P&H High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea Challenging Shift In Syllabus Of Haryana ADA Exam From Law To GK

In a recent development concerning the Haryana Assistant District Attorney (ADA) recruitment process, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Haryana Government on a petition challenging the abrupt shift in the examination syllabus—from law-focused subjects to general knowledge.

The new syllabus for Haryana ADA Screening Test includes Current Events of National and International Importance, History of India, Indian and World Geography, Indian Culture, Indian Polity and Indian Economy, General Mental Ability, Reasoning and Analytical Abilities, Basic numeracy, numbers and their relations, Data interpretation, Haryana GK History etc. and excludes law subject.

Justice Sandeep Moudgil issued notice to the Haryana Government, Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC)  and other authorities.

The plea filed by a Law Graduate submitted that the change in syllabus from a law-centric screening test to a general knowledge-based test is arbitrary and lacks a rational basis.

The change in th scheme pattern of examination was made without proper consultation and requisition between the Haryana Government and HPSC, as required by the recruitment rules and Article 320 of the Constitution of India

It added further stated that, "the new scheme/pattern of examination unfairly disadvantages practicing advocates who may have better knowledge of law but lack general knowledge and aptitude, thus preventing from competing in the subject knowledge test."

It was submitted that, "the criteria for screening out candidates must be reasonable and not arbitrary, and the current scheme/pattern of examination is arbitrary and lacks a rational basis and is not in consonance with the end result sought to be achieved by the examination."

Advocates Ajit Singh Lamba and Vivek Sheoran appeared for the petitioner.

Title: Lakhan Singh v. State of Haryana & Ors.