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2026 Supreme(SC) 64

DIPANKAR DATTA, AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH
Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Ajmer – Appellant
Versus
Yati Jain – Respondent


Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner(s): Mr. Yuvraj Samant, Adv. Ms. Neha Amola, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Singh Chauhan, AOR Mr. Keshav Thakur, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. K. Parameshwar, Sr. Adv. Mr. Ronak Karanpuria, AOR Mr. N. Sai Kaushal, Adv. Mr. Abhimanyu Yaduvanshi, Adv. Mr. Prasad Hegde, Adv. Mr. Veda Singh, Adv. Mr. S. Udaya Kumar Sagar, AOR

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Based on the provided legal document, the key points are as follows:

  1. The appeal concerns the validity and operation of waiting and reserve lists in public recruitment processes, specifically in the context of appointments to various government posts (!) (!) .

  2. A waiting list is a list of eligible candidates who are not immediately appointed but are considered for future vacancies arising from the same recruitment cycle. Such lists are typically linked to the original selection process and have a limited validity period, often governed by specific rules (!) (!) .

  3. The right of a candidate in a waiting or reserve list to appointment is limited. Generally, they do not have an indefeasible right, and their claim depends on the rules governing the operation and validity period of such lists. Appointment rights accrue only when vacancies arise after the exhaustion or expiration of the original merit list, and the list is still valid (!) (!) .

  4. The operation of the reserve list is strictly time-bound, usually within six months from the date the original list is forwarded or recommendations are made, unless extended by specific rules or circumstances. Administrative delays or administrative actions beyond this period typically do not create enforceable rights for candidates in the reserve list (!) (!) .

  5. The appointment process is fundamentally recommendatory, with the final authority resting with the appointing government or authority, which must act in accordance with statutory rules and the merit list. The Public Service Commission's role is to recommend, not to appoint, and it has no independent right to demand appointment outside the recommendation process (!) (!) .

  6. Candidates who are not recommended or whose appointment has been canceled due to non-joining or administrative reasons generally do not have a legal right to claim appointment, especially if the reservation or waiting list has expired or the rules have been followed correctly (!) (!) .

  7. The courts emphasize that appointment and recruitment are subject to statutory rules, and arbitrary or discriminatory administrative actions cannot be justified. The courts will not compel the appointment of candidates from the waiting list if such action contravenes the rules or the legal framework governing recruitment (!) (!) .

  8. The legal standing or locus standi of a party to challenge or appeal depends on whether they are directly affected or have a legal right that is being infringed. An entity like a Public Service Commission can be considered aggrieved if its statutory functions or recommendations are improperly disregarded or challenged (!) (!) .

  9. The courts hold that legal rights linked to the operation of waiting or reserve lists are limited, and candidates cannot claim a right to appointment beyond the scope of the rules. Appointment rights are not automatic but contingent upon compliance with statutory procedures and the validity of the list at the relevant time (!) (!) .

  10. Overall, the judiciary advocates for a strict interpretation of recruitment rules to prevent perpetuation of stale lists, arbitrary delays, or illegal appointments, emphasizing that appointment rights are subject to statutory timelines and procedural correctness. The courts discourage ongoing or indefinite claims based on expired or invalid lists, reinforcing the importance of timely and rule-based recruitment processes (!) (!) .

Would you like a more tailored summary or specific legal advice based on these points?


Table of Content
1. handling of multiple appeals (Para 2 , 3 , 4)
2. details of yati jain's recruitment process (Para 5 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14)
3. details of aakriti saxena's recruitment situation (Para 16 , 17 , 18 , 22)
4. details of vivek kumar meena's recruitment attempts (Para 24 , 25 , 30)
5. grounds for judgments allowing writ petitions (Para 35 , 38)
6. arguments from writ petitioners (Para 41 , 42 , 43)
7. the nature and validity of waiting lists (Para 45 , 80 , 82)
8. final conclusions regarding writ petitions (Para 112 , 121)

JUDGMENT :

INDEX

The Appeals

Brief Facts of Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 20366/2024

Brief Facts of Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 20367/2024

Brief Facts of Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 22025/2024

What weighed with the single judges to allow the writ petitions?

Impugned Judgment in all three Civil Appeals:

Submissions on behalf of the appellant

Submissions on behalf of the writ petitioners

Issues:

Analysis

Issue A - Maintainability of the Special (Writ) Appeals:

Issues B, C and D - on Merits of the rival claims:

A Waiting List

Dec

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                Judicial Analysis

                None of the cases explicitly indicate that they have been overruled, reversed, or otherwise treated as bad law. There are no phrases such as "overruled," "reversed," "disapproved," or "overruled by" in the provided descriptions. Therefore, based solely on the provided information, there is no clear evidence that any of these cases have been explicitly invalidated or rejected by subsequent rulings.

                [Followed / Affirmed]

                Roma Sonkar VS Madhya Pradesh State Public Service Commission - 2018 0 Supreme(SC) 1493: The case emphasizes that appellate courts should consider appeals on their merits, which reflects standard judicial practice rather than a treatment pattern. No indication of subsequent treatment.

                State Of Bihar VS Amrendra Kumar Mishra - 2006 7 Supreme 374: States that in absence of legal right, courts should not issue writs based on sympathy. This reflects a legal principle that is generally followed.

                A. P. Public Service Commission VS Baloji Badhavath - 2009 4 Supreme 17: States that no citizen can claim reservation as a right, a legal principle that is likely to be upheld and followed.

                State Of U. P. VS Harish Chandra - 1996 4 Supreme 14: Discusses limits on issuing mandamus and the procedural aspects of filing petitions, which are procedural principles generally followed.

                State of J&K VS Sat Pal - 2013 1 Supreme 759: Addresses state action and propriety, a standard legal consideration, with no indication of subsequent negative treatment.

                Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission VS Surendra Kumar - 2018 0 Supreme(SC) 1151: Defines a procedural period (wait list period of one year), likely a procedural standard.

                State of Orissa VS Rajkishore Nanda - 2010 4 Supreme 490: Addresses vacancies and their filling, a procedural rule.

                Baddula Lakshmaiah VS Anjaneya Swami Temple - 1996 2 Supreme 461: Explains the powers of the High Court in appellate jurisdiction, a standard legal principle.

                Tinku VS State Of Haryana - 2024 8 Supreme 570: Discusses the right to equality and the non-perpetuation of illegality, reflecting constitutional principles.

                Office Of The Odisha Lokayukta VS Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi - 2023 0 Supreme(SC) 154: Explains natural justice as a concept to secure justice, a fundamental legal doctrine.

                State Of U. P. VS Ram Swarup Saroj - 2000 2 Supreme 162: Addresses procedural aspects regarding non-joinder of parties and expiry of select lists, reflecting procedural norms.

                Roma Sonkar VS Madhya Pradesh State Public Service Commission - 2018 0 Supreme(SC) 1493: Reiterates that appeals should be decided on merits, a standard appellate procedure.

                Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission VS Surendra Kumar - 2018 0 Supreme(SC) 1151: Defines the wait list period, a procedural rule.

                State of Orissa VS Rajkishore Nanda - 2010 4 Supreme 490: Addresses filling vacancies, a procedural rule.

                [Distinguished / Clarified]

                None explicitly indicated. The descriptions do not specify cases being distinguished from or clarified in subsequent rulings.

                [Criticized / Questioned]

                None explicitly indicated. There are no phrases suggesting that any case was criticized or questioned in subsequent treatment.

                None of the cases explicitly indicate subsequent treatment such as being overruled, reversed, criticized, or distinguished. The descriptions provided are primarily statements of legal principles or procedural rules without reference to their subsequent judicial treatment.

                The absence of explicit treatment language means that, based solely on this information, all cases appear to be treated as valid and applicable law, or at least there is no evidence to the contrary.

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