Himachal, A job aspirant’s other backward class (OBC) certificate can only be sought by the appointing authority at the interview stage and not when the post is being applied for, the Himachal Pradesh High Court said Wednesday.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol passed the orders on the petition of Arvind Kumar, who challenged the decision of the chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Board barring him from appearing in an interview Sep 13.
Arvind Kumar had applied for the post advertised in 2010.
The bench said: “In several cases it’s found that the candidates are made to submit an other backward class certificate at the time of application as also at the time of interview and also at the time of appointment, whereas other backward class status is to be seen essentially at the time of appointment and that status is to be seen by the appointing authority.”
It also directed the selection board to consider the petitioner on the strength of his certificate and in case he was meritorious, to include him in the merit list.
Arvind Kumar’s application was rejected by the selection board. When he took up the matter with the board, he was allowed to appear in the written test, provisionally. After clearing the test, he was called for interview, said the petition.
The petitioner said the selection board chairman did not allow him to appear in the interview and rejected his certificate for the reserved category.
