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Judgment
KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL)
Through the instant writ petition, the petitioner seeks quashing of the order dated 17.11.2025 (Annexure P-7), passed by respondent No.3, whereby his claim for appointment to the post of Physical Education Master was rejected.
Succinctly stated, respondent No.3 issued an advertisement inviting applications for 4161 posts in the Master/Mistress Cadre. Out of these, 168 posts were earmarked for the Master Cadre (DPE), of which 25 posts were reserved for the General Category, and out of the said 25 posts, 7 posts were reserved for women. The petitioner applied for the post of DPE in the Master Cadre under the General Category. The essential qualifications prescribed in the advertisement for the said post are extracted hereunder:-
“1.Should have passed Four years integrated course of Bachelor of Physical Education from a recognized university or institution after 10+2 atleast with 45% marks. OR Bachelors degree atleast with 45% marks with Physical Education as a subject in three years Graduation Course from a recognized University or institution and should have acquired one year course of B.P.Ed/D.P.Ed from a recognized university or institution as per guidelines of the University Grants Commission. OR Bachelors Degree from recognized University or institution atleast with 45% marks and having participated in National or State Games or Athletics or Cricket which are being organized by the Indian/Punjab Olympic Association/State Sports Association and in addition should have acquired one year course of B.P.Ed/D.P.Ed from a recognized University or institution after Graduation as per guidelines of the University Grants Commission.
Provided that the candidates, who have secured the following marks in Graduation will be considered:
(i)45% marks in the case of General Category candidates; and
(ii)40% marks in the case of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other Backward Classes, Backward Classes and physically Handicapped candidates”.
Since the petitioner does not possess the requisite qualification of having studied Physical Education in all three years of his graduation course, his candidature for the post of Physical Education Master stood rejected.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, although the petitioner does not possess a Bachelor’s degree with Physical Education as a subject throughout the three-year graduation course from a recognized university or institution, he has successfully completed the one-year Bachelor of Physical Education course (hereinafter referred to as the “B.P.Ed. Course”), which constitutes a higher qualification. It is, thus, contended that the petitioner ought to be considered qualified for appointment to the post in question. In support of this submission, learned counsel places reliance upon the communication dated 20.02.2025 (Annexure P-3) issued by Panjab University, Chandigarh, wherein it has been stated that the standard of the B.P.Ed. Examination of the University is considered higher than that of the subject of Physical Education passed at B.A. examination. The relevant portion of the said communication is reproduced hereinbelow:-
“...It is informed that the standard of the Bachelor of Physical Education examination of this University is considered higher than that of the subject of Physical Education passed at B.A. examination.”
This Court has considered the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the petitioner but finds no merit therein. The reason for drawing this conclusion stems from the essential qualifications prescribed in the advertisement for the post in question. As per the advertisement, apart from completing a one-year B.P.Ed./D.P.Ed. course from a recognised university or institution, a candidate is also required to possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least 45% marks, with Physical Education as a subject throughout the three-year graduation course, from a recognized university or institution. The petitioner, admittedly, does not possess such a Bachelor’s degree with Physical Education as a subject in three-year graduation course. Mere possession of a one-year B.P.Ed. course by the petitioner would neither suffice nor dispense with the requirement of fulfilling the other requisite qualifications prescribed in the advertisement for appointment to the post in question. Furthermore, even if Panjab University has regarded the standard of its B.P.Ed. Examination as higher than that of Physical Education as a subject in the B.A. examination, the petitioner still remains unqualified in view of the qualifications stipulated in the advertisement for the post in question.
Moreover, the selection process for 4,161 Master Cadre posts, initiated as far back as 2022, has already been closed vide public notice dated 24.01.2025.
As an upshot of the discussion made hereinabove, the instant writ petition is dismissed as being devoid of merit.