Judicial Oversight on Administrative Discretion: Limiting Executive Interference in PSC Selections

In a landmark judgment aimed at upholding the sanctity of constitutional bodies, the Supreme Court has curtailed the executive's power to reopen or reassess the eligibility of candidates selected by Public Service Commissions (PSCs). The Court clarified that when service rules explicitly designate the PSC’s decision on eligibility as final, the government’s role is strictly confined to the verification of documents and administrative formalities. This ruling serves as a critical check against administrative overreach, ensuring that the autonomy of constitutional bodies is not undermined by arbitrary executive intervention. The judiciary’s intervention addresses a recurring issue where state governments, often under political pressure or due to shifting policy interpretations, attempt to revisit the selection process after the PSC has concluded its mandate. By reinforcing the finality of the PSC’s decision-making process, the Court has provided much-needed relief to job aspirants, protecting them from the uncertainty and litigation that often follow such administrative reversals. This decision underscores the principle of separation of powers, emphasizing that the executive cannot encroach upon the functional domain of an independent constitutional body tasked with the recruitment of civil servants.