Supreme Court Ruling Curriculum Defines Qualifications and Eligibility Criteria

Termination of Contractual Appointment as Consultant – Eligibility Criteria

The advertisement provided for minimum qualification of Postgraduate Degree in Statistics from Government recognized University at least with 60% marks or equivalent grade for contractual services as Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant.

The appellant had passed M.Com. with Business Statistics and Indian Economic Statistics as principal subjects.

The appellant was terminated for lack of required qualification for the post.

There is no Government University in Madhya Pradesh offering the course of M.Com (Statistics). 

HELD that insisting solely on the title of the degree, without considering the actual curriculum amounts to elevating form over substance.  The law does not compel such an interpretation.   In our view, considering the facts of the present case, the expression “ Postgraduate in Statistics” must be understood contextually and purposively.   The State has no reason to ignore the considered view of the competent domain authority that the appellant meets the eligibility criteria.

Supreme Court – Recruitment Eligibility Must be Interpreted in the light of Curriculum and Purpose.

SC – Recruitment Eligibility Criteria must be construed to serve its purpose, not to exclude candidates unfairly.

SC Upholds Curriculum Over Nomenclature in Eligibility Criteria

Degree Titles Not Determinative – Supreme Court Restores Appointment of Consultant

Supreme Court Clarifies Eligibility : M.Com with Statistics Equals PG in statistics.

SC Ruling Curriculum Defines Qualifications and Eligibility Criteria

Judgment dated 5.12.2025 of the Supreme Court of India in SLP (Civil) No.18907 of 2025 of Laxmikant Sharma  Vs.   state of Madhya Pradesh and others