'High Score In Written Exam Alone Doesn't Determine Merit': Supreme Court Upholds Minimum Mark Criteria For Interview
The Supreme Court on Monday (May 6, 2024) upheld the constitutionality of the Rules stipulating minimum qualifying marks in the viva voce test as a part of the selection criteria for appointment to the District Judiciary in the States of Bihar and Gujarat.
While rejecting the petitioners' contention that the prescription of minimum qualifying marks in the interview violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, the Bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishraexplained the importance of prescribing minimum qualifying marks in the interview.
Emphasizing that an interview unveils the essence of a candidate— their personality, passion, and potential, the Judgment authored by Justice Hrishikesh Roy underscored the importance of prescribing minimum qualifying in the interview for the recruitment of judicial officers, by noting that the effort should be to not only test the candidate's intellect but also their personality.
“An interview unveils the essence of a candidate— their personality, passion, and potential. While the written exam measures knowledge, the interview reveals character and capability. Therefore, a person seeking a responsible position particularly as a judicial officer should not be shortlisted only by their performance on paper, but also by their ability to articulate and engage which will demonstrate their suitability for the role of a presiding officer in a court.”, the court said.
Case Title: ABHIMEET SINHA & ORS. VERSUS HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA & ORS.
Citation : 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 350