DEVADI RAMA RAO Vs. GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The question whether the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should be called for interview in the ratio of 1:3, even if the qualifying marks are not secured by them, is required to be examined in this writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner claims to be the Secretary General of the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Welfare Association, Hyderabad, and he has filed this writ petition in such capacity as the Secretary of the Association. The Government of Andhra Pradesh by issuing G.O.Ms.No.221, dated 16-7-1994, laid down rules for recruitment of Teachers in Government, Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad Schools and provided under Rule 13(a) that

(3.) The petitioners' contention is that in most of the Districts where such written tests were conducted, the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were not available in the ratio of 1:3, which was required to be observed by the authorities while interviewing the candidates. Such candidates had to secure 40 out of 85 marks 47% for becoming eligible to be called for interview. However, SC and ST Candidates were not available for interview in the ratio of 1:3, meaning thereby that atleast 3 SC/ST Candidates should be interviewed for one post, which was not maintained. More than 16000 posts of Secondary Grade Teachers had been notified. Several posts of School Assistants and Language Pandits Grade-II were also notified. However, according to the petitioner, because of the high standard prescribed for eligibility, number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates could not secure qualifying marks, which resulted into the ratio of 1:3 not having been maintained. It was therefore, necessary according to the petitioner, to relax the standard of qualifying marks so as to ensure that SC/ST Candidates do become available for interview in the ratio of 1:3.