GATE Score Weightage – Petitioners challenged the 10% weightage given to the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score in the recruitment process for Graduate Engineer-Trainee (Distribution) posts.

Unconstitutional Conditions – The Bombay High Court held that the conditions in the advertisement and corrigendum, which awarded 10% weightage to GATE scores, were unconstitutional and violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.

Recruitment Regulations – The court found that the MSEDCL Recruitment Regulations, 2005, did not provide for any weightage to GATE scores, and no amendments were made to incorporate such criteria.

Fresh Merit List – The court directed the respondents to prepare a fresh merit list excluding the 10% weightage for GATE scores and issue appointment orders accordingly.

Constitutional Violation – The court held that the 10% weightage to GATE scores was arbitrary and discriminatory, as it was not supported by the MSEDCL Recruitment Regulations, 2005, and had no reasonable nexus with the recruitment process.

Recruitment Regulations – The court emphasized that any new criteria for recruitment must be incorporated through proper amendments to the existing regulations, and the respondents failed to do so in this case.

Equality in Employment – The court reaffirmed the principle of equality in public employment, stating that any criteria that create an unfair advantage for certain candidates over others without a valid basis are unconstitutional.

The court noted that the MSEDCL Recruitment Regulations, 2005, did not provide for any weightage to GATE scores, and no amendments were made to incorporate such criteria. (Para 19) The court held that the 10% weightage to GATE scores was arbitrary and discriminatory, as it gave an unfair advantage to candidates with GATE scores over those without. (Para 25) The court quashed the conditions in the advertisement and corrigendum and directed the preparation of a fresh merit list excluding the GATE score weightage. (Para 37)

The Bombay High Court quashed the conditions in the advertisement and corrigendum that awarded 10% weightage to GATE scores, holding them unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. The court directed the respondents to prepare a fresh merit list excluding the GATE score weightage and issue appointment orders within three weeks.

Major Acts:

1. Constitution of India (COI) – Articles 14, 16 – Right to Equality and Equal Opportunity in Public Employment.

2. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) Recruitment Regulations, 2005 – Governing the recruitment process for technical posts.

Subjects:

• GATE Score – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.

• Weightage – 10% weightage to GATE score in recruitment.

• Unconstitutional – Violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.

• Recruitment Regulations – MSEDCL Recruitment Regulations, 2005.

• Merit List – Preparation of fresh merit list excluding GATE score weightage.

Facts:

1. Nature of the Litigation – The petitioners, aspirants for the post of Graduate Engineer-Trainee (Distribution), challenged the 10% weightage given to GATE scores in the recruitment process conducted by MSEDCL.

2. Remedy Sought – The petitioners sought the quashing of the conditions in the advertisement and corrigendum that awarded 10% weightage to GATE scores, arguing that it was unconstitutional and discriminatory.

3. Reason for Filing the Case – The petitioners contended that the weightage to GATE scores was not prescribed in the MSEDCL Recruitment Regulations, 2005, and had no reasonable nexus with the recruitment process.

4. Previous Decisions – The petitioners had initially objected to the conditions, leading to a corrigendum that made candidates without GATE scores eligible but still awarded 10% weightage to those with GATE scores.

Issues:

1. Whether the 10% weightage to GATE scores in the recruitment process was unconstitutional and violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India?

2. Whether the MSEDCL had the authority to introduce such weightage without amending the Recruitment Regulations, 2005?

Submissions/Arguments:

• Petitioners – Argued that the weightage to GATE scores was extraneous, unreasonable, and not supported by the Recruitment Regulations, 2005. They contended that it created an arbitrary classification and discriminated against candidates without GATE scores.

• Respondents – Defended the weightage, stating that it was a pragmatic approach to recruit talented candidates and was in line with practices adopted by other public sector undertakings.