eligible for  appointment as such. That the NCTE is this academic  authority, as envisaged in Section 23(1) of the Act 2009, is a matter of record.

Indubitably, therefore, NCTE is the statutorily empowered authority to stipulate the minimum qualifications for appointment of a teacher. Under the enactment, power to relax the minimum qualifications required for appointment as a teacher however, has been reserved with the Central
Government in terms of Section 23(2). The initiatives under scrutiny stem from this legislative backdrop.
The progression of events, as the pleadings would disclose, relate back to the Notification No.F.No.61- 03/20/2010/NCTE/(N&S) dated 23.8.2010 of the NCTE in the dominant exercise of its   powers   under   Section   23(1) of the Act 2009, thereby laying down the minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in Class I to VIII in a school referred to in
Section 2(n) of the Act 2009. The minimum academic qualifications, as recited therein for the two levels i.e.Level I Class I to V and Level II Class VI to VIII in terms of the notification, are as follows:-
“Minimum Qualifications.-
(i) Classes I-V
(a) Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known).
OR
Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 45% marks and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure), Regulations 2002
OR
Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)
OR
Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education)
AND
(b) Pass in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), to be conducted by the appropriate Government in
accordance with the Guidelines framed by the NCTE for the purpose


(ii) Classes VI-VIII
(a) B.A./B.Sc. and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known)
OR
B.A./B.Sc. with at least 50% marks and 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.)
OR
B.A./B.Sc. with at least 45% marks and 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) in accordance with
the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this
regard.
OR
Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4-year Bachelor in
Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)
OR
Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4-year BA/B.Sc. Ed or B.A.
Ed./BSc.Ed.
OR
B.A./B.Sc. with at least 50% marks and 1-year B.Ed.(Special Education).
(b) Pass in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), to be conducted by the appropriate Government in
accordance with the Guidelines framed by the NCTE for the purpose.”
As would be patent from hereinabove, apart from the minimum academic qualifications so prescribed for the two levels, a pass in the TET, to be conducted by the appropriate Government in accordance with the guidelines of the NCTE for the purpose, was an inalienable
essentiality. A candidate to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a class  in both the levels thus, apart from being possessed of the minimum academic qualifications so prescribed, was indispensably required to pass the TET, as comprehended. Both these requirements for the purpose of eligibility of a person for appointment as a teacher were unmistakably conjunctive, and   not   in   the alternative.
The NCTE followed up this edict by a letter No.76- 4/2010/NCTE/Acad dated 11.2.2011 addressed to all the Secretaries and Commissioners of the State Governments/UTs, thereby circulating its guidelines for conducting the TET by the  appropriate Government, as required by its notification dated 23.8.2010.
A plain perusal of the guidelines accompanying the letter dated 11.2.2011,  would reveal the abiding
predication to ensure against dilution of quality in such recruitment, and instead, to secure induction of teachers possessed of essential aptitude and ability to meet the challenges of teaching at the primary and upper primary levels. While reiterating the mandate of a pass in the TET to be a norm of eligibility, rationale therefor was enumerated as hereunder:-
“(i) It would bring national standards and benchmark of teacher quality in the recruitment
process;
(ii) It would induce teacher education institutions and students from these institutions to further improve their performance standards;
(iii) It would send a positive signal to all stakeholders that the Government lays special
emphasis on teacher quality.” 


Conspicuously thus, the essence of the TET was to infuse a qualitative content in the recruitment process and thus, set a national benchmark  for the sake of uniformity in the level of elementary education in the country. The guidelines, apart from laying down the eligibility criteria for appearing in the TET, did also in clause 9 thereof, prescribe the qualifying marks for passing the TET as
hereunder:-
“Qualifying marks.-
9. A person who scores 60% or more in the TET exam will be considered as TET pass. School
managements (Government, local bodies, government aided and unaided)
(a) may consider giving concessions to persons belonging to SC/ST, OBC, differently
abled persons, etc., in accordance with their extant reservation policy;
(b) should give weightage to the TET scores in the recruitment process; however, qualifying the TET would not confer a right on any person for recruitment/employment as it is only one of the eligibility criteria for appointment.”
The   above   extract   would   proclaim   that   in   terms   of the guidelines of the NCTE, a   candidate  who  would   score 60% or more in the TET,  would be construed to have
passed the same. Liberty was however, accorded to the School management (Government, local bodies, government aided and unaided) to grant concessions to the persons belonging to SC/ST,OBC, differently disabled etc., in accordance with their extant reservation policy.


Clause 9(b) though, made it obligatory to provide weightage to the TET scores in the recruitment process clarified however, that a pass in the TET would not per se confer a right on any person for recruitment/employment, as such a pass was one of the eligibility criteria for appointment. Clause 9 of the guidelines thus, present the following salient features :-
(a) A candidate to pass the TET examination normally, has to score 60% or more;
(b) School managements (Government, locabodies, government aided and unaided) may grant
concessions to the persons belonging to SC/ST,OBC, differently abled persons etc., in accordance
with their extant reservation policy;
(c) weightage has to be given to the TET scores in the recruitment process;
(d) a pass in the TET examination would ipso facto not confer a right on any candidate for
recruitment/employment.
(e) a pass in the TET Examination was one of the eligibility criteria for appointment/recruitment as a
teacher.

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RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -X

RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -X



Read more: http://naukri-recruitment-result.blogspot.com/#ixzz36cV9AUCl


PART -X
Indisputably in these appeals, the competence of the NCTE either to issue the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 to conduct the TET or to vest a discretion amongst others to the State Government to grant relaxation as contemplated in clause 9(a) in accordance with its extant reservation policy has not been questioned. Patently as well the guidelines circulated vide letter dated 11.2.2011 of the NCTE deal exclusively with  the modalities pertaining to TET. In our estimate also, the legislative empowerment of the NCTE to lay down the minimum qualifications for appointment as a Teacher, as is evident from Section 23 of the Act, 2009, does not obdurately limit it to prescribe only the academic qualifications but also permit prescription of essential norms of eligibility to effectuate the underlying objectives of the enactment.
While irrefutably, concessions as contemplated to the reserved category candidates, have to be essentially in conformity with the extant reservation policy, the TET scores, due to the weightage to be accorded to it, would unmistakably contribute to the eventual performance of a candidate qua his/her recruitment.  A candidate who thus, pass the TET would be eligible to participate in a process
of recruitment to the post of a teacher in both the levels, provided he/she is possessed of the academic
qualifications prescribed therefor and would further be entitled to weightage of the marks scored by him/her in the TET examination, if he/she passes the same.
Axiomatically thus, for a candidate who pass the TET in terms of the modalities prescribed and is otherwise academically qualified to partake in the process of recruitment of a teacher as contemplated, he/she would have the benefit of weightage of his/her marks in the said examination to adjudge finally, his/her performance for selection. Viewed thus, vis-a-vis the candidates who pass the TET, the marks secured by them in this examination would form an integral segment of their final scores on the basis whereof, the merit list for recruitment would be drawn up. A pass in the TET consequently, though at theinitiation of the process of recruitment would be a criterion of eligibility, the marks secured therein would eventually get integrated in the performance of a candidate for his/her eventual assessment of comparative merit for selection for recruitment. A pass in the TET, in
this composite scheme of evaluation of a candidate thus, in the ultimate analysis, transforms itself from a norm of eligibility to a contributory ingredient of overall performance of a candidate deciding his/her prospect of selection for eventual recruitment. The factum of being successful in the TET, as comprehended in clause 9, therefore, has an undeniable impact, in our comprehension, on the process of recruitment.
Be that as it may, the  State Government in the School Education Department,  acting on the guidelines, vide its letter No.PS/PSE/2010/91 dated 23.3.2011 addressed to the Secretary, & Coordinator, Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility test, Rajasthan Board for Secondary Education, Ajmer, decided to grant the following concessions to the persons  belonging to the Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, differently able to persons etc., as contemplated in
paragraph 9 of the guidelines of the NCTE circulated vide its letter dated 11.2.2011:

“(a) 10% concession may be given to all the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Special Backward Classes, and all women belonging to the General Category.
(b) 15% concession may be given to all the women belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Special Backward Classes, and all widowed and divorced women.
(c) 20% concession may be given to all the persons covered under the definition of “person
with disability” under clause (t) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.”
Certain clarifications regarding persons pursuing any of the teacher education courses were also provided.
A bare perusal of this letter dated 23.3.2011 however, does not disclose any reference to the extant
reservation policy of the government, as mentioned in clause 9 of the letter dated 11.2.2011 of the NCTE.
Subsequent thereto, on 30.3.2011, Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer issued an advertisement for the RTET-2011 to be held on 22.5.2011. The last date for submission of the application form was mentioned to be 18.4.2011. The norm of eligibility i.e. minimum academic
qualifications for appearing in the said test were the same, as enumerated in the notification dated 23.8.2010 of the NCTE. While 60% or more marks was prescribed for a pass in the said test for the general category candidates, concessions to the   extent   as   set   out   in   the letter dated 23.3.2011, were accorded to the three classes of reserved category candidates mentioned therein. There is no dissensus at the Bar that the parties
in the fray did eventually take the TET and results thereof were declared on 28.8.2011. In between, Notification No.F.No.61-1/2011/NCTE/(N&S) dated 29.7.2011 was issued by the NCTE in exercise of its powers under Section 23(1) of the Act 2009 introducing the amendment of its earlier notification dated 23.8.2010 laying down minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for
appointment as a teacher.  This notification though occasioned alterations  in the minimum academic
qualifications, it retained the requirement of a pass in the TET to be conducted by the appropriate Government in accordance with its guidelines. However, thereby paragraph 3 of the principal notification dated 23.8.2010 was substituted as hereunder:-
“(i) Training to be undergone.- A person-
(a) with Graduation with at least 50% marks and B.Ed. qualification or with at least 45% marks
and 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms
and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this regard shall also be eligible for
appointment to Class   I   to   V   up   to   1st  January,2012, provided he/she undergoes, after
appointment, an NCTE recognized 6-month Special Programme in Elementary Education;
(b) with D.Ed.(Special Education) or B.Ed.(Special Education) qualification shall undergo, after
appointment an NCTE  recognized 6-month Special Programme in Elementary Education.
(ii) Reservation Policy:
Relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks shall be allowed to the  candidates belonging to
reserved categories; such as SC/ST/OBC/PH.”
In Item No.(ii) of this paragraph, under the caption “Reservation Policy”,   it   was   provided   that   relaxation   upto 5% in the qualifying marks would be allowed to the candidates belonging to  the reserved categories i.e.SC/ST/OBC/PH.
Whereas, the respondent-State insists that this relaxation is qua the minimum marks in the qualifying
examination of senior secondary/graduation etc
., the respondents/writ petitioners maintain it to be relatable to the pass marks in the TET. According to them, the results of the TET prepared and declared in terms of the letter dated 23.3.2011, were thus non est, to the extent of concession being granted to the reserved category candidates, above 5% in the marks secured in the TET,
the same being apparently repugnant to the prescription to this effect contained  in the notification dated 29.7.2011. They thus, contend that the  reserved category candidates who secured less than 55% marks in the TET could not have been declared to have passed the said examination, so as to enable them to participate further in the recruitment process for appointment to the post of teacher in Levels I and II.
The original paragraph 3 of the principal notification dated 23.8.2010 needs to be recalled  to appropriately analyze this otherwise irreconciliable orientations. For ready reference it is quoted hereunder:-
“3. Training to be undergone.- A person -
(a) with BA/B.Sc. with at least 50% marks and B.Ed. qualification  shall also be eligible for
appointment for class I  to V upto Ist January, 2012, provided he undergoes, after
appointment, an NCTE recognized 6-month special programme in Elementary Education.
(b) with D.Ed.(Special Education) or B.Ed (Special Education) qualification shall undergo,
after appointment, an NCTE recognized 6-month special programme in Elementary Education.”

A cursory perusal of the contents of this quote would demonstrate that paragraph 3  of the notification dated 23.8.2010 dealt exclusively with the aspect of NCTE recognized 6-months Special Programme in Elementary Education by way of training of the persons with qualifications mentioned therein, after appointment. There was neither any comprehension nor any provision for reservation or relaxation of marks. Academic qualifications with minimum percentage of marks was
however, referred to.
In the amended paragraph 3, introduced by the notification dated 29.7.2011, apart from modified
academic qualifications with percentage of marks, relaxation upto 5% in the qualifying marks was provided for the candidates belonging to the reserved categories, such as SC/ST/OBC/PH. The texts of the two paragraphs of the notifications dated 23.8.2010 and 29.7.2011 when juxtaposed, in our estimate,  connote that the concession of 5% in the qualifying marks pertains to the percentage
of marks in the qualifying examination of Senior Secondary/Graduation etc
. and not to the percentage of pass marks in TET. The schemes of the notifications dated 23.8.2010 and 29.7.2011 do not permit the interpretation, as asserted on behalf of the respondents/writ petitioners. Both these notifications, in clear terms, deal with the minimum qualifications of a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher of
which a pass in the TET, as clarified by the guidelines dated 11.2.2011, was a norm of eligibility.
This view is fortified by the letter No. F.No.61-1/2011/NCTE/N&S dated 1.4.2011 of the NCTE addressed, amongst others, to all Secretaries and Commissioners of the   State   Governments/UTs   clarifying that following the issuance of the notification dated 23.8.2010, it had received representations from   the   State   Government   and other stakeholders that in respect of SCs/STs etc.
relaxation upto 5% in the qualifying marks should be allowed, since such relaxation is permissible by the NCTE for admission in various  teacher education courses
.
Referring to the minimum marks in the notification dated 23.8.2010, in senior secondary (or its equivalent) or in B.A./B.Sc., it was elucidated that following its meeting held on 16.3.2011 it was decided that relaxation upto 5% in such qualifying marks would be available to SCs/STs etc., in accordance with the extant policy of the State Government /UTs and other school managements. There is no reference of such relaxation to pass marks in the TET. This accommodation of the NCTE, by way ofconcession of 5% marks qua the academic qualifications, is also evident from the provisions of the National Council for Teacher Education (Recognition Norms & Procedure)
Regulations, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as '2009 Regulations') and the norms  and standards for various education courses as specified in the Appendices thereto and referred to in the course of arguments on its behalf.
The explanation of the NCTE with regard to the nature of the relaxation granted under the caption “reservation policy” traceable to paragraph 3 of the principal notification dated 23.8.2010 with reference amongst others to the 2009 Regulations cannot be ignored or discarded. The pleadings to this effect and the arguments advanced project its consistent stand on this facet of the debate. Relaxation upto 5% in the qualifying marks in the amended paragraph 3 of the notification dated 23.8.2010, in our comprehension, is thus wholly unrelated to the percentage of pass marks in the TET. The sanction of relaxation of 5% in the qualifying marks, in our
comprehension, thus has no nexus with the pass marks in the TET. Any endeavour to relate it to the percentage of marks in the TET, would be doing violence to the tone, tenor and contents of the notifications, which is clearly impermissible. The notification dated 29.7.2011 having regard to the scheme and purport thereof has to be essentially co-related with the one dated 23.8.2010,
which originally did not contemplate any relaxation.
Logically, thus, this notification does not supersede the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 governing the conduct of the TET. The respondents'/writ petitioners' plea of disqualification of reserved category candidates securing less than 55% marks in the TET thus, cannot be sustained.
Meanwhile, one Durga Das and seven others inter alia in S.B.Civil Writ Petition No.10785/2011 invoked the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court to annul clause 9 (a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 of the NCTE and clause 4(a) of the advertisement dated 30.3.2011 dealing with the relaxation in the minimum pass marks accorded to the reserved category candidates in the RTET-2011. A Single Bench of this Court by order dated 9.9.2011  while noticing that the results of the said examination had been declared on 28.8.2011, in the interim, restrained the
Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer from issuing any eligibility certificate on the basis thereof to the candidates who had  been declared to have passed by availing the aforementioned concessions.
 The application under Article 226(3) of the Constitution of India moved by the department having
been rejected on 8.12.2011 the State of Rajasthan preferred D.B.Civil Special Appeal (Writ) No.2664/2011, and by order dated 6.1.2012, a Coordinate  Bench of this Court held that as the challenge involved impugnment of statutory guidelines, the learned Single Judge lacked
jurisdiction to entertain the same. The interim restraint was thus, vacated and the matter was ordered to be listed before a Division Bench.  Subsequent thereto however, this petition was dismissed as infructuous on 28.9.2012.
There was thus, no adjudication on merit of the assailment of the validity of clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 and clause 4(a) of the advertisement dated 30.3.2011 for the RTET-2011 designed on the relaxation granted by the State Government vide its letter dated 23.3.2011. The attention of this Court has not been drawn to any other pending assailment either of clause 9
of the guidelines or the relaxation granted by the State Government vide its letter dated 23.3.2011 or paragraph 4(a) of the advertisement dated 30.3.2011. This notification dated 29.7.2011, therefore, as the relaxation referred to therein does not relate to the percentage of marks to be secured in the TET to pass the same, cannot be construed to be in supersession either of the guidelines
dated 11.2.2011 or the letter dated 23.3.2011 of the
State Government
.


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RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -Y

RAJASTHAN HIGH CHOURT CHIEF JUSTICE BENCH DECISION ON TET / and RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF TET EXAM PART -Y

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2013 mein TET KE SAMBANDH MEIN RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT KI CHIEF JUSTICE KEE BENCH DWARA DIYA GAYA NIRNAY.

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT DECISION REGARDING TET EXAM AND RECRUITMENT ON THE BASIS OF THIS EXAM

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Read more: http://naukri-recruitment-result.blogspot.com/#ixzz36cV9AUCl


 PART -Y

Rajasthan Highcourt,
While the matter rested  at that, advertisement(s) were issued for filling up vacant posts of teachers in Level I   (Class   I   to   V)   and   Level   II  (Class VI to VIII) under the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as '1994 Act') and the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Rules,
1996 (hereinafter referred to as '1996  Rules'). One of such advertisement dated 24.2.2012 issued by the office of Zila Parishad, Chittorgarh is on record.
Meanwhile, by a notification dated 11.5.2011 issued by the State Government in the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department,  had notified the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Rules, 2011 framed in exercise of powers under Section 102 of the 1994 Act
amending Rule 266 of the 1996 Rules was notified.
Thereby it was clarified that the academic qualifications for the post of primary and upper primary school teachers to be filled up 100% by direct recruitment would be as stipulated by the NCTE under Act 2009. By way of amendment in Rule 273 of the 1996 Rules, it was provided further that the   District   Establishment Committee, as contemplated therein, would prepare the merit list of the candidates by adding 20% of the marks secured by them in the TET  to those obtained in the written test to be conducted for the recruitment. This prescription apparently is traceable to the cognate concept engrafted in clause 9(b) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 eluded hereinabove.
Be that as it may, Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Rules, 2011 were in force at the time of issuance of the advertisement(s) for direct recruitment to the post of teachers in the aforementioned two levels under the 1994 Act and 1996 Rules (as amended).
Though this advertisement mentioned that the exercise would be subject to the decision in D.B. Civil Special Appeal (Writ) No.2664/2011 in the face of the disposal thereof as infructuous on 28.9.2012, this recital, as on date, is of no consequence.
The advertisement enumerated the minimum academic and professional qualifications for both the
levels of posts in conformity with those prescribed by the notification dated 29.7.2011 of the NCTE. Clause 7(3) mentioned that the reserved category candidates, as adverted to therein, would be accorded concession of 5% in the qualifying marks. In the eligibility norms contained in clauses 7(1) and 7(2), noticeably whereas, clause 7(1) (ka) and 7(2)(ka) dealt  with the minimum academic
qualifications, clause 7(1)(kha) and 7(2)(kha) pertained to the criteria of passing the TET. Though the
respondents/writ petitioners taking this clue, have insisted that the concession of 5% to the qualifying marks thus, extends to the percentage of pass marks in TET, so much so that  reserved category candidates securing less than 55% marks therein should be construed to be unsuccessful in the said examination, and thus, disqualified to participate in the exercise initiated by the advertisement, we are unable, in view of the true purport of the notification dated 29.7.2011 detailed herein above, to lend our concurrence  to this plea. In our comprehension, the notification dated 29.7.2011 accorded a concession of 5% only to the  minimum percentage of marks in the prescribed qualifying examination i.e. Senior Secondary, Graduation etc..  This relaxation was neither
intended by it nor was permissible to be correlated with the percentage of pass marks in the TET. As a matter of fact, the State respondents in the process initiated by the advertisement, granted concession of 5% to the reserved category candidates only vis-a-vis their academic qualifications as set out in clause 7(1) (ka) and 7(2)(ka) thereof. To this extent, this initiative is not transgressive
of the notification dated 29.7.2011.

Clause 15 of the advertisement however, proclaimed in unambiguous terms that 20% of the marks obtained by a candidate in the TET would be added to those secured in the test to follow, to determine the final merit list. The performance of the successful candidate in the TET thus,
apparently was contemplated to have  due weightage in the eventual assessment of their merit and suitability for appointment to the posts involved. This modality of selection  did accord as well with Rule 273 of the 1996 Rules as amended by Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Rules, 2011. It is in this overall perspective that the respondents/writ petitioners successfully pleaded
vitiation of the recruitment process due to  excessive and prohibited relaxations in favour of the reserved category candidates in defeasance of the solemn constitutional objective for installing a national benchmark in the standard of teaching. They contended that by such unregulated concessions, impermissible advantages have been heaped on the reserved category candidates, thus,
irreversibly compromising with the aspired quality of teaching rendering the whole exercise to be a farce. The State respondents contend to the contrary and assert that as the eventual merit has been ascertained on the basis of composite performance of the candidates in the TET and the recruitment test, the imputation of compromise with merit is wholly fallacious.
Significantly on the date of publication of the guidelines of the NCTE vide its letter dated 11.2.2011
contemplating weightage to the TET scores in the recruitment process, no concession in the qualifying marks in the academic  qualifications was in contemplation, as would be evident from the notification dated 23.8.2010.


This materialized only vide notification dated 29.7.2011 and was limited to the reserved category candidates as mentioned therein. Coupled with the relaxation  granted vide the letter dated 23.3.2011 of the State Government, these candidates thus, on the completion of the recruitment process as a whole, had availed concessions in the   marks   in   the   qualifying examinations as well as in the marks scored by them in the TET. The reserved category candidates who thus, did qualify in the TET examination on the basis of the concessions awarded by the  State Government vide its letter dated 23.3.2011, availed second relaxation also qua their academic qualifications vide NCTE notification dated 29.7.2011 to participate in the recruitment process for eventual selection for the post involved. These candidates, therefore, indisputably stood doubly advantaged on these counts vis-a-vis their general category counterparts. There is no demur that in view of the weightage of marks obtained in the TET, many candidates though had performed better in the recruitment test, had lagged behind in the overall tally, resulting either in their ouster from the merit list or their relegation down below in  the order. Considering the cumulative bearing of all  these inseverable aspects pertaining to the process of recruitment, the inescapable conclusion is that a pass in the TET though construed to be a norm of eligibility for participating in the recruitment test for selection, the weightage of the marks secured therein for the determination of the decisive merit for recruitment, makes it an inextricable constituent of the whole exercise and cannot be divorced therefrom. The impact of the relaxation granted to the reserved category candidates in the matter of pass marks in the TET thus assuredly, has a bearing on the ultimate asssesment of
merit. Concession to these candidates in the qualifying marks in the relevant academic examinations to render them eligible to participate in the recruitment test, is undeniably an added advantage to them. This tranche of concession however, being in accordance with the NCTE Regulations 2009, having regard to its legislatively assigned role under Section 23(1) of Act 2009, though
cannot per se be faulted with, the concession in pass marks of the TET can, by no means, be beyond the extant policy of the State Government for reservation to the categories of the candidates intended to be benefited thereby. As the marks secured in the TET, to reiterate, have a bearing on the ultimate assessment of merit of the candidates, the extent of  relaxation and/or concession granted to the reserved category candidates on this count, is thus of utmost significance. Not only the letter
dated 23.3.2011 referred to herein above whereby the State Government had accorded concession to the extent of 10 to 20% to the different categories of candidates in the pass marks in TET does either refer to the extant policy of reservation or disclose any basis therefor, no explanation in this regard is also forthcoming  in the pleadings of the State respondents.
It cannot be gain said in the face of the unequivocal ordainment contained in clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 that the authorities/local bodies including the Government while left at liberty to grant concessions to the persons belonging to the categories mentioned therein, were required to adhere to their extant reservation policy. The  State Government was thus
inflexibly bound by its extant reservation policy, if desirous of sanctioning any relaxation, as permitted. The word “extant” as defined amongst others in the Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary means “still existing and known; leaving”. The State Government was thus obliged, if at all willing to grant concessions as comprehended in clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011, to accord
the same strictly in accordance therewith. Any departure from its extant reservation policy per se is impermissible as the State Government was not vested with any authority to do so. To reiterate, no endeavour has at all been made to demonstrate that the concessions granted by the letter dated 23.3.2011 were in conformity with its extant reservation policy in force at the relevant point of
time. Grant of such concession by formulating a new policy being not allowable in terms of clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011, such benefit, if accorded on the basis of the concessions as contained in the letter dated 23.3.2011, would have a vitiating effect.
Though such relaxation granted by the various State Governments have been cited  before us to justify the concessions granted by the State of Rajasthan, except for the State of Andhra Pradesh, no such wide range of concessions as pro vided by the letter dated 23.3.2011,59 has been accorded. It is unclear as well, as to whether the extent of concession granted by the State of Andhra Pradesh is in conformity with its extant policy of reservation. If it is so, the incentives so granted would be
in harmony with the letter and spirit of clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011.
If not, the concession granted by the said State Government per se would not render the predication of clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 limiting  the relaxation to the candidates of the extant policy ipso facto redundant or violable. 
In the face of the all pervading prescript for accomplished teaching as the constitutional imperative embodied in the Act 2009, no concession or relaxation incompatible therewith can receive judicial imprimatur.
Clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 only makes it   optional   for   the   State   to   grant   relaxation   and/or concession in the pass marks in TET so as to render  a candidate qualified to participate in the recruitment test.
The discretion so granted cannot be applied to emasculate the  underlying purpose of the Act 2009. Any concession beyond the permissible limits, as outlined by the guidelines dated 11.2.2011, would evidently have the potential of compromising with the standard of education, so zealously sought to be  secured by the constitutionalmandate in Article 21A yield whereof is Act 2009. If the State Government is, in terms of Clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011, left at liberty to grant the relaxation, however, strictly in accordance with its extant  reservation policy,  the relaxation and/or concession granted for its validity, would have essentially to withstand the scrutiny on the basis thereof. 
In the wake of the above, on a conjoint consideration of the materials on record as a whole, we are thus, constrained to hold that the concession granted by the State Government vide its letter dated 23.3.2011 to the reserved category candidates, as mentioned therein, is not in conformity with clause 9(a) of the guidelines dated 11.2.2011 of the NCTE. Consequentially, the participation of the reserved category candidates declared to have passed the TET on the basis of such relaxation as a whole in the recruitment test initiated by the advertisements issued under the 1994 Act and 1996 Rules and culminating in the selection of the candidates, cannot be held to be valid. As a corollary, the results of the RTET- 2011 are interfered with to the extent of participation of the reserved category candidates benefited by the relaxation granted by the State Government in excess of its extant reservation policy. Though conscious of the fact that the process pertaining to the RTET-2011, as such is not directly under challenge before us, having regard to the entire gamut of facts attendant on the recruitment
process as a whole of which it (RTET-2011) is an inseverable segment, this determination, in our opinion, is inevitable. The results of RTET- 2011 as a consequence, have to be redrawn. Axiomatically, the participation of the reserved category candidates who would now have to be declared unsuccessful, in the recruitment test initiated by the advertisements under the 1994 Act and 1996 Rules, would have to be declared illegal. Resultantly the eventual results of the selection process would also have to be necessarily prepared afresh.




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