Under an ECC3 Option C, can the Supervisor "cherry" pick activities in the accepted programme as the basis for an assessment of works which he purports are defective

Under clause 40.2, the tests and inspections which either Party is to do have to be stated in the Works Information. Presumably, if allocated to the Employer then it is the Supervisor who does them on their behalf. So unless their is “may” or equivalent word, the Supervisor does not contractually have the option to cherry pick which tests and inpsections he is to do.

However, if the test or inspection is allocated to the Contractor, then under the last sentence of clause 40.3 “the Supervisor MAY watch any test done by the Contractor.” So in terms of observing any of the tests allocated to the Contractor, the Supervisor may indeed ‘cheery pick’.

Agree with Jon’s comments - the Supervisor in undertaking his role is to ensure that the works are provided in accordance with the Works Information.
You use the word Purports to be defective. The Supervisor can issue an instruction under clause 42.1 to open up the works fi he believes that some works are or may be defective - however the Supervisor will need to be very careful as if such an instruction is issued and not defect is found then it is a compensaiton event under 60.1 (10).