HC quashes weightage marks to Haryana domiciles

The high court bench of justice Sanjeev Praksh Sharma and justice Sudeepti Sharma allowed the petitions, challenging award of 20 marks on the basis of socio-economic criteria on the basis of descent or domicile. In some categories, the weightage was of 5 marks

Slug: Group C, D posts | Socio-economic criteria

In the advertisement, 20 marks out of 100 were earmarked for the “socio-economic criteria and experience”, by making them dependent on descent or the domicile of the state. It was a form of reservation, it was claimed. (iStock)

The Punjab and Haryana high court has quashed domicile-based marks to locals in Haryana in the recruitment of group C and group D posts on the basis of socio-economic criteria.

The high court bench of justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and justice Sudeepti Sharma allowed the petitions, challenging award of 20 marks on the basis of socio-economic criteria on the basis of descent or domicile. In some categories, the weightage was of 5 marks.

It was on January 19, 2023, the high court had stayed the award of marks in the recruitment of assistant engineers. The court had observed that the bench prima facie agrees with the contentions of the petitioner that confining of the benefit of socio-economic criteria and awarding 20 marks therefore on the basis of descent or domicile is violative of Article 16(2) of the Constitution.

In the advertisement, 20 marks out of 100 were earmarked for the “socio-economic criteria and experience”, by making them dependent on descent or the domicile of the state. It was a form of reservation, it was claimed.

The government had argued that marks in question have been earmarked since various requests were received from the candidates who had applied in earlier recruitment for considering them also in the present recruitment process. The weightage of marks is being given not only on the ground of domicile, it was submitted. Detailed judgment is awaited.