C.A. No. 006178 - 006185 / 2019

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Under Rule 10(a)(ii) of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, a higher qualification can substitute a prescribed lower qualification only where it is formally recognised as equivalent by an executive or standing order, accepted by the Public Service Commission under Rule 13(b)(i), or demonstrably presupposes acquisition of the lower qualification — a mere departmental opinion or syllabus comparison does not suffice. Furthermore, rules governing a selection process cannot be altered mid-way after shortlists are published. As analysed on casestatus.in, equivalence determinations must precede, not follow, the recruitment exercise to be legally valid.