Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Haryana High Court Quashes HPSC’s Mid-Process NET Cutoff
The Haryana Public Service Commission was hiring assistant professors.
Some reserved-category candidates from outside Haryana applied as general-category candidates.
They passed the written subject test and reached the shortlist.
Later, the Commission added a higher NET-score requirement.
This new rule caused many candidates to lose their places.
The High Court said the rule was added too late and was not in the original advertisement.
The court ordered the Commission to reconsider the affected candidates.
If they qualify, they must receive appointment letters within six weeks.
Another group that wanted these candidates excluded from general posts did not win its case.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down HPSC’s new NET-score requirement for certain reserved candidates.
The Haryana Public Service Commission had introduced the additional benchmark after candidates applied and took the Subject Knowledge Test.
Nearly 80 candidates, including Uttar Pradesh’s Saurabh Verma, challenged the rule as arbitrary and unconstitutional.
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said the recruitment advertisement and service rules did not include the additional NET condition.
Eligible petitioners must have their candidatures reconsidered and may receive appointments within six weeks, with notional benefits but no back pay.
- Who
- Nearly 80 candidates, including Saurabh Verma, challenged the Haryana Public Service Commission; Justice Harpreet Singh Brar issued the ruling.
- What
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed HPSC’s additional NET cutoff requirement and ordered reconsideration of affected candidatures.
- When
- The order was announced on 4 August and uploaded on 11 September; the disputed recruitment process began with an August 2024 advertisement.
- Where
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court, concerning recruitment to Haryana’s college cadre.
- Why
- The court found that HPSC introduced the NET benchmark after the process had begun, although it was absent from the advertisement and applicable service rules.
Candidates Challenging the Rule
Candidates Seeking Exclusion
Use of relaxed-norm NET certificates
Candidates Challenging the Rule
Affected out-of-state reserved candidates and Haryana reserved candidates competing in the general pool argued that the higher NET requirement was introduced after the recruitment process began and should not cancel their candidatures.
Candidates Seeking Exclusion
A separate group of Haryana candidates argued that candidates holding NET certificates obtained under relaxed norms should be excluded from general-category competition.
Role of the NET score
Candidates Challenging the Rule
The petitioners maintained that the advertisement treated NET as a threshold qualification and promised that merit would be assessed through the Subject Knowledge Test and interview.
Candidates Seeking Exclusion
The exclusion-seeking candidates’ position depended on treating relaxed-norm NET qualification as insufficient for general-category competition, but the court rejected that claim.
- Recruiting body
- Haryana Public Service Commission
- Posts advertised
- 2,424 Assistant Professor positions in the college cadre
- Disputed score
- Saurabh Verma scored 148 on the NET, below the later benchmark of 160
- Petitioners
- Nearly 80 candidates from across India
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Ruling judge
- Justice Harpreet Singh Brar
- Remedial deadline
- Eligible petitioners must receive appointment letters within six weeks
- Back pay
- The court granted notional benefits but not salary for periods not worked