Haryana Cabinet Gives Relief to BC Candidates, Approves Validity of 2024-25 Non-Creamy Layer Certificates

The Haryana Cabinet on Monday approved the validity of BC-A and BC-B non-creamy layer certificates issued during 2024-25 under the state government’s November 17, 2021 notification, offering major relief to thousands of candidates applying for government jobs in the state.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and is directly linked to recruitment advertisements issued by the Haryana Public Service Commission for 3,069 post graduate teacher (PGT) posts in various subjects in 2024.

The controversy began after HPSC issued a recruitment advertisement on July 23, 2024, asking BC-A and BC-B category candidates to submit fresh non-creamy layer certificates as per the revised government notification dated July 16, 2024. Following this change, certificates issued earlier under the 2021 notification were no longer being treated as valid, leading to rejection of several candidates during the recruitment process.

The issue triggered widespread concern among aspirants, with multiple writ petitions later being filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the rejection of candidature based on the certificate validity dispute. 

During the Cabinet meeting, it was clarified that the only major change introduced in the July 16, 2024 notification was the increase in the annual income ceiling for creamy layer determination from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. This meant that candidates who were already classified as non-creamy layer under the 2021 rules would continue to remain eligible even under the revised criteria.

Keeping this in view, the Cabinet approved that BC-A and BC-B non-creamy layer certificates issued before July 23, 2024, under the earlier notification would remain valid for all purposes during 2024-25.

The decision is expected to bring relief to thousands of aspirants affected by the recruitment process and may help avoid further legal complications in the ongoing teacher recruitment drive.