Charles. K. Skaria vs Dr.C.Mathew on 19 March, 1980
“...11. Now so far as the submission on behalf of the
FCI that a candidate must and/or ought to have produced
the experience certificate along with the application is
concerned, at this stage, a decision of this Court in the
case of Charles K. Skaria v. Dr. C. Mathew (1980) 2 SCC
752 and the subsequent decision of this Court in the case
of Dolly Chhanda v. Chairman, Jee and others (2005) 9
SCC 779 are required to be referred to. In the case of
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Charles K. Skaria (supra), this Court had an occasion to
consider the distinction between the essential requirements
and the proof/mode of proof. In the aforesaid case, this
Court had an occasion to consider the distinction between
a fact and its proof. In the aforesaid case before this Court,
a candidate/student was entitled to extra 10% marks for
holders of a diploma and the diploma must be obtained on
or before the last date of the application, not later. In the
aforesaid case, a candidate secured diploma before the
final date of application, but did not produce the evidence of
diploma along with the application. Therefore, he was not
allowed extra 10% marks and therefore denied the
admission. Dealing with such a situation, this Court
observed and held that what was essential requirement
was that a candidate must have obtained the diploma on or
before the last date of application but not later, and that is
the primary requirement and to submit the proof that the
diploma is obtained on or before a particular date as per
the essential requirement is secondary. This Court
specifically observed and held that what is essential is the
possession of a diploma before the given date; what is
ancillary is the safe mode of proof of the qualification. This
Court specifically observed and held that to confuse
between a fact and its proof is blurred perspicacity. This
Court further observed and held that to make mandatory
the date of acquiring the additional qualification before the
last date for application makes sense. But if it is
unshakeably shown that the qualification has been
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acquired before the relevant date, to invalidate the merit
factor because proof, though indubitable, was adduced a
few days later but before the selection or in a manner not
mentioned in the prospectus, but still above board, is to
make procedure not the handmaid but the mistress and
form not as subservient to substance but as superior to the
essence. While observing and holding so, in paragraphs 20
& 24, this Court observed and held as under: