Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate can be accepted as proof of age: Supreme Court [Read Judgment]

In case, a copy of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate can be accepted as proof of age, it does not even strike to common sense as to why the copy of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate, duly attested, cannot be accepted as proof of age.”

The Supreme Court, in Hina vs. Union of India, has held that Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate can be accepted as proof of age. The Court said that rejecting an application on the ground that the applicant’s age proof submitted was not of the Secondary School as per the norms, but of a Higher Secondary School, is not justified.

The Applicant had submitted an application for allotment of retail outlet of petroleum/diesel dealership and as the age proof she submitted by her Higher Secondary School certificate. The Corporation rejected her application on the ground that age proof submitted is not as per norms. The High Court, though observed that the rejection is on technical grounds, dismissed the Writ petition holding that it would not be proper to direct the Corporation to add/amend or alter the conditions of advertisement.

Division Bench comprising of Justices Kurian Joseph and R.F. Nariman observed even an Affidavit was sufficient as proof of age as per the norms. In case, the copy of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate meets the requirement of the Eligibility Criteria, we fail to understand as to how it makes a difference in case the School Leaving Certificate is of the Higher Secondary School, the Bench said.

The Court further said “The requirement of the Corporation is only a proof regarding the age. No doubt, certain documents are specified in the Eligibility Criteria which would be accepted by the Corporation as proof of age. In case, a copy of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate can be accepted as proof of age, it does not even strike to common sense as to why the copy of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate, duly attested, cannot be accepted as proof of age.”

Setting aside the High Court order, the Apex Court directed the Corporation to conduct the selection afresh, allowing the participation of these applicants as well along with those who have been considered as eligible by the Corporation.

Read the Judgment here.