JUDGEMENT
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(1.) IN all the above writ petitions, the controversy involved is identical, therefore, all these cases are decided
by this common order and, for the sake of convenience, facts
of S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.10182/2012 are taken into
consideration.
As per facts narrated in S.B. Civil Writ Petition
No.10182/2012, Smt. Raj Rani Vs. State of Rajasthan & Others,
the petitioner after completing her graduation in Commerce
with 44.44% marks from Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati
University, Ajmer in the year 2001 acquired the qualification of
post-graduation in Hindi (Arts) subject from the University
of Bikaner in the year 2008. In her M.A. (Hindi)
examination the petitioner obtained 58.22% marks. The
petitioner's husband died, therefore, with a view to enabling
herself for earning livelihood and for betterment of her
children, the petitioner acquired B.Ed. degree from the
University of Kashmir, Srinagar in the year 2009. After
completion of B.Ed. course, the petitioner appeared in the
Rajasthan TET Examination 2011, conducted by the Board
of Secondary Education, Ajmer, in which, the petitioner was
declared eligible for appearing in Level I and Level II
examinations.
(2.) RESPONDENT No.2 Zila Parishad issued advertisement on 24.02.2012 for recruitment on the posts of Teacher
Grade-III, in which, being eligible the petitioner applied for
the post of Teacher Grade-III under the reserved quota for
the widows. In the examination, the petitioner secured
104.11 marks and was hopeful for getting appointment but the petitioner was shocked when she came across the list
pasted and displayed at the notice-board of Zila Parishad,
Sriganganagar on 09.09.2012, in which, her name did not
find mention whereas the cut-off marks for the widow
category was 104.11. Upon enquiry, it was informed that
she has not obtained minimum 45% marks in her
graduation examination, therefore, her name was not
included in the merit-list.
As per the petitioner, in the PTET examination held in 2008 for admission in the B.Ed. course, minimum 45% marks was prescribed to appear in the examination,
therefore, the petitioner took up B.Ed. course training at the
University of Kashmir, Srinagar and, thereafter, on that
basis, the petitioner was permitted to appear in the
Rajasthan TET Examination. Respondent No.2 issued an
advertisement and guidelines for appearing in the qualifying
examination of Teacher Grade-II, in which, the petitioner
submitted her application which was duly scrutinized and,
thereafter, while issuing the admission-card she was
allowed to appear in the said examination for recruitment
on the posts of Teacher Grade-III, in which, she secured
104.11 marks. The petitioner has set out the case that as per
advertisement para 7(5) which provides for relaxation in
terms of the Division Bench judgment of this Court dated
20., rendered in D.B. Civil Writ Petition No.3964/2011, Sushil Sompura & others Vs. State (Education) & Others but
the respondents have wrongly interpreted the judgment of
this Court while denying appointment to the petitioner. It
is pointed out by the petitioner in the writ petition that
apparently failing to understand the judgment in proper
perspective the respondents have not complied with the full
direction contained in the operative part of the judgment
and refused to grant relaxation of marks in the minimum
marks obtained in the graduation examination. Submission
of the petitioner is that the Division Bench of this Court, in
the aforesaid judgment, categorically held that respondents
shall not insist upon qualification of having minimum 45%
or 50%, as the case may be, in the bachelor's degree or
master's decree examination or any other equivalent
examination in case the incumbents have obtained
admission in the requisite courses such as B.A., B.Com.,
B.Sc., B.Ed., B.El.Ed., Senior Secondary etc. prior to
prescription of the minimum qualifying marks by the NCTE
vide notifications dated 27.09.2007 and 31.08.2009,
therefore, denial of appointment to the petitioner on the
ground that she did not obtain 45% marks in her
graduation examination is totally contrary to the judgment
of this Court in Sushil Sompura's case (supra) and para 7(5)
of the advertisement dated 24.02.2012, Annex.-6.
Similarly, it is pointed out that vide para 7(3) of the
advertisement Annex.-6, there is clear provision to grant
relaxation of 5% to the reserved category candidates
including Widow in the B.Ed. examination. As per the
petitioner, the respondents have wrongly not included the
category of Widow in para 7(3) of the advertisement,
therefore, the denial of appointment to the petitioner and
like persons is contrary to the judgment rendered by the
Division Bench of this Court in Sushil Sompura's case, so
also, in violation of para 7(5) of the advertisement.
(3.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner (respective counsel for petitioners in aforesaid writ petitions) vehemently
6 argued that denial of appointment on the ground of having
less than 45% marks is contrary to the judgment of the
Division Bench of this Court in Sushil Sompura's case
(supra) and as per notification issued by the NCTE on
29.07.2011, in which, relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks was allowed to the candidates belonging to the
reserved categories, therefore, direction may be issued to
the respondents not to insist upon minimum 45% marks in
graduation/post graduation examination and grant
relaxation up to 5% as provided in the notification dated
29.07.2011 and as per the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in Sushil Sompura's case because vide
amendment notification dated 11.05.2011, the State
Government amended Rule 266 of the Rajasthan Panchayati
Raj Rules 1996 and prescribed qualification for appointment
on the post of Teacher Grade-III (General Education) (Level
I and Level II), so also, for Primary and Upper Primary
Teachers in Special Education (Level I and Level II) and
provided that qualification for the post will be as laid down
by the NCTE under the provisions of sub-section (1) of
Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009 from time to time. Therefore, it is
prayed that respondents may be directed to comply with
the directions issued by the Division Bench of this Court in
Sushil Sompura's case and relaxation provided under para 7
(5) and para 7 (3) of the advertisement and as per
qualification laid down by the NCTE vide notification dated
29.07.2011 and not to refuse appointment on the ground of having less than 45% marks in the graduation examination;
and, further, grant 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks to
the candidates belonging to the reserved categories
including Widow and, after considering their candidature, if
they are found entitled for appointment, then, appointment
may be provided to them on the posts of Teacher Grade-III
(Level I and Level II).
Per contra, learned Addl. Advocate General
vehemently argued that there is nothing in the argument of
learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in these writ
petitions that they are entitled for any relaxation in the
qualification because the State Government is under
obligation to follow the rules and in Rule 266 of the Rules of
1996 necessary amendment was made and it is specifically provided that qualification laid down by the NCTE for
recruitment on the posts of Teacher Grade-III will be
followed and to comply with the directions issued by the
Division Bench of this Court in Sushil Sompura's case a
specific para 7(5) was added in the advertisement dated
24.02.2012 and it is specifically provided that all those candidates who took admission in the Teachers Training
courses prior to issuance of the notification by the NCTE on
27.09.2011 the condition of obtaining minimum 45% marks will not be insisted upon. Therefore, although the
petitioners belong to reserved class category, they cannot
claim relaxation more than provided in the notification
issued by the NCTE which is incorporated in the
advertisement dated 24.02.2012. In this view of the
matter, there is no force in the argument of the petitioner
that respondents are illegally insisting upon minimum 45%
marks in the graduation examination. Accordingly all these
writ petitions may be dismissed.;