Ranchi – In a scathing judgment, the Jharkhand High Court has slapped a ₹1 lakh fine on the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for denying appointment to Manoj Kumar Kachhap, a highly qualified candidate, due to a fee transaction error.
Kachhap had applied in a 2018 recruitment drive for Assistant Professor posts in Nagpuri. Despite securing an impressive 72.10 out of 85 in academic evaluation, his name was missing from the interview shortlist. It was later discovered that a technical glitch prevented his examination fee from reaching the JPSC account, and crucially, he was not listed among rejected candidates.
He challenged this in court and was later allowed to appear for the interview. The results revealed he was the top candidate. However, JPSC still contested the court’s interim order. The division bench not only rejected JPSC’s appeal but also emphasized that technical issues should not outweigh merit.
The court ordered his appointment within four weeks and criticized JPSC’s inflexible approach—especially since ST candidates like Kachhap are often exempted from fee requirements. It imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on the commission, citing mishandling and injustice.
With inputs from IANS