BATHINDA: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday ordered a stay on further proceedings in the recruitment for posts under the Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission (PSRLM), citing prima facie irregularities in the method of awarding marks to candidates, court records show.
Stay covers Block and Cluster manager selections
A single-judge bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil stayed the selection process for 41 posts of Block Programme Managers and 44 posts of Cluster Coordinators till the next date of hearing. The bench made the order after a scrutiny committee headed by advocate Vishal Sharma submitted a confidential report to the court, the order said.
The scrutiny committee's findings were placed before the court in a sealed cover and opened in court. The judge directed that the entire original recruitment record be taken into custody, observing there was prima facie material suggesting the selection criteria may not have been adhered to.
“The further proceedings in the selection process shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing as prima facie certain anomalies and ambiguities have been noticed in the manner of awarding marks under different heads to the candidates, who appeared in the said examination.”
Background and linked litigation
The order follows earlier litigation concerning a related recruitment round. On August 10, a bench of the same court stayed the process for recruitment of Pharmacy Officers under the PSRLM till September 17. In the present matter, there were three separate petitions challenging the Block and Cluster coordinator selections, according to court records. The case has been listed for further consideration on September 2, when the scrutiny committee's sealed report is expected to be examined in open court.
By directing custody of the original records, the court has effectively halted any further appointment steps, including issuance of offer letters or joining formalities, until it considers the committee's findings and the petitioners' contentions.
Practical implications for candidates and the Mission
The stay affects candidates who had taken part in the examination and were awaiting finalisation of the selection list for key field-level positions under PSRLM. Block Programme Managers and Cluster Coordinators play vital roles in rural livelihood programmes, implementing community institutions, microfinance linkages and livelihood interventions at block and cluster levels.
- Posts stayed: 41 Block Programme Managers, 44 Cluster Coordinators
- Next hearing: September 2
- Court action: Original recruitment records taken into custody
The halt raises immediate uncertainty for the Mission's staffing plans ahead of the kharif-to-rabi transition period, when field-level mobilisation and programme continuity are important. For aspirants, the stay means delays in appointment and potential financial and career disruption, particularly for those who may have resigned previous jobs or were relying on these posts.
What the court noted
The order recorded that Advocate Vishal Sharma, who headed the court-constituted scrutiny committee, had submitted the report after examining application forms and related records. The bench specifically referred to anomalies and ambiguities in awarding marks under different heads, without detailing those anomalies in the order published with the cause list.
Once the sealed report is taken up on September 2, the court may direct further verification, cross-checking of answer sheets or order re-evaluation of marks if it finds the committee's concerns substantiated. The bench could also prescribe remedial measures, including re-conducting parts of the process or framing revised selection criteria, depending on the evidence.
Wider context
Recruitment irregularities in state-run schemes often trigger litigation from candidates or rival aspirants alleging flawed shortlisting, incorrect awarding of marks, or procedural lapses. Courts have in recent years taken an active role in supervising disputed selections by appointing independent scrutiny committees or ordering custodial safeguards for records to prevent tampering.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission (PSRLM) |
| Posts affected | 41 Block Programme Managers; 44 Cluster Coordinators |
| Court | Punjab and Haryana High Court (single bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil) |
| Scrutiny committee | Headed by Advocate Vishal Sharma; report filed in sealed cover |
| Next hearing | September 2 |
The PSRLM and the state government had not filed any public response in court records available with this report. The scrutiny committee's report will be central to the court's decision at the next hearing.
The stay underscores judicial scrutiny of recruitment procedures in government programmes in Punjab and is likely to prompt closer internal reviews of grading and marking methodologies used in state recruitments.
