Gujarat High Court Intervenes in Assistant Professor Appointment Dispute Over Caste Certificate
The Gujarat High Court has taken a significant step in a contentious case involving the appointment of an assistant professor in ophthalmology, after the state government cancelled her selection due to her inability to produce a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate. Dr. Chetanaben Karamata, who had originally applied under the ST category, moved the court seeking relief, arguing that her merit-based score qualified her for the open (general) category.
Background of the Case
Dr. Chetanaben Karamata successfully cleared the recruitment examinations for the position of assistant professor in ophthalmology, achieving marks that exceeded the cut-off for the general category. Initially, she applied under the ST category, but during the document verification process, the recruiting authority requested her to submit the necessary caste-related documents. At that time, she was unable to furnish these documents, leading to a series of complications.
Request to Shift Categories and Subsequent Denial
Following her inability to provide the ST certificate, Dr. Karamata formally requested to be considered as a general category candidate, citing her high score that surpassed the open merit threshold. She also submitted a written undertaking, waiving all present and future benefits available under reservation policies. Despite this, the authorities maintained an inflexible stance, insisting on the production of ST documents and refusing to accept her shift to the open category. Consequently, her appointment was denied, prompting her to challenge the decision in the high court.
Legal Proceedings and Court's Interim Order
In her petition, Dr. Karamata alleged that the authorities ignored her merit and undertaking, adopting a rigid approach. She highlighted that she was listed in the open merit category in the select list due to her score. Justice Nirzar Desai of the Gujarat High Court heard the matter and issued a notice to the state government, seeking its reply by March 12. The court also provided interim relief by directing the authorities to keep one post vacant in the open merit category for the assistant professor position in ophthalmology at a Gandhinagar Medical College, as per the original advertisement.
Additionally, the court ordered the caste certificate scrutiny committee to refrain from insisting that Dr. Karamata produce any documents related to her caste, since she is not claiming any benefits based on her original ST category. This interim measure aims to prevent further delays in the appointment process while the case is under review.
Implications and Broader Context
This case underscores ongoing debates around reservation policies and merit-based appointments in India's educational institutions. It raises questions about the flexibility of recruitment processes when candidates seek to transition between categories based on performance. The high court's intervention highlights the judiciary's role in addressing such disputes, ensuring that merit is not overlooked due to procedural rigidities.
The outcome of this case could set a precedent for similar situations, where candidates with high scores face obstacles due to documentation issues. As the state government prepares its response, stakeholders in education and law will be closely monitoring the developments, which may influence future recruitment practices in Gujarat and beyond.
