Ram Bhagat Singh and Anr. v. State of Haryana and Anr.

SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, CJ .. The petitioners are law graduates. They state that they belong to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes segments of the community. They are seeking enforcement of the right to equality of opportunity in the matter of appointment to posts in the subordinate judiciary in the State of Haryana. The State of Haryana has reserved 20% of the posts in the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It is the case of petitioners that though 20% of the posts in the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) have been reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, the strength of the appointments made since 1969 onwards reveals that hardly 8% of the total posts i.e., 40 to 45% only of the cadre strength have been allotted ·to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The petitioners contend that in other States of India different percentages of marks have been prescribed for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and general candidates for determining their suitability and/or eligibility for appointment. But in Haryana, they contend, minimum marks have been prescribed as 55% for all categories of candidates, namely, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and general candidates. In this connection, it may be appropriate to refer to the fact that under the Punjab Civil Services (Judicial Branch) Rules framed in exercise of powers conferred by Article 234 read with proviso to Arti­ cle 309 of the Constitution of India, rules have been framed and are prevalent. Part 'C' of the rules deals with the rules and instructions for the examination of the candidates for admission to the judicial branch of the Haryana Civil Service. Part 'C' of the said rules was brought into force by the Haryana Adaptation Laws (State and concurrent subjects) Order, 1968. Rules 7 and 8 of the said rules, inter alia, provides as follows: "7. No candidate shall be called for the viva-voce test unless he obtains-at least 45% of marks in the aggregate in all the written papers and 33% marks in the language paper. Hindi (in Devanagri script). H 332 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1990] 2 S.C.R. 8. No candidate shall be considered to have qualified in the examination unless he obtains at least 55 per cent marks in the aggregate of all papers including the viva-voce . test." It is the case of the petitioners that fixation of the 1standard of marks which the petitioners d.escribe as high standard, has resulted in denial of opportunity to the scheduled easies and scheduled tribes thus amounting to denial of equality of opportunity in the jobs which, the petitioners contend, the State otherwise sought to achieve and ought to achieve in favour of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. We are of the opinion that equality of opportunity should be striven for and ensured in public employment. Steps should be taken to see where unequals are competing, conditions must be created by relaxation or otherwise so that unequals compete in terms of equality with others in respect of jobs and employments of the State. Our Constitution so enjoins it. Article 38 of the Constitution read with Articles 14, 15 and 16 so mandates it. In order, therefore, to give those who arc unequals, and it is accepted that scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for reasons historical or otherwise, are unequal with the general members of the community in respect of ability and qualifi­ cation for public employment. Hence, in order to make the unequals compete on conditions of equality certain rel~xations and other factors ensuring equality are imperative. Those groups or segments of society which are by reasons of history or otherwise unable to compete in terms of absolute equality with the members of other communities or groups in the society, should be ensured and assured chances of com­ peting in terms of equality. They must be helped to compete equally but it is important to emphasise that equality of opportunity is sought to be achieved for the public services or employment. The efficacy and efficiency of that service is of prime considerationc Equality must be there for all to compete for the public services. Public services and public employment do not exist for providing jobs in terms of equality or otherwise to all. Only public services and public employment must serve public purpose and nothing that hampers or impairs the effi­ ciency or efficacy of public services cannot and should not be permit­ ted in ensuring conditions of constitutional equality. These should be done objectively, rationally and reasonably .. As is often said, it may be that need to ensure equality for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes should not be surrendered on the facile and value based perception of efficiency. Yet efficiency must be ensured. Real equality must be accorde_d" R.B. SINGH & ANR. v. STATE OF HARYANA [MUKHARJI, J.) 333 As mentioned hereinbefore, the contention of the petitioners is that 55% marks in aggregate in all papers including viva voce test constitute rather a high standard for qualification and eligibility. They contend that for most of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe aspi­ rants for the job it is difficult to achieve that ~tandard. It is said that in other parts of this vast land of ours the standard is not as high as that. Sri Venkatramani, advocate for the petitioners, contended that in other States on an all-India basis such a higi) standard of marks is not envisaged. Sri Mahabir Singh, learned advocate appearing for the -y· State of Haryana and Sri C.M. Nayar, learned advocate for the Public °' Service Commission contend that it must be presumed that the minimum percentage desirable for the purpose of efficiency has been prescribed. It was further submitted by Sri Nayar that in respect of candidates other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, normally those obtaining far higher than 55% marks become eligible for consi­ deration. That may or may not be so but what is required is that we ...,.,.__ must ensure efficiency in administration, We must, therefore, objec­ tively, rationally and by a conscious process-conscious in the sense by application of mind to the relevant factors arrive at a percen(age which should be considered to be a minimum one in order to ensure the efficiency of the administration. We are conscious that high efficiency is required because the recruitment is in the judicial branch, that is to say, for prospective judicial officers who will be in charge of administ­ ration of justice in the country. But at the same time, if possible, in ...._ _ order to ensure that there is equality of opportunity, a percentage should be fixed which without, in any way, compromising ·with the efficiency required for the job which will be attainable by backward communities, that is to say, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. V nless such a percentage is fixed on the aforesaid basis and a ~ percentage is fixed for qualification which would normally be unattain­ able by the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes determined on an objective basis, it would not be possible to ensure equality of • ~ opportunit)'. Both S/Sri Mahabir Singh and Nayar have urged that the minimum must be presumed to have been so fixed in the Haryana Service. However, that fact is not apparent and there is nothing on record to indicate that this percentage was fixed deliberately on an analysis and careful examination and determination on the lines and the principles indicated above . .- f In that view of the matter, in our opinion, in the interest of justice and our constitutional mandates and in the light of the effi­ ciency of the services and with a view to create a sense of justice, it is necessary for the Government concerned to consider this question as 334 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1990] 2 S.C.R. A to what should be the minimum percentage (Jf marks necessary for the administration. We direct that the Governnient will make a conscious decision objectively before the next selections for the post in Haryana Judicial Service take place, and determine a minimum percentage of marks consistent with efficiency and the need for ensuring equality of opportunity to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It was also contended by Sri Venkataramani that some of the candidates belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have become averaged, therefore, the Government should also consider whether further relaxation in age in favour of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes can be made; and if so,. to what extent without hampering efficiency of the administration. This should also be con­ sidered before the next. selections for appointment to the post are made. In the· aforesaid light, special leave is granted in civil appeal No. 15,000/88 and the judgment and order of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, dated 5th June, 1987 are modified to the extent indicated above. The writ petition and the appeals are disposed of accordingly without any order as to costs. P.S.S. Petition disposed of.