Justice Vikram Nath addressed officials during the first visit by a serving Supreme Court judge to UPPSC. His remarks reinforced merit, impartiality and equal opportunity as foundations of public recruitment.
Prayagraj,Oct 19, 2026 17:32 IST
Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath on Monday said eligibility, rather than personal identity, must be the sole criterion for selection, stressing that fairness and merit should guide judicial proceedings and recruitment, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Speaking at an event at the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission premises in Prayagraj, Justice Nath said influence and power had no place in court proceedings, where evidence and arguments must prevail.
“Eligibility, and not personal identity, must be the sole criterion for selection. Fairness and merit should guide both judicial proceedings and recruitment. Just as influence or power does not speak in court, but evidence and reasoning do, recruitment must be based on eligibility, not favour or identity,” he said, according to an official statement cited by PTI.
Justice Nath said Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution provide comprehensive safeguards that allow public service commissions to discharge their responsibilities with complete impartiality.
He said public service commissions do not merely conduct examinations but select outstanding civil servants who shape the country's future. Every appointment could have far-reaching consequences for governance in the decades ahead, he added.
UPPSC Chairman Sanjay Sinha said the judiciary and selection bodies might have different areas of responsibility, but shared the same statutory spirit, with public trust at their core.
While courts provide citizens with a legal assurance of justice, selection bodies offer them the constitutional assurance of equal opportunity, Sinha said.
The visit was the first time in the commission's history that a serving Supreme Court judge had officially visited its premises, the statement said.
Justice Nath unveiled a statue of Swami Vivekananda and inaugurated Aditya Patanjali Yogpeetham at the UPPSC premises. He also inspected Bodhi Sangam, developed as an inspirational space for candidates, and the Kalpavriksha Museum.
The museum showcases the building's transformation from a British-era club established in 1868 into a centre of cultural heritage and positive energy.
Justice Nath also inaugurated 12 newly constructed residential units at Vrindavan Officers' Housing and released the commission's official calendar. Officers and employees recognised for outstanding service were felicitated.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Ashok Bhushan and Allahabad High Court judges Justices Rahul Chaturvedi, Ajit Singh and Rajiv Lochan Mehrotra were among those who attended the event.
Justice Nath's address underlined that public recruitment must be based on eligibility, fairness and merit, while the event also marked the first official visit by a serving Supreme Court judge to the UPPSC premises.
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