SHIMLA: Observing that if the dreams of people belonging to weaker strata of society of getting a government job are throttled by callous attitude of recruiting agencies like HP Staff Selection Commission, then only god can come to their rescue, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh upon the commission. The cost amount has to be deposited on or before August 22, the next date of hearing.
Disbursement of the cost shall be dependent upon further orders which may be passed by the high court in this regard.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goel in a recent order observed that the mode and manner in which the commission has assisted this court in the matter and further the mode and manner in which a confrontationist attitude has been adopted by the commission not only with the petitioner but with the court also during the course of arguments, really pains the court.
The court said that commission has been constituted by the state government as a specialized commission for making recommendations to the employer with regard to posts which are in its domain, for which recruitment process is held by it. It said that duty of commission is to advertise posts and thereafter make recommendation of selected candidates to employer for recruitment.
The court said that job which the commission performs is a pious job, more so in view of the fact that government job is in scarcity and the commission is primarily making recommendations for appointment against Class II and III (general) category posts.
“This court is of the considered view that though there is an adversarial system of litigation which we follow, but in the matters of employment where the commissions like the respondent commission are impleaded as party, they are not supposed to strike a confrontal attitude with the petitioner and their duty is more to assist the court in the adjudication of the grievance with which the petitioner has approached the court,” it said.
Order said that the commission is not like any other ordinary litigant, grant of relief against which will cause prejudice to it. The commission is duty-bound to assist the court in the matters in which it is impleaded as a respondent by presenting before the court the correct and true picture so that the court can adjudicate the matter before it.
