Karnataka high court slaps Rs 2 lakh fine on officials for denying certificate to woman
The fine is to be paid personally by the chairman and members of the committee within four weeks and not from state funds.
Justice M Nagaprasanna delivered the ruling while allowing a petition by BN Muthulaxmi, who was selected in Jan 2023 for the post of assistant public prosecutor under category 3A. Despite submitting necessary documents through Sevasindhu portal and in physical form, her application was rejected by the committee on grounds that her husband's income exceeded the prescribed limit.
The court, however, held that the committee had erred in considering spousal income when legal precedent mandates that only paternal income be considered for such certifications. The committee's decision came despite the petitioner citing rulings from the Supreme Court and high court that supported her claim.
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Muthulaxmi eventually received the certificate during the hearing, but the court noted that this was only due to judicial intervention.
Justice Nagaprasanna criticised the committee's handling of the case and described the delay in issuing the certificate as "miscarriage of justice".
The delay prevented the petitioner from joining service for over a year even as others from the same selection process commenced their roles. While Muthulaxmi is now entitled to all consequential benefits except salary and monetary arrears, the court's ruling underscored the importance of adhering to legal precedent in administrative decision-making.
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