The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a plea challenging the Gujarat Judicial Service recruitment process, wherein the petitioner questioned the application of the minimum qualifying interview marks.

Appearing for the petitioner, the advocate submitted that although the Gujarat Judicial Service Rules were amended on December 27, 2024, providing for a Selection Committee to conduct interviews, the authorities continued to apply the earlier requirement of securing 40% minimum marks in the interview. The Counsel argued that despite her client performing well in the preliminary and main examinations, the candidature was rejected solely on account of the interview cut-off.

Relying on Ashok Kumar Yadav v. State of Haryana, the Counsel contended that excessive weightage to interviews has been frowned upon by the Supreme Court and argued that the interview process had overshadowed the candidate’s overall performance.

The Court, however, observed that the petitioner had participated in the selection process without specifically challenging the rule prescribing the minimum qualifying interview marks. It further noted that the amendment cited by the petitioner appeared to relate to the constitution of the Selection Committee, while the qualifying benchmark for interviews operated in a different field and could coexist with the amended provision.

The Court thereafter issued notice in the matter.