Supreme Court Revises Order: Only One Candidate Allowed in RPSC Exam Instead of 713
In a significant legal development on Friday, the Supreme Court modified its earlier directive concerning the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) recruitment examination. The apex court now permits only a single aspirant to sit for the upcoming exam, overturning its previous order that had allowed 713 candidates to participate.
Details of the Modified Order
The bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma, which convened on a holiday, revised its Thursday ruling. The initial order had instructed RPSC to issue provisional admit cards to 713 candidates, including the original petitioner Suraj Mal Meena, who had approached the court seeking relief.
However, after hearing arguments presented by RPSC’s counsel on Friday, the bench restricted the relief exclusively to Meena. The commission had filed an application alleging that crucial information was withheld from the court during the initial hearing, prompting the reconsideration.
Exam Schedule and Scale
The recruitment examination for Sub-Inspector and Platoon Commander positions is scheduled to take place on April 5-6. This competitive test aims to fill 1,015 vacancies within the Rajasthan Police force. According to official estimates, more than 77 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the examination across the state.
Result Publication Conditions
In its revised order, the court specified that any results pertaining to candidates appearing under its directive shall remain withheld until the Rajasthan High Court delivers its verdict on two separate petitions connected to this examination matter. This conditional approach ensures that the legal proceedings remain unaffected by the examination process.
Alternative Options for Other Candidates
The bench clarified that candidates other than Meena who are not parties before the Supreme Court retain the option to approach the Rajasthan High Court. Should the pending judgments direct RPSC to conduct another examination for these aspirants, they may seek permission to appear in such a re-examination at that time.
Background of the Examination Controversy
This recruitment drive has been mired in controversy following allegations of widespread irregularities and malpractices during the earlier examination cycle. RPSC had subsequently decided to cancel the previous test and conduct a fresh examination without granting any age relaxation to candidates who had been barred from participating.
This decision prompted candidates to file petitions before a single-judge bench of the Jaipur High Court, which initially granted interim permission allowing aspirants to sit for the examination. However, a division bench of the High Court later stayed that interim order, compelling the aggrieved candidate to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
Legal Proceedings Timeline
The case has witnessed multiple judicial interventions at different levels. After the High Court’s division bench halted the earlier permission, the matter reached the Supreme Court where the initial broader relief was granted to 713 candidates on Thursday. The subsequent revision on Friday narrowed this scope significantly, reflecting the court’s careful consideration of the commission’s objections regarding incomplete factual disclosure.
The Supreme Court’s decision balances the interests of individual candidates seeking justice with the administrative concerns raised by the examination conducting body. While the immediate relief now extends only to the primary petitioner, the court has preserved the legal pathway for other affected candidates through the High Court route. The final resolution of this matter rests with the ongoing proceedings in the Rajasthan High Court, which will determine the broader implications for all candidates involved in this recruitment process.
