Pranaya Kishore Harichandan Vs Union of India and Others (Orissa High Court)
Orissa High Court has initiated proceedings to examine the selection procedure for Judicial Members of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), raising concerns over the alleged selective conduct of further personal interactions by the Search-cum-Selection Committee. The court has issued notice to the Union of India and other respondents, seeking clarification on the procedure.
The matter came before the High Court through a writ petition filed by Pranaya Kishore Harichandan, who challenged the methodology adopted by the Search-cum-Selection Committee in evaluating and recommending candidates for the GSTAT Judicial Member posts.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Susanta Kumar Dash, the petitioner, a prospective candidate, had applied for the post following a press release dated February 15, 2024. The Search-cum-Selection Committee shortlisted his name and called him for a personal interaction, which he attended along with other candidates.
However, the petitioner subsequently learned that the Search-cum-Selection Committee had issued fresh intimations to only a select few candidates from the previously shortlisted pool, inviting them for a “further personal interaction” scheduled for May 31, 2025.
Mr. Dash argued that sub-rule (4) of Rule 3 of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (Appointment and Conditions of Service of President and Members) Rules, 2023 (“the Rules”), does not provide for such a classification of shortlisted candidates or for conducting additional personal interactions selectively. He highlighted the wording of sub-rule (4), which states:
