The Chandigarh bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has issued a significant ruling, directing the Education Department of the Union Territory to issue appointment letters to 11 candidates selected for the post of TGT (Music) within six weeks. The tribunal quashed an earlier decision by the Document Verification Committee that had declared these candidates ineligible based on their qualifications.
Background of the Case
Eleven candidates approached the tribunal through advocate Rohit Seth after the Education Department disqualified them during document verification. The department had issued an advertisement in 2024 to fill 303 posts of TGT (Masters/Mistress). The applicants, who were eligible and qualified, submitted their online applications for the post of TGT (Music) under various categories and were issued admit cards. They successfully cleared the written examination and were called for verification of original documents.
Disqualification by Document Verification Committee
The Document Verification Committee declared the candidates ineligible, holding that their Master of Arts in Music degree was invalid for the post. The essential qualifications prescribed in the advertisement included:
- Graduate or its equivalent with music as one of the elective subjects with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
- Bachelor of Education Degree recognized by NCTE with at least 50% marks in aggregate with music as a teaching subject, or its equivalent, OR graduate in any subject from a recognized university with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
- Degree in Music from a recognized institute with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
The applicants argued that an MA in Music is a recognized academic qualification, and no specific degree was mentioned in the advertisement. They contended that the verification committee arbitrarily remarked that they did not have the qualification of B.Ed. in Music as per NCTE norms, thus deeming them ineligible. The applicants relied on a previous judgment of the tribunal in a similar matter for the same post, which was upheld by the High Court and implemented.
Tribunal's Observations and Verdict
After hearing the arguments, the tribunal noted that no distinction had been made in the recruitment rules or the advertisement to impose such an artificial differentiation. The committee's order dated November 14, 2025, recommending that only candidates with B.Ed. would be considered, was deemed legally untenable. The tribunal further stated that the alternative qualification refers to a professional degree, and declaring the candidates ineligible for the post of TGT was not legally justified.
"Hence we are of the firm view that both the qualifications are to be considered at par for considering eligibility of the candidates," the tribunal said. It added that the reasoning provided by the committee was bereft of logic and not sustainable as per law and rules. "There cannot be an ad hoc approach to interpret the rules as has been done while passing the order," the tribunal emphasized.
The tribunal concluded that the candidates cannot be excluded by an unfair exercise of power of interpretation by the respondents. Consequently, the application was allowed. The order dated June 6, 2025, was set aside with respect to the applicants, and their degree has to be considered valid. The respondents are directed to issue appointment letters to the applicants as per their merit and category, if they are otherwise eligible. "Order to be implemented within six weeks from receipt of certified copy of this order," the tribunal directed.
