"Humanly Impossible To Fix A Cut-Off Date That Satisfies Everyone": Delhi HC Upholds Age Criteria For DHJS 2024 Examination
The Petition filed by a DHJS candidate sought to modify the cut-off date to January 1, 2025, or alternatively, January 10, 2025.
The Delhi High Court has upheld the criteria requiring candidates appearing for the Delhi Higher Judicial Services (DHJS) 2024 examination to have attained the age of 35 years by January 1, 2024.
The Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Amit Mahajan dismissed a plea challenging this condition.
Rejecting the plea, the Bench emphasized the necessity of fixing a cut-off date to maintain certainty in the selection process. It remarked, “It is humanly impossible to fix a cut-off date that satisfies everyone.”
The Petition, filed by a candidate, Shweta Chowdhery, sought to modify the cut-off date to January 1, 2025, or alternatively, January 10, 2025. Chowdhery argued that the existing criterion, stipulated in a public notice dated December 27, 2023, unfairly disqualified candidates turning 35 after January 1, 2024.
The Court clarified that there is no legal requirement for the cut-off date to coincide with the last date for application submission. It stated, “The Court would not interfere with the cut-off date fixed by administrative authorities unless it is totally capricious, whimsical, or arbitrary.”
"...any cut off date, when fixed, would impact those who do not attain the requisite age, or eligibility, by then. This unavoidable hardship cannot render the fixation of the cut off date itself arbitrary," it added.
The Bench acknowledged the potential hardship caused to candidates who narrowly miss eligibility due to the cut-off date but asserted that such difficulties do not render the date itself arbitrary. It added that fixing the date is both permissible and advisable for ensuring consistency in the recruitment process.
Accordingly, the Court dismissed the petition in limine.
Cause Title: Shweta Chowdhary v. Honorable High Court of Delhi [Neutral Citation No. 2025:DHC:41-DB]
Appearance:-
Petitioner: Advocates Bhabna Das, Arpit Kumar Mishra
Respondent: Advocates Amit George, Rupam Jha, Adhishwar Suri, Ibansara Syiemlieh, Medhavi Bhatia, Suparna Jain, Dushyant Kaul, Arkaneil Bhaumik
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