Post dated publication of interview schedule: HC directs HPSC to allow candidate appear in interview and keep the result in sealed cover.

Post dated publication of interview schedule: HC directs HPSC to allow candidate appear in interview and keep the result in sealed cover.

CHANDIGARH HC: Taking up the issue related to alleged publication of posted dated announcement of schedule for interview the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday stayed the declaration of result for the post of Assistant Engineer in Irrigation Department, Haryana and directed the Haryana Public Service Commission to keep the result in sealed cover till the disposal of the petition.

          Pardeep Rapria, the Counsel for the physically handicapped  petitioner Kiran Pal Singh, told the court that only 7 candidates including petitioner were available against the total 9 candidates to be called for interview in the physically handicapped (One Leg) of Haryana. And, the qualified candidates were instructed to submit documents by to the Commission   up to 23^rd February, 2018, at 05:00 P.M. The candidature of petitioner and another person was rejected on the same day on 23^rd February, 2018, apparently after office hours and only 5 persons were called for interview. However, the rejected candidates were granted opportunity to make representation by 5^th March, 2018, and petitioner gave representation itself on 27^th February, 2018. But, surprisingly, the HPSC published the schedule for the interview/viva-voce, (without putting exact date, though the date printed is __03.2018) on 28^th February itself and announced the interview date from 5^th March onwards. Mr. Rapria also told the court that “it appears that the HPSC had pre-decided readymade list of rejection and interview schedule; unmindful of the opportunity granted to the candidates for give representation against rejection up to 5^th March, 2018.”

            After hearing the counsel for Petitioner the High Court while allowing the candidate to appear in the interview; directed the HPSC to keep result in sealed cover and file reply by 3^rd April, 2018.