REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4500 of 2002
FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF AIIMS APPELLANT

VS. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. RESPONDENTS WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5119 OF 2002

JUDGMENT ALTAMAS KABIR, CJI.

1. When Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 2106 of

2002, filed by the Fac lty !""ociation of !##$S, %a" ta&en p fo' con"ide'ation, notice the'e pon %a" i"" ed

by a (ench of )%o*+ d,e" and it %a" "tip lated that any appoint-ent to be -ade, afte' the o'de' %a" pa""ed in acco'dance %ith the 'e"e'vation policy, %o ld only be tentative in nat 'e !ppeal %a" ta&en ntil f 'the' o'de'". When the

p fo' hea'in, on 20th Feb' a'y, 200.,

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alon, %ith Civil !ppeal No. /110 of 2002, con"ide'in, the i-po'tant nat 'e of the i"" e" involved fo'

dete'-ination in the "aid ca"e", a" al"o the 'ec ''in, nat 'e of the p'oble-, it %a" tho ,ht app'op'iate that the -atte'" be hea'd by a la',e' (ench. )he'eafte', on

12th Feb' a'y, 2001, a (ench of )h'ee*+ d,e" headed by the Chief + "tice %a" of the vie% that the -atte'" involved " b"tantial 2 e"tion" of la% a" to the

inte'p'etation of the Con"tit tion and %e'e 'e2 i'ed to be hea'd by a (ench of Five*+ d,e". " ch (ench di'ection of that the -atte' on #t i" p '" ant to befo'e the and

appea'ed

Five*+ d,e"

"eve'al

occa"ion"

lti-ately they %e'e li"ted befo'e a (ench of Five* + d,e" on 2nd + ly, 201..

2. !ltho ,h the -atte' i" no% befo'e a (ench of five + d,e", F'othe te'-" %e of 'efe'ence been able a'e to not ve'y clea'. the

%hat

have

,athe'

f'o-

pleadin," and the 3 d,-ent of the 4ivi"ion (ench of the 5i,h Co 't, the 2 e"tion to be con"ide'ed i" %hethe' 'e"e'vation %a" inapplicable to "pecialty and " pe'* "pecialty fac lty po"t" in the !ll #ndia #n"tit te of
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$edical Science", he'einafte' 'efe''ed to a" 6!##$S7. Faced %ith the deci"ion" of thi" Co 't in the ca"e of #nd'a Sa%hney 8". 9nion of #ndia : ;'". <(1002) S pp. (.) SCC 21/=> +a,di"h Sa'an : ;'". 8". 9nion of #ndia : ;'". <(10?0) 2 SC@ ?.1=> and 4'. P'adeep +ain etc. 8". 9nion of #ndia : ;'". etc. <(10?1) . SC@ 012=, %he'ein 'e"e'vation in ad-i""ion to "pecialty and " pe'*

"pecialty co '"e" %a" di"allo%ed, the 4ivi"ion (ench of the 5i,h Co 't confined it"elf to the li-ited i"" e, na-ely, %hethe' 'e"e'vation policy %a" inapplicable fo' -a&in, appoint-ent" to the ent'y level fac lty po"t of !""i"tant P'ofe""o' and to " pe' "pecialty po"t" and al"o %hethe' the 'e"ol tion" adopted by !##$S on

11.1.10?. and 2A./.1001 %e'e liable to be "t' c& do%n. .. !ppea'in, fo' the Petitione', $'. P.P. @ao, lea'ned Senio' !dvocate, fi'"tly 'efe''ed to the "tate-ent of ob3ect" and 'ea"on" of the !ll #ndia #n"tit te of

$edical Science" !ct, 10/6, %hich p'ovide" a" follo%" B 6Fo' i-p'ovin, p'ofe""ional co-petence a-on, -edical p'actitione'", it i" nece""a'y to place a hi,h "tanda'd of -edical ed cation, both po"t* ,'ad ate and nde'*,'ad ate, befo'e all -edical colle,e" and othe' allied in"tit tion" in the
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co nt'y. Si-ila'ly, fo' the p'o-otion of -edical 'e"ea'ch it i" nece""a'y that the co nt'y "ho ld attain "elf*" fficiency in po"t*,'ad ate -edical ed cation. )he"e ob3ective" a'e ha'dly capable of 'eali"ation nle"" facilitie" of a ve'y hi,h o'de' fo' both nde','ad ate and po"t*,'ad ate -edical ed cation and 'e"ea'ch a'e p'ovided by a cent'al a tho'ity in one place. )he (ill "ee&" to achieve the"e end" by the e"tabli"h-ent in Ne% 4elhi of an in"tit tion nde' the na-e of the !ll*#ndia #n"tit te of $edical Science". )he #n"tit te %ill develop patte'n" of teachin, in nde'*,'ad ate and po"t*,'ad ate -edical ed cation in all it" b'anche" "o a" to de-on"t'ate a hi,h "tanda'd of -edical ed cation to all -edical colle,e" and othe' allied in"tit tion", %ill p'ovide facilitie" of a hi,h o'de' fo' t'ainin, of pe'"onnel in all i-po'tant b'anche" of health activitie" and al"o fo' -edical 'e"ea'ch in it" va'io " a"pect". )he #n"tit te %ill have the po%e' to ,'ant -edical de,'ee", diplo-a" and othe' acade-ic di"tinction" %hich %o ld be 'eco,ni"ed -edical de,'ee" fo' the p 'po"e of the #ndian $edical Co ncil !ct, 10...7 1. $'. @ao al"o 'efe''ed to Section / of the !ct %hich decla'ed the in"tit te to be an in"tit tion of national i-po'tance. the !ct i" !" pointed o t by $'. @ao, Section 1. of in line %ith the ob3ect" fo' %hich the

in"tit te %a" c'eated and Section 11 deal" %ith the f nction" a"pect" of the in"tit te 'elatin, to the a" a acade-ic teachin,

of the

in"tit te"C" f nction"

in"tit te. /. $'. @ao " b-itted that the 2 e"tion had ea'lie' been
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,one

into

and

con"ide'ed %hile

in

#nd'a

Sa%hneyC" the

ca"e of

(" p'a),

%he'ein

con"ide'in,

2 e"tion

'e"e'vation the (ench al"o too& into con"ide'ation the p'ovi"ion" of !'ticle ../ of the Con"tit tion 'e,a'din, the clai-" of Sched led Ca"te" and Sched led )'ibe" to "e'vice" and po"t". @efe''in, to the conc ''in,

+ d,-ent of +eevan @eddy, +., lea'ned co n"el 'efe''ed to Pa'a,'aph" ?.? and ?.0 in pa'tic la' and the

ob"e'vation" -ade the'ein.

Since Pa'a,'aph ?.? place"

in foc " the vie% of the Nine*+ d,e (ench, the "a-e i" eDt'acted he'einbelo%B 68 8. While on !'ticle ../, %e a'e of the opinion that the'e a'e ce'tain "e'vice" and po"ition" %he'e eithe' on acco nt of the nat 'e of d tie" attached to the- o' the level (in the hie'a'chy) at %hich they obtain, -e'it a" eDplained he'einabove, alone co nt". #n " ch "it ation", it -ay not be advi"able to p'ovide fo' 'e"e'vation". Fo' eDa-ple, technical po"t" in 'e"ea'ch and develop-ent o',ani"ation"Edepa't-ent"E in"tit tion", in "pecialitie" and " pe'* "pecialitie" in -edicine, en,inee'in, and othe' " ch co '"e" in phy"ical "cience" and -athe-atic", in defence "e'vice" and in the e"tabli"h-ent" connected the'e%ith. Si-ila'ly, in the ca"e of po"t" at the hi,he' echelon" e.,., P'ofe""o'" (in Fd cation), Pilot" in #ndian !i'line" and !i' #ndia, Scienti"t" and )echnician" in n clea' and "pace application, p'ovi"ion fo' 'e"e'vation %o ld not be advi"able.7
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6. #n

fact,

both

in

Pa'a,'aph"

?.?

and

?.0,

%hile

"pecifyin, a'ea", %he'e it -ay not be advi"able to p t 'e"e'vation, the lea'ned + d,e ha" incl ded po"t" in 'e"ea'ch and develop-ent o',ani"ation"E depa't-ent"

Ein"tit tion", in "pecialtie" and " pe'*"pecialtie" in -edicine. )he "a-e ob"e'vation i" 'epeated in

Pa'a,'aph ?.0, %he'ein, cate,o'ically it %a" held that the (ench %a" of the opinion that in ce'tain "e'vice" and in 'e"pect of ce'tain po"t", application of the ' le of 'e"e'vation -ay not be advi"able and once a,ain incl ded a" the in fo 'th -edicine, iteG po"t" in and " pe'* othe'

"pecialtie"

en,inee'in,

"cientific and technical " b3ect".

$'. @ao " b-itted

that a" fa' a" -edicine i" conce'ned 6" pe'*"pecialty7 -ean" 6po"t docto'al co '"e"7. A. $'. @ao " b-itted that in the in"tant ca"e,

'e"e'vation %a" bein, p'ovided fo' "ta,e, b t at the "ta,e of

p to the docto'al fo' a po"t

'ec' it-ent

docto'al co '"e" and 'e"ea'ch at the initial "ta,e of candidate" eDa-ination %e'e and 'e2 i'ed tho"e %ho to "it a'e fo' a %'itten %e'e,
6

" cce""f l,

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the'eafte', 'ec' ited in the diffe'ent di"cipline" of teachin,. that "ta,e $'. @ao " b-itted that the p'oble- be,in" at %hen po"t" a'e the'eafte', 'e"e'ved in

'e"pect of diffe'ent co '"e". once a candidate 2 alified

$'. @ao " b-itted that fo' 'ec' it-ent in the

diffe'ent po"t" of fac lty be,innin, f'o- the po"t of !""i"tant P'ofe""o' on%a'd, the'e %a" no f 'the' lo,ic in the'eafte' 'e"e'vin, po"t" fo' candidate" f'o- the Sched led Ca"te" and Sched led )'ibe" and ;(C

co-- nitie".

$'. @ao " b-itted that at that level of

" pe'*"pecialty, the 2 e"tion of 'e"e'vation o ,ht not to a'i"e a" %a" ob"e'ved by the Nine*+ d,e (ench in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e (" p'a). ?. $'. @ao " b-itted that %hile !'ticle 16(1) e-po%e'" the State in -a&in, p'ovi"ion" fo' 'e"e'vation of

appoint-ent" o' po"t" in favo ' of any bac&%a'd cla"" of citiHen" %hich, in the opinion of the State, %a" not ade2 ately 'ep'e"ented in the "e'vice" the "a-e %o ld have to be 'ead and nde' the State, nde'"tood in the )he

-anne' indicated in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e (" p'a).

lea'ned Senio' co n"el " b-itted that altho ,h definite

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di'ection" have not been ,iven in Pa'a,'aph" ?.? and ?.0 of the 3 d,-ent in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e (" p'a), the ob"e'vation" -ade the'ein %e'e , ideline" fo' the Iove'n-ent and in"tit tion", " ch a" !##$S, to follo%, in o'de' to p'ovide the be"t candidate" available %ith the oppo't nity of ,oin, in fo' " pe'*"pecialtie" %hich entail hi,he' de,'ee of "&ill and %he'e no co-p'o-i"e in 2 ality and eDpe'ti"e co ld be ente'tained. 0. #n " ppo't of hi" afo'e"aid " b-i""ion", $'. @ao al"o 'efe''ed to the deci"ion of a )h'ee*+ d,e (ench in 4'. +a,adi"h Sa'an : ;'". 8". 9nion of #ndia <(10?0) 2 SCC A6?=, %he'ein in Pa'a,'aph" 21, 22 and 2., J'i"hna #ye', +., %'itin, the 3 d,-ent, "po&e abo t 'e"e'vation and %hat he 'efe''ed a" %hole"ale bani"h-ent of p'oven ability to open p, hopef lly, "o-e dalit talent, total

"ac'ifice of eDcellence at the alta' of e2 ali"ation G %hen the Con"tit tion -andate" fo' eve'y one e2 ality befo'e and e2 al p'otection of the la% G -ay be fatal folly, "elf*defeatin, ed cational technolo,y and anti* national if -ade a 'o tine ' le of State Policy. Lo'd"hip f 'the' ob"e'ved that a 5i" a
8

fai' p'efe'ence,

Page 8

'ea"onable 'e"e'vation, a 3 "t ad3 "t-ent of the p'io' need" and 'eal potential of the %ea& %ith the pa'tial 'eco,nition of the p'e"ence of co-petitive -e'it G " ch i" the dyna-ic" of "ocial 3 "tice %ith ani-ate" the th'ee e,alita'ian a'ticle" of the Con"tit tion. )he

lea'ned + d,e ,oe" on to ob"e've in Pa'a,'aph 2. that flo%in, f'o- the "a-e "t'ea- of e2 ali"- i" anothe' li-itation. p'efe'ential cannot )he ba"ic -edical need" of a 'e,ion o' the p "h in 3 "tified the "a-e fo' a handicapped at the ,'o p

p'evail

-ea" 'e

hi,he"t

"cale" of "pecialty %he'e the be"t "&ill o' talent, - "t be handpic&ed by "electin, acco'din, to

capability. #ndian indicated

)he lea'ned + d,e %ent on to 'e"t'ict the Co ncilC" "t dent" of 'eco--endation" po"t*,'ad ate %hich co '"e"

$edical that

the'ein "ho ld be "elected "t'ictly on -e'it, 3 d,ed on the ba"i" of acade-ic 'eco'd in the nde','ad ate

co '"e. 10. )he neDt deci"ion 'efe''ed to by $'. @ao i" a "ho't 3 d,-ent in the ca"e of 4'. FaHal Ihafoo' 8". 9nion of #ndia : ;'". <(10??) S pp. SCC A01=, %hich %a" a
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deci"ion by t%o + d,e", %he'ein, 'eliance %a" placed on the deci"ion of thi" Co 't in the ca"e of 4'. P'adeep +ain : ;'". 8". 9nion of #ndia : ;'". <(10?1) . SCC 6/1=, %he'ein, a )h'ee*+ d,e (ench of thi" Co 't, %hile con"ide'in, the 2 e"tion of 'e"e'vation in the li,ht of the a"pi'ation" of the citiHen" of #ndia, a" contained in the P'ea-ble to the Con"tit tion, ob"e'ved 'e,a'd to that the %ill of

%hile

'e"e'vation %a" co '"e, %hen

acceptable %ith diffe'ent it ca-e

nde','ad ate have to

con"ide'ation" to the

p'evail

2 e"tion

'e"e'vation ba"ed on 'e"ident"K 'e2 i'e-ent %ithin the State o' on in"tit tional p'efe'ence fo' ad-i""ion to the po"t*,'ad ate co '"e", " ch a" $4, $S and the li&e. Follo%in, the deci"ion in 4'. +a,adi"h Sa'anC" ca"e

(" p'a), )hei' Lo'd"hip ob"e'ved that 6the'e %e cannot allo% eDcellence to be co-p'o-i"ed by any othe'

con"ide'ation beca "e that %o ld be det'i-ental to the inte'e"t of the nation. )hei' Lo'd"hip" al"o ob"e'ved

that if e2 ality of oppo't nity fo' eve'y othe' pe'"on in the co nt'y i" the con"tit tional , a'antee, -e'it - "t be the te"t %hen choo"in, the be"t.

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11. $'. @ao la"tly 'efe''ed to the Con"tit tion (ench deci"ion of thi" Co 't in 4'. P'eeti S'iva"tava 8". State of $.P. <(1000) A SCC 120=, %hich %a" a %'it petition hea'd alon, %ith "eve'al othe' %'it petition" on va'io " a"pect" of 'e"e'vation. that the Con"tit tion (ench al"o $'. @ao pointed o t 'efe''ed to the

deci"ion in 4'. P'adeep +ainK" ca"e (" p'a) and al"o 4'. +a,adi"h Sa'anK" ca"e (" p'a), 'efe''ed to

he'einbefo'e, in eDp'e""in, it" conc ''ence %ith the vie%" eDp'e""ed S 3ata the'ein. 8. #n Pa'a,'aph +., that 2/ of fo' the the and

3 d,-ent,

$anoha', ob"e'ved

"pea&in, the

Con"tit tion

(ench,

"pecialty

" pe'*"pecialty co '"e" in -edicine al"o entailed on* hand eDpe'ience of t'eatin, o' ope'atin, on patient" in the attached teachin, ho"pital". )ho"e nde',oin,

the"e p'o,'a--e" a'e eDpected to occ py po"t" in the teachin, ho"pital" o' di"cha',e d tie" attached to " ch po"t". )he ele-ent" of !'ticle ../, the'efo'e, colo '

the "election of candidate" fo' the"e co '"e and the ' le" f'a-ed 26, fo' it thi" %a" p 'po"e. f 'the' Con"e2 ently, that in in the

Pa'a,'aph

ob"e'ved

p'e-i"e" the "pecial p'ovi"ion" fo' SCES) candidate" G

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%hethe' 'e"e'vation" o' lo%e' 2 alifyin, -a'&" G at the "pecialty level have to be -ini-al. )he'e cannot,

ho%eve', be any " ch "pecial p'ovi"ion" at the level of " pe'*"pecialtie". Con"tit tion (ench #n &eepin, %ith it" findin," the lti-ately held that "ince no

'elaDation i" pe'-i""ible at the hi,he"t level" in the -edical in"tit tion", the Petitione'" the'ein %e'e

'i,ht %hen they contended that the 'e"e'vation" -ade fo' the Sched led Ca"te" and Sched led )'ibe"

candidate" fo' ad-i""ion to 4$ and $C5 co '"e", %hich a'e " pe'*"pecialty co '"e", in not con"i"tent %ith the con"tit tional -andate nde' !'ticle" 1/(1) and 16(1),

and that @e, lation 2A of the Po"t I'ad ate #n"tit te of $edical Fd cation and @e"ea'ch, Chandi,a'h

@e, lation", 106A, %o ld not apply at the level" of ad-i""ion" to 4$ and $C5 co '"e". 12. $'. @ao " b-itted Co--ittee, that the 5ealth &no%n a" S 'vey the and (ho'e

4evelop-ent

pop la'ly

Co--ittee, in it" 'epo't p bli"hed in 1016 'eco--ended the e"tabli"h-ent %hich of a national -edical on cent'e at

4elhi,

%o ld

concent'ate

t'ainin,,

%ell*

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Page 12

2 alified teache'" and 'e"ea'ch %o'&e'" in o'de' that a "teady "t'ea- of tho"e co ld be -aintained to -eet the need" of the 'apidly eDpandin, health activitie"

th'o ,ho t the co nt'y.

#t "ee-" that p '" ant to the

"aid 'epo't and afte' attain-ent of #ndependence, the 9nion $ini"t'y of 5ealth p'oceeded to i-ple-ent the

afo'e"aid idea 'e" ltin, in the enact-ent of the !ll #ndia #n"tit te of $edical Science" !ct, 10/6, %ith the !ll #ndia #n"tit te in"tit tion of of $edical national Science" a" an and

a tono-o "

i-po'tance

defined it" ob3ective" and f nction".

8a'io " othe'

deci"ion", incl din, the deci"ion" in Sa 'abh Cha d'i and ;the'" 8". 9nion of #ndia and ;the'" <(200.) 11 SCC 116= and ).$.!. Pai Fo ndation 8". State of Ja'nata&a <(2002) ? SCC 1?1= %e'e 'efe''ed to by $'. @ao to that the ob"e'vation" -ade in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" %ell a" in in P'eeti the S'iva"tavaK" of ca"e %e'e -ade ',e

ca"e a" bindin,, in the

tho ,h

nat 'e

ob"e'vation"

3 d,-ent".

$'. @ao 'efe''ed to the deci"ion of thi"

Co 't in Co--i""ione' of #nco-e )aD, 5yde'abad*4eccan 8". 8aHi' S ltan and Son" <10/0 S pp (2) SC@ .A/=, %he'ein a (ench of )h'ee*+ d,e" eDa-ined the doct'ine
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of 6obite' dicta7 and a''ived at a findin, that even obite' at ti-e" ha" the fo'ce of la% decla'ed by the S p'e-e Co 't nde' !'ticle 111 of the Con"tit tion.

$'. @ao ended on the note that the int'od ction of the concept of 'e"e'vation in "pecialty and " pe'*"pecialty " b3ect" o' fo' the appoint-ent of fac lty in !##$S, %o ld defeat the ve'y p 'po"e fo' %hich the in"tit te %a" e"tabli"hed. $'. @ao al"o " b-itted that if

eDcellence %a" to be achieved at the level of " pe'* "pecialty di"cipline", no co-p'o-i"e co ld be -ade in eithe' i-pa'tin, " ch ed cation o' 'ec' itin, pe'"on" %ho %o ld i-pa't " ch ed cation at " ch level. 1.. 4'. @a3iv 4ha%an, lea'ned Senio' !dvocate, %ho

appea'ed in Civil !ppeal No. /110 of 2002, " b-itted that the !##$S !ct did not e-po%e' the Iove'nin, (ody to i-po"e 'e"e'vation at any "ta,e, - ch le"" at the "ta,e of " pe'*"pecialty. @efe''in, to the affidavit

filed by the 4i'ecto' of !##$S, 4'. 4ha%an " b-itted that the deci"ion of the 5i,h Co 't %a" cont'a'y to the deci"ion of thi" Co 't in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e and al"o in $. Na,a'a3 and ;the'" 8". 9nion of #ndia and ;the'"

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<(2006) ? SCC 212= %he'e it %a" held that the'e "ho ld be no 'e"e'vation at the " pe'*"pecialty "ta,e, and, in any event, the "a-e %o ld have to be ba"ed on

2 antifiable data.

$'. @ao " b-itted that p'opo'tional nde'"tood in #nd'a

'ep'e"entation and not ade2 acy, a"

Sa%hneyK" ca"e o' even in $. Na,a'a3K" ca"e, ha" been 'e"o'ted to in the in"tant ca"e in the teeth of the "aid t%o ca"e". While -a&in, 'efe'ence to the concept ',ed that 6e2 ality7 doe"

of c'ea-y laye', 4'. 4ha%an

not -ean that 'e"e'vation had to be applied in each and eve'y ca"e to -aintain " ch e2 ality, fo' eDa-ple, the c'ea-y laye' concept a" %a" con"ide'ed by thi" Co 't in F.8. Chinnaiah 8". State of !.P. and ;the'" <(200/) 1 SCC .01=. 11. !ppea'in, fo' the #n"tit te, $'. $eh-ood P'acha,

lea'ned !dvocate contended that people f'o- (ac&%a'd cla""e" )'ibe" "pite and the Sched led Ca"te" and the Sched led in not p to

%e'e often of havin,

di"c'i-inated a,ain"t eDcellent 2 alitie",

and even %e'e

they

p'ovided %ith " fficient oppo't nitie" to co-e

the "tanda'd", a" conte-plated by the va'io " -edical

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colle,e" and, in pa'tic la', the !ll #ndia #n"tit te of $edical Science", %hich i" an in"tit tion of national i-po'tance. at all $'. P'acha ',ed that altho ,h 'e"e'vation of the #n"tit te had been

diffe'ent

level"

int'od ced, fo' 2 ite "o-e ti-e, the'e i" no available data to indicate that the'e ha" been any dete'io'ation in the 2 ality of -edical "e'vice" bein, p'ovided in !##$S. ;n the othe' hand, !##$S %a" one of the -o"t

"o ,ht afte' -edical in"tit te, not only fo' p'o-otion and 'e"ea'ch %o'&, b t al"o fo' the p 'po"e of -edical ed cation. )a&in, a leaf o t of 5ind -ytholo,y, $'.

P'acha d'e% an analo,y f'o- the "to'y of F&lavya and !'3 n in the $ahabha'ta. While !'3 n belon,ed to the

p'incely cla"", F&lavya %a" a t'ibal boy, %ho %itho t act al t'ainin, o' , idance f'o- any teache', by hi" o%n effo't", eDcelled in the a't of a'che'y. )he

fa-o " 4'onacha'ya %a" !'3 nK" teache' in a'che'y and F&lavya had ac2 i'ed the "&ill" that he had by -e'ely %atchin, 4'onacha'ya , idin, !'3 n. 5o%eve', %hen it

ca-e to an a'che'y co-petition, 4'onacha'ya, %ho %a" -o'e o' le"" ce'tain that, if allo%ed an oppo't nity, F&lavya %o ld po""ibly beat !'3 n, 'e2 e"ted F&lavya
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Page 16

that if he 'eally loved and 'e"pected hi-, he "ho ld ,ive hi" 'i,ht th -b a" gurudakshina to hi" -a"te'. F&lavya d tif lly obeyed the pe'"on he had cho"en a" hi" -a"te' and %a" th " p'evented f'o- co-petin, in the co-petition %hich !'3 n %on. $'. P'acha " b-itted that

"i-ply beca "e F&lavya %a" a t'ibal boy he %a" denied the oppo't nity of co-petin, %ith !'3 n, de"pite hi" b'illiance and eDcellence. $'. P'acha " b-itted that

the'e a'e -any -o'e F&lavya" in todayK" "ociety, %ho, if not " pp'e""ed and ,iven a chance, %o ld po""ibly even o t"hine tho"e belon,in, to the hi,he' echelon" of Society. 1/. $'. P'acha "t'on,ly " ppo'ted the concept of at all 5e the "ta,e", incl din, at the " pe'*

'e"e'vation

"pecialty "ta,e. 'ec' it-ent to

',ed that at the ent'y level fo' fac lty po"t", %hich %e'e all

t'eated a" " pe'*"pecialty di"cipline" afte' the Po"t I'ad ate co '"e, a -e-be' of the (ac&%a'd Cla""e" had to "it fo' an eDa-ination %ith othe'" %itho t any

"epa'ate %ei,hta,e ,iven fo' 'e"e'vation.

#t i" only

afte' havin, pa""ed the %'itten eDa-ination alon, %ith

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othe' candidate", %a" a -e-be' of the (ac&%a'd Cla""e" appointed in a teachin, po"t on the ba"i" of

'e"e'vation.

$'. P'acha " b-itted that thi" %a" done

only %ith the intention of ,ivin, " ch a candidate an oppo't nity of 'eachin, the level of hi" othe' fello% fac lty -e-be'". $'. P'acha " b-itted that a little

" ppo't %a" intended to help people f'o- the (ac&%a'd co-- nitie" to -a&e thei' p'e"ence felt in acade-ia, "o a" to enco 'a,e othe'" "i-ila'ly "it ated. $'. P'acha

al"o 'elied on the deci"ion of thi" Co 't in #nd'a Sa%hneyK" ca"e, in " ppo't of hi" contention that

-e-be'" of the Sched led Ca"te" and Sched led )'ibe" and ;the' (ac&%a'd Cla""e" %e'e not ade2 ately

'ep'e"ented and fo' the "aid p 'po"e a ce'tain a-o nt of 'e"e'vation %a" nece""a'y "o that they co ld co-pete %ith othe'" and eDcel in acade-ic". St'on,ly $'.

" ppo'tin,

the policy

adopted by

the #n"tit te,

P'acha " b-itted that the Civil !ppeal filed by the Fac lty of !""ociation of !##$S %a" liable to be

di"-i""ed. 16. !ppea'in, fo' the 9nion of #ndia, the lea'ned

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Solicito' Iene'al 'epeated the " b-i""ion" -ade by $'. P'acha and added that the State had a con"tit tional d ty to e-po%e' ce'tain "ection" of "ociety %ho needed help to plift the-"elve" f'othei' pa'tic la'

"it ation".

)he lea'ned Solicito' Iene'al " b-itted

that !'ticle 16 of the Con"tit tion, tho ,h a 4i'ective P'inciple, %a" in the nat 'e of a , ideline fo' ,ood ,ove'nance to the Iove'n-ent of the day. )he "aid

!'ticle %a" intended to help the dep'e""ed cla""e", %ho othe'%i"e "tanda'd". initially the had little Faced oppo't nity the of 'ai"in, a" to thei' %hen the

%ith

2 e"tion had

Cent'al

Iove'n-ent

oppo"ed

doct'ine of 'e"e'vation on the ,'o nd of eDcellence in ed cation, %hy %a" it nece""a'y in 10A2 to ta&e a

diffe'ent "tand and co-e o t in " ppo't of 'e"e'vation, even in " pe'*"pecialty co '"e", the lea'ned Solicito' Iene'al ',ed that the policy %a" ba"ed not on the

2 e"tion of ade2 acy, b t a" a -ea" 'e of e-po%e'-ent fo' the (ac&%a'd Cla""e". While 'efe''in, to the

deci"ion in $. Na,a'a3K" ca"e, %hich ha" been 'efe''ed to by the othe' lea'ned co n"el, the lea'ned Solicito' Iene'al contended that %ith the int'od ction of !'ticle
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16(1!) in the Con"tit tion, the deci"ion a''ived at in $. Na,a'a3K" ca"e, %o ld have to be 'ead diffe'ently. 5e, ho%eve', al"o ',ed that the'e %a" no

con"tit tional p'ohibition to i-po"e 'e"e'vation, if it %a" felt nece""a'y to benefit the (ac&%a'd Cla""e", %ho had little o' no " ppo't to help the- i-p'ove thei' lot. @efe''in, to the deci"ion" of thi" Co 't in 4'. Sa'anC" ca"e and 4'. P'adeep +ainK" ca"e,

+a,adi"h

%hich have been 'efe''ed to he'einabove, the lea'ned Solicito' Iene'al ',ed that the di'ection ,iven in 4'.

P'adeep +ainK" ca"e that 'e"e'vation "ho ld not eDceed A0L, did not ta&e into con"ide'ation !'ticle 16(1!) of the Con"tit tion, %hile ,ivin, " ch di'ection". 1A. !ltho ,h, the -atte' ha" been a', ed at "o-e len,th, the -ain i"" e 'ai"ed 'e,a'din, 'e"e'vation at the

" pe'*"pecialty level ha" al'eady been con"ide'ed in #nd'a Sa%hneyK" ca"e (" p'a) by a Nine*+ d,e (ench of thi" Co 't. 5avin, 'e,a'd to " ch deci"ion, %e a'e not inclined to ta&e any vie% othe' than the vie% eDp'e""ed by the Nine*+ d,e (ench on the i"" e. deci"ion" 'ende'ed by thi" Co 't in !pa't f'o- the 4'. +a,adi"h

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Sa'anC"

ca"e

(" p'a)

and

4'.

P'adeep

+ainK"

ca"e

(" p'a), the i"" e al"o fell fo' con"ide'ate in P'eeti S'iva"tavaK" ca"e (" p'a) %hich %a" al"o decided by a (ench of Five + d,e". While in 4'. +a,adi"h Sa'anC"

ca"e (" p'a) and in 4'. P'adeep +ainK" ca"e (" p'a) it %a" cate,o'ically held that the'e co ld be no

co-p'o-i"e %ith -e'it at the " pe' "pecialty "ta,e, the "a-e "enti-ent" ca"e %e'e al"o eDp'e""ed a" %ell. in #n P'eeti P'eeti

S'iva"tavaK"

(" p'a)

S'iva"tavaK" ca"e (" p'a), the Con"tit tion (ench had an occa"ion to con"ide' @e, lation 2A of the Po"t

I'ad ate #n"tit te of $edical Fd cation and @e"ea'ch, Chandi,a'h @e, lation", 106A, %he'eby 20L of "eat" in eve'y co '"e fo' of "t dy in the #n"tit te to the %a" to be

'e"e'ved Ca"te",

candidate"

belon,in, o'

Sched led of

Sched led

)'ibe"

othe'

cate,o'ie"

pe'"on", in acco'dance %ith the ,ene'al ' le" of the Cent'al Iove'n-ent p'o- l,ated f'o- ti-e to ti-e. Con"tit tion (ench ca-e to the concl "ion )he that

@e, lation 2A co ld not have any application at the hi,he"t level of " pe' "pecialty a" thi" %o ld defeat the ve'y ob3ect of i-pa'tin, the be"t po""ible t'ainin,
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to

"elected

-e'ito'io "

candidate",

%ho

co ld

cont'ib te to the advance-ent of &no%led,e in the field of -edical 'e"ea'ch and it" application". )hei'

Lo'd"hip"

lti-ately %ent on to hold that the'e co ld

not be any type of 'elaDation at the " pe' "pecialty level. 1?. #n pa'a,'aph ?.6 of the 3 d,-ent in #nd'a Sa%hneyK" ca"e (" p'a), it %a" ob"e'ved that %hile the 'elevance and "i,nificance of -e'it be "a-e at the it "ta,e of initial al"o be

'ec' it-ent i,no'ed that

cannot the

i,no'ed, idea of

cannot

'e"e'vation

i-plie"

"election of a le"" -e'ito'io " pe'"on. #t %a" al"o ob"e'ved that at the "a-e ti-e " ch a p'ice %o ld have to be paid if the con"tit tional p'o-i"e of "ocial

3 "tice %a" to be 'edee-ed.

5o%eve', afte' -a&in, " ch

" ,,e"tion", a note of ca tion %a" int'od ced in the ve'y neDt pa'a,'aph in the li,ht of !'ticle 1/ of the Con"tit tion. ! di"tinction %a", ho%eve', -ade %ith

'e,a'd to the p'ovi"ion" of !'ticle 16 and it %a" held that !'ticle ../ %o ld be 'elevant and it %o ld not be pe'-i""ible not to p'e"c'ibe any -ini- - "tanda'd at

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all.

;f co '"e, the "aid ob"e'vation %a" -ade in the

conteDt of ad-i""ion to -edical colle,e" and 'efe'ence %a" al"o -ade to the deci"ion in State of $.P. 8". Nivedita +ain <(10?1) 1 SCC 206=, %he'e ad-i""ion to -edical co '"e" %a" 'e, lated by an ent'ance te"t. #t

%a" held that in the -atte' of appoint-ent of -edical office'", Co--i""ion %o ld the %o ld Iove'n-ent not be o' the to P blic "ay Se'vice the'e

entitled

that

not be

-ini- - 2 alifyin,

-a'&" fo'

Sched led

Ca"te"ESched led )'ibe" candidate" %hile p'e"c'ibin, a -ini- - fo' othe'". #n the ve'y neDt pa'a,'aph, the Nine*+ d,e !'ticle "e'vice" (ench al"o po"t" %hile di"c ""in, that eithe' the the'e on p'ovi"ion" %e'e of

../ and

ob"e'ved %he'e

ce'tain of the

acco nt

nat 'e of d tie" attached to the- o' the level in the hie'a'chy at %hich they "tood, -e'it alone co nt". #n

" ch "it ation", it cannot be advi"ed to p'ovide fo' 'e"e'vation". #n the pa'a,'aph follo%in,, the po"ition

%a" -ade even -o'e clea' %hen )hei' Lo'd"hip" ob"e'ved that they %e'e of the opinion that in ce'tain "e'vice" in 'e"pect of ce'tain po"t", application of ' le of 'e"e'vation -ay not be advi"able in 'e,a'd to va'io "
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technical po"t" incl din, po"t" in " pe' "pecialty in -edicine, en,inee'in, and othe' "cientific and

technical po"t". 10. We cannot ta&e a diffe'ent vie%, even tho ,h it ha" been " ,,e"ted that " ch an ob"e'vation %a" not

bindin,, bein, obite' in nat 'e. " ch a vie% "ince the ve'y

We cannot a"c'ibe to of 'e"e'vation

concept

i-plie" -edioc'ity and %e %ill have to ta&e note of the ca tion indicated in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e. While

'eite'atin, the vie%" eDp'e""ed by the Nine*+ d,e (ench in #nd'a Sa%hneyK" ca"e, %e di"po"e of the t%o Civil !ppeal" in the li,ht of the "aid vie%", %hich %e'e al"o eDp'e""ed in 4'. +a,adi"h Sa'anC" ca"e, 4'. P'adeep We i-p'e"" to the ta&e vie%"

+ainC" ca"e, 4'. P'eeti S'iva"tavaC" ca"e. pon the Cent'al "tep" and in State Iove'n-ent" %ith

app'op'iate

acco'dance

eDp'e""ed in #nd'a Sa%hneyC" ca"e and in thi" ca"e, a" al"o the othe' deci"ion" 'efe''ed to above, &eepin, in -ind the p'ovi"ion" of !'ticle ../ of the Con"tit tion. 20. )he'e %ill be no o'de' a" to co"t".

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CJI. (ALTAMAS KABIR)

!S"RIN#ER SIN$H NIJJAR%

J.

J. (RANJAN GOGOI)

J. (M.Y. EQBAL)

J. (VIKRAMAJIT SEN)

N&' #&()* #+,&-. J/(0 18, 201 .

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