Punjab High Court Halts Recruitment for Rural Livelihoods Mission

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has temporarily halted the recruitment process for the Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission, citing concerns over the merit evaluation method. This decision follows a similar stay on the recruitment of Punjab Pharmacist Officers. The court has summoned all relevant records for review in the upcoming hearing scheduled for September 2. The recruitment process, which began in January 2026, aimed to fill various positions, but questions have arisen regarding the transparency of the merit determination. A committee has been formed to investigate the irregularities in the marking process, leading to the suspension of the recruitment until further notice.

By Ambika Singh Aug 15, 2026, 08:46 IST

High Court Issues Stay on Recruitment Process

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a hold on the recruitment process for the Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission. This decision comes as a stay order pending the upcoming hearing, which follows a similar suspension regarding the recruitment of Punjab Pharmacist Officers. The next court session is set for September 2, during which all relevant records concerning the recruitment will be reviewed.

Overview of the Recruitment Process

The Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission's recruitment initiative began in January 2026, aiming to fill 41 Block Program Manager and 44 Cluster Coordinator positions. The examination results for these roles have already been announced.

Concerns Over Merit Evaluation

Despite the announcement of results, the method used to assess merit has been contested in court. The petitioner highlighted that the merit list was based on a total of 100 marks, with 70 marks for the written test and 10 marks each for the interview, qualifications, and experience.

The petitioners expressed concerns about the transparency of the 30 marks allocated outside the written exam, noting that no specific details were provided regarding how these marks were awarded to successful candidates; only the total scores were made public.

Formation of a Review Committee

In response to the petitioners' claims, the High Court has summoned all recruitment-related records and established a committee consisting of legal experts and officials from the Rural Development Department to investigate the matter. This committee identified discrepancies in the marking process, leading the court to suspend the recruitment until the next hearing. The next session is scheduled for September 2, where all records will be presented.