SHEEJA U.M. Vs. DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner was the 4th applicant in the original application filed before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. She sought relief against the Kerala Public Service Commission, the 2nd respondent. The tribunal dismissed the original application.

(2.) Applications were invited by the 2nd respondent from eligible candidates for appointment as lecturers in the department of collegiate education in different subjects. The petitioner applied for the post of lecturer in zoology. She possessed the required educational and other qualifications. She got through the written examination conducted by the 2nd respondent. Her name was included in the published short list. The method adopted by the 2nd respondent for preparing the ranked list was to take into account the marks obtained in the written test, the marks awarded in the viva voce, 30% of the total marks secured in the qualifying examination and 10 marks as weightage for non-qualifying degrees. The above are admitted facts.

(3.) The petitioner contended as under : She did her post graduation in the then existing scheme called the 'yearly scheme'. The universities in Kerala introduced the scheme called the 'credit semester scheme' in post graduation courses in the second half of 1990s. Those who were in the semester system could score higher marks as examinations were conducted at the end of every four semester on shorter syllabi. The students in the semester scheme had an added advantage of scoring high marks in the internal evaluation, which system was not available to the students in the yearly scheme. It was therefore unjustifiable and irrational to treat the two categories of persons alike. It was unjust to add 30% of the marks secured in the qualifying examination to the marks secured in the written test and viva voce to prepare the ranked list. The 2nd respondent should review and re-fix the criterion for awarding such weightage.