However, by judgment dated 24.11.2021, this Court 1 allowed Civil Appeal No 7031 of 2021, titled ‘Devender Bhaskar & others vs State of Haryana & others’, and set aside the aforestated order dated 22.02.2007. Controversy arose vis–vis this eligibility condition as the Director, School Education, Haryana, issued letter dated 12.12.2006 intimating that the Diploma in Art & Craft conducted by the Director, Industrial Training and Vocational Education, Haryana, was the only recognized course in the State of Haryana and that the Diploma in Art & Craft from Kurukshetra University and other Universities was not recognized for the purpose of appointment to the post of Art & Craft 2 Teacher in the State of Haryana. Be it noted that, aggrieved by the action of the authorities in not entertaining their applications on the ground that they had secured Diplomas from Kurukshetra University, a number of prospective candidates had filed writ petitions before the Punjab & Haryana High Court and interim orders were passed therein permitting such persons to provisionally participate in the selection conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. On 04.03.2022, the Haryana Staff Selection Commission recommended the appointment of only 153 candidates out of the 820 candidates, as the remaining 667 candidates possessed Diplomas from Kurukshetra University. These cases were disposed of by the High Court, vide order dated 09.11.2022 in CWP No 24339 of 2021 and batch, titled ‘Manoj Kumar & others vs State of Haryana & others’, whereby the authorities were directed to complete the selection process within a time frame, subject to the result of these review petitions pending before this Court. No 95284 of 2023 are concerned, viz., Urmila Devi, Suman Lata and Jyoti, their results are yet to be declared and, as of now, they do not find mention in the selection list dated 14.11.2021.
Similar applications were filed in Review Petition No 450 of 2022 by candidates identically situated to the review petitioners therein. No 131988 of 2022 was filed by the review petitioners in Review Petition
No 450 of 2022 seeking to implead Kurukshetra University, Haryana, as a party respondent. 95450 & 95452 of 2023; 95458 of 2023; 106402 & 106403; and 101791 of 2023 in Review Petition (C)
No 154 of 2022 are dismissed.
Accepting the report of the Committee, the Financial Commissioner & Secretary to Government, Education Department, Haryana, addressed letter dated 02.11.1999 to other authorities in the 6 State informing them that it had been decided that the Degrees/Diplomas/ Certificates/Examinations of Kurukshetra University, amongst others, would be recognized in the State of Haryana for admission and recruitment purposes. Reference was made therein to the letter dated 08.12.2021 issued by the Kurukshetra University, certifying that the Art & Craft Diploma offered by it was equivalent for all purposes to the Art & Craft course conducted by the ITI, Haryana.
Lokesh Sinhal, learned Senior Additional Advocate General, Haryana, is placed on record and it reads as follows: – ‘From Director, Elementary Education, Haryana, Shiksha Sadan, Sector 5, Panchkula. 667 candidates) who were in the first select list dated 17.11.2021 sent by HSSC can be accommodated without effecting any person who has already been appointed (including 178 candidates appointed conditionally vide order dated 09.11.2022 passed by Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in CWP
No 24339 of 2021).
The above communication manifests that the Government of Haryana is now ready to accommodate and appoint candidates with Diplomas in Art & Craft from Kurukshetra University, who were found meritorious and were included in the selection list dated 14.11.2021, without adversely affecting the 178 candidates who were conditionally appointed pursuant to the directions of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
Appointments to be made pursuant to this judgment would have to be limited to the vacant posts notified under Advertisement No.6/2006 and cannot be extended to later vacancies which have arisen thereafter.
Case Title: NEERAJ KUMAR Vs. STATE OF HARYANA (2023 INSC 589)
Case Number: R.P.(C) No.-000154 / 2022
