JUDGMENT :

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Rahul Shukla learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State.

2. The process of recruitment in a level playing field is bound to be tested on the touchstone of equality in every case. This is what Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India guarantee to every participating candidate in the selection process.

3. In the present case, the advertisement for filling up the posts of Constable(Female) in the police department U.P. were advertised by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board on 29.12.2015, pursuant to which, the petitioner applied and her application form having been found complete in all respects was scrutinized and included in the process of selection. The petitioner in the application form had identified her candidature as OBC category candidate on the basis of a validly issued certificate in her favour on 4.2.2016. There is specific mention of the category i.e. OBC relating to the petitioner in her application form. The petitioner was included in the selection process as OBC category c