There should be minimum qualification marks for being a Judge: SC

“For selecting a judge, there has to be a minimum qualification. There has to be a benchmark... just because one is a Scheduled Caste, the same cannot be done away with”, said the Supreme Court while dismissing an appeal in limine by an NGO against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

Volunteers for Social Justice, had filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for quashing the action of the High Court and the State Public Service Commission in fixing 45% as the minimum qualifying marks for Scheduled Caste candidates for recruitment to Haryana Civil Services (Judicial Branch).

The High Court dismissed the PIL for want of NGO’s locus standi, and had also observed: “In most of the recruitment process, there has been a fair representation from amongst different reserved categories and there have been occasions when open category posts also remained unfilled for want of suitable candidates. …Needless to say that in the matter of appointment to Judicial Services, efficiency and quality are non-negotiable.”

NGO’s Appeal to Apex Court was dismissed by a Three judge bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, observing that,instead of the NGO, the aggrieved candidate should approach the court with the grievance.

Read the order here.