Shimla, Mar 18 (IANS): "An unemployed existence is the worst negation of life than death itself," observed the Himachal Pradesh High Court, here on Wednesday, while disposing of a petition in favour of a job aspirant.

Quoting Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset, a Division Bench, comprising Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Anoop Chitkara, said unemployment continued to be a daunting problem. "It's required to be ensured that the government or public bodies don't deny employment on flimsy ground or by adopting any hyper technical approach," it said.

According to petitioner Tara Singh Chauhan, the Director General of Police on March 3, 2019 had advertised 720 posts of constable (male), 130 constable (drivers) and 213 constable (female).

Chauhan had applied online. He was issued roll number and admit card and was asked to appear in the physical efficiency and written tests, which he qualified. He was called for personality test on October 26, 2019.

When the results were declared, against the 40 posts in the general category, only 12 constables were recruited.

The petitioner said he was not given marks for the NCC(B) certificate and was deprived of two additional marks, which if counted, he would have got recruited. The NCC(B) certificate was submitted after the last date of submission of online application form, he added.

No doubt a candidate seeking appointment was required to carefully go through the instructions and follow the same, but any minor or insignificant lapse, which could be rectified or remedied before the date of final selection, should not prove fatal to the extent of denying appointment to the meritorious candidate, the Bench said.

Directing the respondent to consider the NCC(B) certificate and if the petitioner made to the grade he be appointed within four weeks and given benefits similar to other appointees.