Charles. K. Skaria vs Dr.C.Mathew on 19 March, 1980
13. 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
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
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W.P.No.33585 of 2019
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 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.