In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has directed the reinstatement of candidates who were terminated by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) despite having the required CCC (Computer Concepts Certificate) at the time of their interview. The Court found that the termination of these candidates was unjustified, highlighting that the UPPCL had “grossly erred” in its decision-making process.
The controversy stems from the 2014 recruitment process for the position of Technical Grade-II (Electrical) in UPPCL. An advertisement published on September 6, 2014, clearly outlined the necessity of a CCC Certificate as part of the eligibility criteria. However, after the candidates were selected in 2015 and given appointment letters, some were later dismissed in 2018 for allegedly failing to present the CCC Certificate by the final application deadline, September 30, 2014. The candidates had, however, presented the certificate at the time of their interview, which was the condition stated in the original advertisement.
The Supreme Court, exercising its powers under Article 142, overturned the UPPCL’s decision to terminate these candidates, declaring that those who had the certificate at the time of the interview were entitled to their positions as per their ranking in the original selection list. The Court pointed out that the UPPCL had shifted its stance, initially accepting self-certification for computer literacy, only to later argue that candidates who did not submit the certificate by the application deadline were ineligible.
This ruling follows a prolonged legal battle that saw various courts weigh in on the issue. The Allahabad High Court had previously directed the UPPCL to revise its selection list, excluding candidates who didn’t meet the certificate requirements. However, the Supreme Court found that the UPPCL’s actions contradicted both its own advertisements and the regulatory framework that governed the recruitment process.
As a result of the Court’s intervention, the affected candidates will now be reinstated, their original placement in the seniority list restored, and their rights to their positions in the UPPCL reaffirmed.
