Kerala High Court Rules Engineering Degrees & Diplomas Not Equivalent to NTC for KSEB Meter Reader Posts

In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has declared that engineering degrees and diplomas cannot be considered equivalent or higher qualifications to the National Trade Certificate (NTC) in Electrician/Wireman/Electronics trade for the post of Meter Reader/Spot Biller in Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Amit Rawal and C.S. Sudha in the writ appeals No. 370 of 2023 and 398 of 2023 against the judgment in WP(C) No. 3383/2022 dated 7.12.2022 of the High Court of Kerala.

The appellants, Muhammed Naeem V.T and Nizamuddin Kochumanappuzha, challenged the inclusion of candidates with engineering degrees and diplomas in the KSEB rank list. The High Court observed that “Engineering degrees/diplomas not presupposing acquisition of NTC, hence not to be considered ‘higher qualification’ for this post.”

This landmark decision arises from the appeal against the dismissal of writ petitions that questioned the eligibility of engineering degree and diploma holders for the said posts. The court highlighted the necessity for clear demarcation of qualifications for specific job roles, stating, “Consideration of degrees and diplomas for positions meant for NTC holders could disadvantageously affect employment opportunities of NTC holders.”

The judgment also addressed the role of executive orders in determining the equivalence of qualifications. The court noted that the Ext.P11 order, declaring diploma courses in Electrical and Electronics Engineering as a higher qualification to NTC, is deemed inapplicable as “Change of qualification criteria post-notification not permissible.”

In its decision, the court allowed the appeals, set aside the impugned judgment, and directed to recast the rank list excluding degree or diploma holders in engineering without the NTC as specified in the notification. This ruling underscores the court’s stance on maintaining the integrity of employment qualifications and ensuring fair opportunities for candidates holding specific vocational certifications.

Date of Decision: 17th November 2023

Muhammed Naeem V.T VS State of Kerala