Incorrect application category filling by the petitioner cannot be corrected post facto; the responsibility to ensure accuracy lies with the applicant.

Judgment :

ANAND SHARMA, J.

1. The petitioner, in the instant writ petition, has prayed for a direction to declare action of the respondents in not considering/allowing correction in inadvertent mistake of her category as General instead of OBC (NCL) as illegal and arbitrary and to treat the petitioner as eligible in the category of OBC (NCL) Women and while considering the petitioner in the aforesaid category, appointment be given to the petitioner along with consequential benefits.

2. It is stated that the petitioner belongs to OBC (NCL) category and possesses a certificate issued in this regard by the competent authority. Respondent No. 3-Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (hereinafter to be referred as ‘RSSB’) issued Advertisement No. 02/2023 dated 20.06.2023 inviting applications from all eligible persons for the post of Junior Accountant and Tehsil Revenue Accountant. It is submitted that the candidates, who qualified the Common Eligibility Test (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the CET’) would be eligible to appear in the examination of Junior Accountant and in order to shortlist such candidates, a provision was made that only 15 times to the categorywise vacancies advertised for the aforesaid post shall be qualified to appear in the examination.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even the application form for CET is filled online. As per the procedure contemplated in the advertisement dated 20.06.2023 for the post of Junior Accountant, it was provided that for the purpose of submitting online applications, the candidates were required to visit the official website of the respondent-RSSB and they were required to click on the option of 'apply online' link regarding recruitment advertisement. On opening of the link, the candidates were required to deposit registration fee for one time registration (OTR) and after filling the details on OTR, details with regard to category, status in respect of disability and home State as also all other details were required to be submitted. After completing OTR process, the candidates were required to apply through SSO ID. While submitting an application, the candidates were required to enter their CET online application form number and only after verifying the SSO Id as well as CET online application form number, the application form for the post of Junior Accountant would be opened. Thereafter, it was obligatory for the petitioner to fill up her own name, father’s/mother’s name, category, disability category, gender, date of birth etc. Thereafter, the petitioner was required to press on the submit button, which would in turn create online application number and to keep print out of such fully filled and submitted application form. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that while filling the application form for CET, the petitioner has filled her category as OBC (NCL) and without verifying the CET application form number and details, there was no process for opening the application form for Junior Accountant. However, on account of technical glitch on the part of website of RSSB, while filling the application form for the post of Junior Accountant, the category of the petitioner was shown as General instead of OBC(NCL). Later on, when the petitioner came to know about the aforesaid mistake, she submitted an affidavit to the effect that she has filled her application in OBC (NCL) category, therefore, her candidature should be considered in OBC (NCL) category instead of General category. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner has secured 533.5081 marks in the examination, which are more than the cut off marks for OBC (NCL) category. However, despite securing m