He Cleared The Written Stage. The Commission Stopped Him At The Door.
A candidate for a teaching post was disallowed from the personality test by a notification. The High Court has ordered the Commission to hold it within two months.
The Court held there was no reason for the Commission to disallow him from appearing in the interview, that he was thereby prejudiced, and that his scope to appear was curtailed in violation of the principle of natural justice. The writ petition was allowed, and the Commission directed to arrange his interview within two months.
- A shortlisted candidate has something to lose, and losing it without reason is prejudice.
- Natural justice reaches selection processes, not just disciplinary ones.
- The remedy is the opportunity — a chance to prove his candidature, not appointment.
- Two months from the date of the judgment.
- Court
- High Court of Tripura at Agartala
- Bench
- Justice HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BISWAJIT PALIT
- Citation
- W.P.(C) No. 375 of 2026
- Case
- W.P.(C) No. 375 of 2026
- Decided
- June 2026
- Outcome
- Writ petition allowed; interview to be arranged within two months
What the Commission did
By a notification of 16 May 2026 the Public Service Commission disallowed the petitioner from appearing in the interview and personality test for the post concerned.
Why the Court intervened
It appeared to the Court that there was no reason for the Commission to disallow him.
As a result the petitioner was prejudiced, and his scope to appear in the personality test was curtailed in violation of the principle of natural justice.
The Commission ought therefore to be asked to give him the opportunity to appear and prove his candidature. The writ petition was allowed and the Commission directed to arrange the interview or personality test within two months of the judgment.
Who argued it
Appearances as recorded in the judgment of the Court.
Frequently asked
Can a Commission drop me from the interview stage without a reason?
The Court held that doing so prejudiced the candidate and violated natural justice.
Does winning mean I get the post?
No. The direction is to hold the interview so you can prove your candidature.
Challenging exclusion from a selection stage
- Identify the notification or communication that excluded you and the reason it gives, if any.
- Show what you lost — a stage you had reached — rather than asserting a right to the post.
- Plead natural justice specifically: no reason, no opportunity, and the prejudice that follows.
- Ask for a time-bound direction to hold the stage, which is the relief a court can actually give.
Source. High Court of Tripura at Agartala, W.P.(C) No. 375 of 2026, decided June 2026 by Justice HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BISWAJIT PALIT. This explainer is written from the judgment text as reported.
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