SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS MINIMUM MARK CRITERIA FOR INTERVIEW: HIGH SCORE IN WRITTEN EXAM ALONE DOES NOT DETERMINE MERIT’ JUDICIAL SERVICE

The Supreme Court in the case Abhimeet Sinha And Ors. Versus High Court OfJudicature At Patna And Ors. observed and has upheld the constitutionality of the Rules wherein stipulating minimum qualifying marks in the viva voce test which being as a part of the selection criteria for the appointment to the District Judiciary in the State of Bihar and State of Gujarat.

The court in the case observed and has rejected the petitioners’ contention that the prescription of minimum qualifying marks in the interview violates the Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The court in the case explained the importance of prescribing minimum qualifying marks in the interview.

The bench comprising of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing the present matter.

Further, the court emphasized that an interview unveils the essence of a candidate— their personality, their passion, and their potential.

The Judgment authored by the bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy in the case underscored the importance of prescribing minimum qualifying in the interview which being for the recruitment of judicial officers, wherein the court also noted that the effort should be to not only test the candidate’s intellect but also their personality.

The court stated that an interview unveils the essence of a candidate— their personality, their passion, and their potential. Thus, while the written exam measures knowledge, the interview reveals character and capability.

Therefore, the court observed that the person seeking a responsible position particularly as a judicial officer should not be shortlisted only by their performance on paper, but also by their ability to articulate and engage which will demonstrate their suitability for the role of a presiding officer in a court.