Punjab & Haryana High Court: Rule to Secure 50 Marks in Aggregate in Superior/Higher Judiciary Exam Not Arbitrary

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that a rule mandating that candidates secure 50% aggregate marks (combining written exam + viva-voce) in order to qualify for the Superior Judicial Services examination is valid and not arbitrary. The case arose from a petition by Rushil Jindal, who passed each individual paper (i.e., secured the required minimum in each part) but failed to meet the 50% overall threshold. The Court (Chief Justice Sheel Nagu & Justice Sanjiv Berry) observed that the Superior Judicial Services Rules permit the High Court to fix standards and cut-offs to ensure merit and suitability, and that requiring 50% aggregate marks falls within that power. The Court rejected the petitioner’s challenge that this minimum aggregate criterion violates basic rules or the constitutional scheme, finding that such cut-offs are lawful tools to select competent candidates. The judgment reaffirms that passing individual papers is necessary but not sufficient; overall performance matters. The criteria were said to be transparently notified and part of the recruitment scheme. Thus, the High Court upheld the rule.