RONAK SHARMA Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners in this bunch of writ petitions are aggrieved by the prescription of interview as the sole criterion for selection prescribed in the advertisement, dtd. 14/6/2021, (Annexure P/1) issued by M.P. Public Service Commission, respondent no.2, for filling up posts of Medical Officer in the Public Health & Family Welfare Department of State of Madhya Pradesh. The issue raised in all these petitions is similar and, therefore, the same is being decided by this common order. For convenience sake, the facts are taken from W.P. No.20188 of 2021 filed by Dr. Ronak Sharma and others.

(2.) In order to face the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the State of Madhya Pradesh decided to fill-up 576 posts of Medical Officer, a Class-II post, on emergency basis. The respondent no.2-Commission accordingly published an advertisement on 14/6/2021 (Annexure P/1) inviting applications from eligible candidates for the aforesaid posts. As per the advertisement, out of total 576 posts, 144 posts were to be filled-up from unreserved (UR) category candidates while 72 from SC, 242 from ST, 60 from OBC and 58 posts from EWS category candidates.

(3.) The petitioners submitted their candidature for the post under UR category. However, since they could not secure minimum eligibility criteria, they were not called for interview. They are thus aggrieved by the action of respondents in prescription of minimum qualifying marks on the basis of their marks secured in MBBS course and also by prescription of interview as the sole mode of selection for the post. The petitioners also challenge the action of respondents in enhancing cut-off qualifying marks subsequently which, according to them, is contrary to Procedure Rules of Commission.