WPS/2189/2026 of UNION OF INDIA Vs HEMCHANRAN SAHU on 14 October 2026

Order

on Board

Per Krushna Ram Mohapatra, Chief Justice 15/10/2026

1. Heard Mr. Ramakant Mishra, learned Deputy Solicitor General for petitioners / Union of India.

2. The petitioner, Union of India, in this writ application seeks to assail order dated 10.09.2025 (Annexure P/1) passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (for brevity, “the Tribunal”) in Original Application No. 203/1090/2022. DEEPTI JHA Digitally signed by DEEPTI JHA

3. Mr. Mishra, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, submits that the Original Application was heard along with several other Original Applications filed by candidates who were held to be disqualified to face the selection process for engagement as Gramin Dak Sevaks (for brevity, “GDS”). It is submitted that pursuant to the notification at Annexure P/2, a candidate should have the following educational qualification:- “Secondary School Examination pass certificate of 10th standard having passed in Mathematics and English (having been studied as compulsory or elective subjects) conducted by any recognized Board of School Education by the Government of India/State Governments/ Union Territories in India shall be a mandatory educational qualification for all approved categories of GDS.”

4. The respondent herein produced a Secondary School Examination Certificate, issued by the Board of School and Technical Education (C.G.). The Secondary School Examination Certificate in respect of the respondent was not issued by a recognized Board of Secondary Education. It is submitted that, as per the letter dated 24.12.2021 issued by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, only the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education, Raipur and Chhattisgarh State Board of Open School, Raipur are recognized in respect of the State of Chhattisgarh. Thus, the respondent did not possess the minimum educational qualification to be engaged as GDS. Learned Tribunal, without considering the same, passed the impugned order under Annexure P/1. Hence, this writ petition has been filed.

5. Upon hearing Mr. Mishra, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, and perusing the record, most particularly the impugned order dated 10.09.2025 (Annexure P/1), it is evident from paragraph 8 that the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education, Raipur, which is a recognized Board by the Central Government vide order dated 09.02.2015, had suspended recognition of the Board of School and Technical Education, Chhattisgarh, with immediate effect. However, in the said letter, it was clarified that those students who had

obtained their mark-sheets between 07.11.2012 and 10.03.2014 may not be disqualified for higher studies. In the instant case, the respondent was issued with the certificate and mark-sheet as Annexure P/3 on 20.12.2012. Thus, the respondent cannot be held to be disqualified for consideration for engagement as GDS. Learned Tribunal, taking note of the same, proceeded to hold that the respondent possessed the minimum qualification to be considered for engagement as GDS.

6. In view of the discussions made above, we find no infirmity in the impugned order (Annexure P/1) passed by the Tribunal. Hence, the writ petition, being devoid of any merit, stands dismissed. Sd/- Sd/-

(Santosh Sharma) (Krushna Ram Mohapatra) Judge Chief Justice Deepti Jha