Case Note & Summary
The case pertains to the recruitment process for 2400 posts of Sub-Inspector of Police, 210 posts of Platoon Commander (PAC), and 97 posts of Fire Officer (Grade-II) in Uttar Pradesh Police, along with 600 posts of Sub-Inspector (Nagrik Police) for female candidates. The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board issued notifications inviting online applications, and 6,30,926 candidates applied. Due to the large number of candidates, the written examination was conducted in 29 different sessions between 12th and 23rd December 2017, with different question papers for each session. The Board adopted the Standardized Equi-percentile method for normalization of marks, as used in MAH-MBA/MMS CET 2015, to equate scores across sessions. After the examination, 11,741 candidates were called for the Physical Standards Test and Physical Efficiency Test, comprising 5,461 candidates who secured more than 50% raw marks and 5,713 candidates who secured more than 50% marks only after normalization. Some candidates who had secured more than 50% raw marks challenged the inclusion of candidates who qualified only through normalization, filing Writ Petition No.23733 of 2018 in the Allahabad High Court. The High Court upheld the normalization process. The Supreme Court, in these appeals, considered the validity of the normalization method. The court noted that the notification did not specify that only raw marks would be considered and that normalization was a standard practice for multi-session examinations to ensure fairness. The court held that the Board's decision to consider candidates who secured 50% marks either in raw marks or after normalization was permissible and did not violate any rules. The appeals were dismissed, affirming the High Court's judgment.
Headnote
A) Service Law - Recruitment - Normalization of Marks - Standardized Equi-percentile Method - Uttar Pradesh Sub Inspector and Inspector (Police) Service (1st Amendment) Rules, 2015 - The court considered the validity of the normalization process adopted for a multi-session online written examination for recruitment to the posts of Sub-Inspector of Police, Platoon Commander (PAC), and Fire Officer (Grade-II) in Uttar Pradesh Police. The Board used the Standardized Equi-percentile method to equate scores across 29 different sessions with different question papers. The court held that the normalization process was permissible and that candidates who secured 50% marks after normalization were eligible for further stages of selection. The court found no illegality in the procedure and dismissed the appeals challenging the High Court's judgment upholding the normalization. (Paras 1-10) B) Service Law - Recruitment - Eligibility Criteria - Minimum Qualifying Marks - Uttar Pradesh Sub Inspector and Inspector (Police) Service (1st Amendment) Rules, 2015 - The notification required candidates to score a minimum of 50% marks in the written examination. The Board interpreted this as 50% marks either in raw marks or after normalization. The court upheld this interpretation, noting that the notification did not specify that only raw marks would be considered and that normalization was a recognized method to ensure fairness across different sessions. (Paras 2-5)
Issue of Consideration
Whether the process of normalization of marks by the Standardized Equi-percentile method adopted by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board for the written examination held in multiple sessions was valid and whether candidates who secured more than 50% marks only after normalization could be considered qualified.
Final Decision
Appeals dismissed. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's judgment and the normalization process adopted by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board.
Law Points
- Normalization of marks
- Equi-percentile method
- Multi-session examination
- Recruitment procedure
- Police service rules
