VISHAL MALIK Vs. HARYANA GRAMIN BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Respondent-Haryana Gramin Bank advertised sixty posts of Class I Officer on 10.11.2009. The selection was to be made on the basis of a written examination and interview. The written examination was held on 27.12.2009. The qualification as well as preferential qualifications were also specified in the advertisement. The total marks for written test were 150 whereas 50 marks were kept for interview. When the result was declared, the petitioner did not find his name in the select list. Claiming that interview marks were excessively fixed and that petitioner was not given weightage on the basis of preferential qualifications, the petitioner has challenged the selection through this writ petition.

(2.) In response to notice, respondents have filed a detailed reply. The grounds and assertions made in the petition have been controverted. The respondent would justify the selection so made on the ground that the written test was conducted by Institute of Banking Recruitment and it was thereafter that interview was conducted and the selection was made.

(3.) The counsel for the petitioner has impugned the selection primarily on the ground that excessive marks were kept for interview. In this regard, the counsel has placed reliance on the law laid down in Ashok Kumar Yadav v. State of Haryana, 1987 AIR(SC) 454. As per the observations made in this case, interview marks cannot be kept more than 12.5.% of the marks fixed for written examination. The petitioner's grievance in this case is that the interview carrying 33.3% marks is invalid. The counsel would also submit that the preferential qualification possessed by the petitioner has not been taken into consideration and he has been underassessed in the interview though he secured good marks in the written test.