Now Reading: Supreme Court upholds 25% minimum viva-voce marks as valid
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Supreme Court upholds 25% minimum viva-voce marks as valid
The Supreme Court has held that fixing a minimum qualifying score of 25% in the viva-voce or interview stage is neither arbitrary nor whimsical. LiveLaw reports that the court described the requirement…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court has held that fixing a minimum qualifying score of 25% in the viva-voce or interview stage is neither arbitrary nor whimsical. LiveLaw reports that the court described the requirement as rooted in profound administrative necessity, aimed at preserving the integrity, calibre, and quality of the selection process. The observation came in the Supreme Court Weekly Digest for July 16, 23, 2026. The ruling reinforces that interviews are not mere formalities but a critical filter to assess candidates beyond written tests. The decision applies to public service appointments where viva-voce benchmarks exist.
The Indian Opinion
Some will call this a licence for subjectivity in interviews, but LiveLaw’s report shows the court grounded its reasoning in administrative necessity, not opinion. The real test is whether public-service commissions apply the benchmark uniformly and record reasons. Watch the rate of viva-voce failures next recruitment cycle. If the threshold consistently eliminates candidates without documented justification, the debate shifts from principle to practice.
Sources (2): livelaw.in, livelaw.in (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
