Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 10 November 2025

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellants – Kailash Prasad, Saroj Devi Meena, Seema & Anr (and similarly situated candidates); Respondents – Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) & others.
  • Nature of proceedings: Civil appeals (SLP (C) Nos. 26487/2023, 700/2024, 10458/2024) arising from a High Court judgment dated 01‑11‑2023 which had set aside a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order dated 15‑05‑2023.
  • Background: UPSC issued an indicative advertisement on 24‑04‑2021 for 363 Principal posts (208 male, 155 female) in the Directorate of Education, NCT of Delhi, with a submission deadline of 13‑05‑2021. Essential qualifications required a Master’s degree, B.Ed., and ten years of teaching experience.
  • Due to a sharp rise in COVID‑19 cases, the detailed advertisement was deferred on 25‑04‑2021 and not posted online. UPSC re‑notified the detailed advertisement on 10‑07‑2021, extending the application deadline to 29‑07‑2021 (print‑out allowed until 30‑07‑2021). The re‑notification stated that eligibility criteria remained unchanged, but Clause 9(b) stipulated that “the date for determining the eligibility of all candidates in every respect shall be the closing date for submitting the Online Recruitment Application on the website.”
  • The appellants acquired the required ten‑year teaching experience after 13‑05‑2021 but before 29‑07‑2021. They approached CAT, which allowed them to participate in the selection process. Written examinations were held, results declared, and the appellants were found eligible for interview, but their names were excluded on the ground of lacking ten years’ experience as per the re‑notified advertisement.
  • CAT subsequently issued a common order on 15‑05‑2023 directing UPSC to declare the results of the affected applicants and take necessary steps. UPSC challenged this order; the High Court set aside the CAT order, leading to the present Supreme Court appeals.
  • The Supreme Court examined the advertisements, the notice dated 10‑07‑2021, and note‑sheets dated 20‑04‑2021 and 10‑06‑2021. It found that UPSC’s reliance on the initial advertisement’s cut‑off date (13‑05‑2021) was unfounded, as Clause 9(b) of the re‑notified advertisement clearly made the closing date of the online application the eligibility cut‑off.
  • The Court noted that no justification was provided for retaining the earlier cut‑off date despite the portal being deactivated and the detailed advertisement being uploaded only on 10‑07‑2021.

Final Outcome

  • The appeals are allowed.
  • The High Court order is set aside, and the CAT order dated 15‑05‑2023 is restored.
  • UPSC must declare the results of the appellants who participated in the selection process and, if found meritorious, appoint them to the vacant seats.
  • The required actions must be completed within two months from the date of uploading this order.
  • Any pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of.

Topics: Court Order, UPSC Recruitment, Eligibility Criteria