MP High Court Quashes Condition In Job Advert By Agriculture Dept Mandating Degree From ICAR Accredited Institute

Justice Subodh Abhyankar in his order observed, “It is apparent from the aforesaid resolution that the accreditation from ICAR is not at all mandatory but, it is only voluntary, and on the other hand it is also directed that all State Universities and private universities offering courses in agricultural science should initiate process of accreditation with the Council. Thus, the respondents ought not to have made it a mandatory condition that the Institution from which, the candidates have passed their graduation or post-graduation must be accredited with ICAR.”

A petition was filed aggrieved by the advertisement issued by the respondent no. 2/Additional Director, Kisan Kalyan Tatha Krishi Vikas Vibhag, Bhopal by which the applications for the post of Block Technology Manager and Assistant Technology Manager were invited.

The aforesaid advertisement was challenged on the ground that it prescribed the minimum qualification to be the degree or postgraduation degree from an institute recognized by the Bhartiya Krishi Anusadhan Parishad (Indian Council of Agriculture and Research - ICAR).

The counsel for the petitioner contended that the said condition had been additionally imposed in the aforesaid advertisement issued in the year 2023, despite the fact that the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board in a meeting had taken a decision that the accreditation from ICAR is not mandatory but, rather voluntary for the agricultural colleges/programmes and university.

The counsel further informed the Court that in the earlier guidelines of the year 2014, the educational qualifications for the post of Block Technology Manager and Assistant Technology Manager did not provide for the accreditation of the college from ICAR.

On the contrary, the counsel for the respondent/State relied on the executive instruction received from the State in a 2022 order, in which it was provided that the candidates must have passed the adequate educational qualification from a college recognized by the ICAR. However, counsel did not dispute that the instruction of the minutes of the meeting held by the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board were binding on the respondents.

After hearing both the sides, the Court referred to the minutes of the meeting of National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board held in 2017. The Court noted that it was correct that the accreditation from ICAR was not at all mandatory but only voluntary. Further, the Court noted that in the meeting, it was also directed that all State and Private Universities offering courses in agricultural science should initiate process of accreditation with the Council.

Thus, the Court opined that the respondents should not have mandated the condition of the advertisement that the Institution from which, the candidates have passed their graduation or post-graduation must be accredited with ICAR.

Thus, the aforesaid condition of the advertisement was quashed.

Thereafter, the Court directed the respondents to proceed further with the process of appointment of those petitioners, who are eligible and had passed in the examination.

The petition was hence, allowed.

Case Title: Piyush Patidar Versus The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others, Writ Petition No. 15031 Of 2025

Counsel for Petitioner: Advocate Dinesh Singh Chauhan

Counsel for Respondent/State: Advocate Amit Bhatia