Anju Meena & Ors. vs Union Of India & Ors.

Hon’ble Ms. Harvinder Kaur Oberoi, Member (J): -

The applicants are serving as Primary Teachers (PRTs) in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). They seek consideration for appointment to the post of Headmaster through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE).

The post of Headmaster in KVS is required to be filled through two channels, namely, promotion and Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), in the prescribed ratio. The issue concerning the promotion channel, arising out of the amendment in the Recruitment Rules and the subsequent acquisition of CTET qualification by the applicants therein, has already been considered by this Tribunal in O.A. No. 2265/2026, Anju Meena & Ors., decided on 07.09.2026.

The present matter, however, relates to the LDCE channel. The applicants seek parity with the principle applied in the aforesaid decision, contending that they had approached the Tribunal at the relevant stage, subsequently acquired the qualification introduced by the amended Recruitment Rules, and therefore ought to be permitted to participate in the selection process.

The Recruitment Rules governing the post of Headmaster were initially framed in 2012 and subsequently revised in 2014. Under the said Rules, 50% of the posts of Headmaster were to be filled by promotion and the remaining 50% through LDCE. Primary Teachers having the prescribed length of regular service were eligible to be considered under the respective modes of recruitment.

Subsequently, on 20.03.2025, the Recruitment Rules governing teaching and non-teaching posts in KVS were amended. Pursuant to the amended Rules, possession of a valid CTET Paper-I qualification became one of the eligibility requirements for the concerned Primary Teachers seeking consideration for the post of Headmaster.

The applicants submit that they were otherwise eligible in terms of the prescribed length of regular service and intended to participate in the LDCE for the post of Headmaster. The examination, which was initially scheduled to be held on 15.02.2026, was subsequently postponed and was scheduled to be conducted on 26.04.2026. The last date prescribed for submission of the online applications was 26.12.2025.

According to the applicants, at the time when the applications were invited, they had not yet acquired the CTET qualification. They, however, applied for the CTET examination scheduled to be conducted by the CBSE on 08.02.2026 and sought an opportunity to participate in the LDCE subject to their subsequently acquiring the requisite qualification.

The applicants further submit that the CTET examination was conducted on 08.02.2026 and the result thereof was declared on 30.03.2026, wherein all the applicants are stated to have successfully qualified. 9. After declaration of the CTET result, the applicants submitted representations to KVS on 16.04.2026, requesting that, having acquired the qualification prescribed under the amended Recruitment Rules, they be permitted to participate in the LDCE.

It is the further case of the applicants that, despite their having acquired the requisite CTET qualification, they were not permitted to submit their applications, whereas certain other similarly situated candidates were permitted to submit their applications offline. In this regard, reliance has been placed upon the notification dated 16.04.2026, bearing No. F.11013/06/2026/KVS/HQ/RPS/522-535, whereby certain candidates were permitted to submit their applications offline through the concerned Principal for onward transmission to the office of Respondent No. 3.

The applicants contend that the aforesaid action of the respondents resulted in denial of an opportunity to them to participate in the LDCE, despite the fact that they had subsequently qualified the CTET examination and fulfilled the qualification requirement introduced by the amended Recruitment Rules.

We have considered the submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the applicants and perused the material available on record.

At the outset, it is necessary to notice the distinction between the present case and the matter decided by this Tribunal in O.A. No. 2265/2026, Anju Meena & Ors., decided on 07.09.2026. The said matter principally concerned consideration of eligible PRTs through the promotion channel, whereas the present Original Application concerns participation in the LDCE channel.

Nevertheless, the underlying issue arising from the amendment of the Recruitment Rules is common to both matters, namely, the effect of introduction of CTET qualification as an eligibility condition and the subsequent acquisition of the said qualification by the concerned PRTs.

In the present case, the applicants had admittedly applied for the CTET examination before the examination was conducted. The CTET examination was thereafter held on 08.02.2026, and the applicants acquired the prescribed qualification upon declaration of the result on 30.03.2026.

It is also relevant that the applicants approached the respondents immediately thereafter by submitting representations dated 16.04.2026. Thus, the applicants did not seek consideration without acquiring the qualification. Rather, they seek an opportunity to participate in the LDCE on the basis of the qualification which they subsequently acquired and which, according to them, was introduced by the amended Recruitment Rules during the intervening period.

We have already considered the effect of the amendment of the Recruitment Rules in O.A. No. 2265/2026. Though the factual setting and the recruitment channel in that case were different, the question whether a candidate who was otherwise eligible and had approached the competent forum at the relevant stage should be denied consideration solely because the newly introduced qualification was acquired subsequently was examined by this Tribunal.

In the present case also, the applicants had approached the respondents after acquiring the CTET qualification and before the conclusion of the selection process, seeking permission to participate in the LDCE. It is further their specific case that similarly situated candidates were permitted to submit their applications offline pursuant to the notification dated 16.04.2026.

In these circumstances, the issue cannot be examined merely from the standpoint of the original last date for submission of the online application. The subsequent acquisition of the CTET qualification by the applicants, their representations dated 16.04.2026, and the permission allegedly granted to similarly situated candidates to submit offline applications are also relevant circumstances which require consideration.

We are, therefore, of the view that the applicants ought not to be shut out from consideration at the threshold without their candidature being examined in the light of the amended Recruitment Rules and the subsequent acquisition of the prescribed CTET qualification.

Accordingly, the respondents are directed to consider the applications/candidatures of the applicants for the LDCE for the post of Headmaster, subject to verification of their eligibility in all other respects, including the prescribed length of regular service and CTET qualification.

The candidature of the applicants shall be treated as provisional and shall not confer upon them any vested right to appointment. Their participation and consideration shall remain subject to their satisfying all other conditions prescribed under the applicable Recruitment Rules and to their securing the requisite merit position in the selection process.

If the LDCE has already been conducted, the respondents shall process the candidature/results of the applicants in accordance with law and, if they secure the requisite merit position and are otherwise eligible, permit them to participate in the subsequent stages of the selection process.

It is clarified that the present order shall not be construed as granting any relaxation in the prescribed eligibility conditions. The applicants shall be required to satisfy all applicable conditions under the Recruitment Rules, including the requirement relating to CTET qualification.

The Original Application is accordingly disposed of in the above terms. Pending M.A(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.