No disruption to existing sports quota appointments, says Telangana High Court; sets clear mandate for future selections

The petitioners, who participated in senior nationals, junior nationals, and all-India university competitions, applied for Group-1 services under the 2 per cent sports quota. The Telangana Public Service Commission (TPSC) had notified four vacancies out of a total of 563 posts.

They filed the writ petition because they were aggrieved by their exclusion due to a misconception regarding Form-I in Annexure-III of a government order by the Tourism and Culture (Sports) Department, dated August 9, 2012.

In his ruling, the judge addressed concerns over the selection process and eligibility criteria, disposing of the petitions with several mandatory directions to the respondent authorities. The judgment ensured that appointments already made will not be unsettled, but firmly dictates the procedure for future recruitments.

For current or pending selections, the court directed the authorities to immediately declare the results of petitioners whose results were withheld due to an interim court order. The resulting vacancies must be filled if the candidates are found eligible, strictly adhering to Annexures I and II of the relevant rules.

Justice Rao issued a strong, clear instruction for future notifications: “However, in all future Notifications, the respondent authorities shall adhere to Annexures I and II respectively while filling up the 2 per cent sports quota. The authorities shall also ask the candidates to produce Forms (I to IV) in relation to their respective sports certificates to verify their genuineness and grading so as to ensure a fair and transparent selection process under the sports quota.”

Furthermore, the judgment provided assurance to existing employees by stating that “If all the posts have already been filled up as on the date of this order, the appointments so made, shall not be disturbed.”

All pending miscellaneous petitions were closed with no order as to costs.