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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Sheel Nagu and Dwarkadhish Bansal, JJ.
Raksha Patel & Others v. The State of Madhya Pradesh & Others
Writ Appeal No. 1609 of 2022 (Jabalpur): against the order dated 30.11.2022 passed in Writ Petition No. 26933 of 2022; Decided on 13.6.2023
(1) Appointment -- registration in employment exchange -- not mandatory -- right to be considered for public employment is fundamental right under Art. 16 -- cannot be curtailed or denied merely because candidate is not registered in employment exchange -- prescribing condition in advertisement of possession of live employment exchange card on relevant date not only unnecessary and irrelevant but also unlawful -- especially when it casts adverse shadow upon right of candidate otherwise eligible to be considered and appointed to public employment. (1996) 6 SCC 216 and (2010) 11 SCC 674 followed. STPL 13527 CG (FB) relied on. [Para 7.2]
(2) Appointment -- disclosure of incorrect information -- every act of suppression or wrong information may not lead to cancellation of candidature -- it depends upon relevance and impact of suppression upon eligibility, suitability, competence and character of candidate -- giving wrong information in regard to essentials which enable recruiting/appointing authority to decide upon eligibility, suitability and fitness of candidate can certainly lead to cancellation of candidature -- if subject matter of information in regard to which wrong disclosure has been made, is not essential and foundational to deciding eligibility and fitness of candidate for appointment, then such wrong disclosure may not prejudice candidate -- if there is mistake or error or misinformation or wrong information in regard to essential attributes of candidate, recruiting/appointing agency is well within its jurisdiction to cancel candidature -- candidate would certainly be guilty of suppression and playing fraud. [Paras 8.1 to 8.5]
(3) Appointment -- disclosure of incorrect information -- appellants had employment exchange cards but their validity had expired -- received renewal through e-mail during progress of second stage of recruitment -- such wrong information not necessary for deciding eligibility, suitability and fitness of candidate -- cancelling candidature on this ground alone would be harsh -- recruiting/appointing agency does have jurisdiction to cancel candidature, especially in face of written undertaking signed by candidate -- however, such wrong information is not only unrelated to essential qualification, physical attributes and suitability, but is superfluous. (1987) 3 SCC 308, (1996) 6 SCC 216 and (2010) 11 SCC 674 followed. [Paras 8.6 & 8.7]
(4) Civil Services -- police service -- disclosure of incorrect information -- there cannot be straight-jacket formula that any or every wrong information furnished by candidate in application form must lead to cancellation of candidature/appointment -- possession of live registration with employment exchange not essential criteria qua eligibility/fitness/suitability of candidate -- cannot be legitimate ground for cancelling candidature for furnishing wrong information in this regard -- no requirement in M. P. Police Regulations of possession of live registration certificate from employment exchange as prerequisite for being eligible to be considered for appointment as Constable -- renewed live employment exchange card produced by appellants during course of recruitment -- no fraud played by appellants while misinforming that they had live registration with employment exchange at relevant point of time -- cancelling candidature of appellants for disclosing wrong information in regard to condition unrelated to essential attributes of eligibility and fitness cannot be upheld. (1983) 2 SCC 145 followed. [Paras 9.2 to 14]
¼1½ fu;qfDr & jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa iath;u & vkKkid ugha & yksd fu;kstu ds fy, fopkj fd, tkus dk vf/kdkj vuqPNsn 16 ds v/khu ewy vf/kdkj gS & ek= blfy, de ;k oafpr ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd vH;FkhZ jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa iathÑr ugha & foKkiu esa lqlaxr fnukad dks lfØ; jkstxkj dk;kZy; i=d gksus dh 'krZ fofgr djuk vuko';d vkSj vlaxr gh ugha] vfirq fof/k fo#) Hkh & fo'ks"kr% tc mlls yksd fu;kstu ds fy, fopkj fd, tkus rFkk mlesa fu;qDr fd, tkus ds fy, vU;Fkk ik= vH;FkhZ ds vf/kdkj ij Áfrdwy lk;k iM+rk gSA ¼1996½ 6 ,l lh lh 216 rFkk ¼2010½ 11 ,l lh lh 674 vuqlfjrA ,l Vh ih ,y 13527 lh th ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ voyafcrA ¼iSjk 7-2½
¼2½ fu;qfDr & v'kq) tkudkjh ÁdV djuk & fNiko ;k xyr tkudkjh ds ÁR;sd ÑR; ds fy, vH;fFkZrk dk jn~ndj.k vko';d ugha & ;g vH;FkhZ dh ik=rk] mi;qDrrk] l{kerk vkSj pfj= ls fNiko dh lqlaxrrk vkSj ml ij ÁHkko ij fuHkZj djrk gS & ,slh lkjoku~ ckrksa esa xyr tkudkjh nsus ds dkj.k fuf'pr gh vH;fFkZrk dk jn~ndj.k gks ldrk gS tks HkrhZ@fu;qfDr djus okys vf/kdj.k dks vH;FkhZ dh ik=rk] mi;qDrrk vkSj LoLFkrk ds ckjs esa fofu'p; djus esa leFkZ cukrh gSa & ftl tkudkjh ds ckjs esa xyr ÁdVhdj.k fd;k x;k gS] ;fn mldh fo"k;oLrq fu;qfDr ds fy, vH;FkhZ dh ik=rk vkSj LoLFkrk fofuf'pr djus ds fy, vfuok;Z vkSj vk/kkjHkwr ugha gS rks fQj ,sls xyr ÁdVhdj.k ls vH;FkhZ ij Áfrdwy ÁHkko ugha iM+ ldrk & vH;FkhZ ds vfuok;Z xq.kksa ds ckjs esa Hkwy ;k =qfV ;k Hkzked tkudkjh ;k xyr tkudkjh gks rks HkrhZ@fu;kstu djus okys vfHkdj.k dks vH;fFkZrk jn~n djus dh iw.kZ vf/kdkfjrk gS & vH;FkhZ fuf'pr rkSj ij fNiko vkSj diV dk nks"kh gksxkA ¼iSjk 8-1 ls 8-5½
¼3½ fu;qfDr & v'kq) tkudkjh ÁdV djuk & vihykFkhZx.k ds ikl jkstxkj dk;kZy; i=d Fks ijarq mudh fof/kekU;rk dk volku gks x;k Fkk & HkrhZ ds f}rh; ÁØe ds nkSjku bZesy ls uohdj.k ÁkIr fd;k & ,slh xyr tkudkjh vH;FkhZ dh ik=rk] mi;qDrrk vkSj LoLFkrk fofuf'pr djus ds fy, vko';d ugha & ek= bl vk/kkj ij vH;fFkZrk jn~n djuk fu"Bqj gksxk & HkrhZ@fu;qfDr djus okys vf/kdj.k dks vo'; gh vH;fFkZrk jn~n djus dh vf/kdkfjrk gS] fo'ks"kr% vH;FkhZ }kjk gLrk{kfjr fyf[kr opuca/k dh n`f"V ls & rFkkfi] ,slh xyr tkudkjh vfuok;Z vgZrk] 'kkjhfjd xq.k vkSj mi;qDrrk ls vlac) gh ugha] vfirq fujFkZd gSA ¼1987½ 3 ,l lh lh 308] ¼1996½ 6 ,l lh lh 216 rFkk ¼2010½ 11 ,l lh lh 674 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 8-6 ,oa 8-7½
¼4½ flfoy lsok & iqfyl lsok & v'kq) tkudkjh ÁdV djuk & ,slk dksbZ vifjorZuh; lw= ugha gks ldrk fd vH;FkhZ }kjk vkosnu Á:i esa nh xbZ dksbZ Hkh ;k ÁR;sd xyr tkudkjh ds Qyr% vH;fFkZrk@fu;qfDr dk jn~ndj.k gksxk gh & vH;FkhZ dh ik=rk@LoLFkrk@mi;qDrrk ds ifjÁs{; esa jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa lfØ; iath;u gksuk vfuok;Z ekunaM ugha & ;g bl ckjs esa xyr tkudkjh nsus ds dkj.k vH;fFkZrk jn~n djus dk fof/klEer vk/kkj ugha gks ldrk & eŒÁŒ iqfyl fofu;eksa esa dkULVscy ds in ij fu;qfDr ds fy, fopkj fd, tkus gsrq ik= gksus ds fy, iwokZis{kk ds :i esa jkstxkj dk;kZy; dk lfØ; iath;u Áek.ki= gksus dh vis{kk ugha & HkrhZ ds nkSjku vihykFkhZx.k }kjk uohÑr lfØ; jkstxkj dk;kZy; i=d ÁLrqr & ;g Hkzked tkudkjh nsrs le; vihykFkhZx.k }kjk dksbZ diV ugha fd;k x;k fd lqlaxr le; fcanq ij muds ikl jkstxkj dk;kZy; dk lfØ; iath;u gS & ik=rk vkSj LoLFkrk ds vfuok;Z xq.kksa ls vlac) 'krZ ds ckjs esa xyr tkudkjh nsus ds fy, vihykFkhZx.k dh vH;fFkZrk dk jn~ndj.k ekU; ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼1983½ 2 ,l lh lh 245 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 9-2 ls 14½
ORDER
Nagu, J. -- 1. This intra Court appeal preferred u/s 2(1) of Madhya Pradesh Uchcha Nyayalaya (Khand Nyaypeeth Ko Appeal) Adhiniyam, 2005 assails final order dated 30.11.2022 in W.P. No.26933 of 2022 passed by learned Single Judge while exercising writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, dismissing the petition so far as it relates to appellants herein thereby upholding the cancellation of candidature of appellants for having failed in the PPT (Physical Proficiency Test) conducted for appointment to the post of Constable (GD) in Police.
2. Learned Single Judge dismissed the petition in question on the ground that appellants in response to the query, whether candidates have live employment exchange cards or not, answered “Yes”, despite none of appellants possessing live employment exchange card on the crucial date i.e. last date of furnishing application form (27.1.2021). Thus, the learned Single Judge in the given facts and circumstances held that appellants are guilty of suppressing material facts thereby dis-entitling them to appointment for having played fraud. The learned Single Judge also relied upon the written undertaking given by each appellants while filling up their application form, that in case of disclosure of any incorrect information, the candidature is liable to be cancelled.
3. Learned counsel for rival parties are heard at length.
4. Short facts giving rise to the present case are that an advertisement dated 25.11.2020 was issued inviting applications for filling up 4000 vacancies in the cadre of Constable in M.P. Police. The appellants who were otherwise qualified while applying, were however in possession of employment exchange cards, the validity of which had expired. The written test held on various dates in the month of January, 2022 was successfully negotiated by appellants. During progress of second stage of recruitment comprising of Physical Proficiency Test (PPT), the appellants received through e-mail, renewal of their employment exchange cards. The appellants received call letters and thereafter participated in the PPT. The appellants cleared the PPT and were placed in the select list in the order of their merit ranking. However, no appointment orders were issued in favour of appellants. Instead, the appellants were shown as ‘Fail’ in GD PPT status vide impugned Annexure P/1 dated 12.11.2022.
4.1 The respondents/employer came out with the stand that possession of live employment exchange card was a mandatory condition. Since appellants did not possess live employment exchange cards on the relevant date i.e. 27.1.2021 and more so, appellants suppressed this material fact, they are not entitled to seek entry into Government service, that too a uniformed one.
5. Before adverting to the process of adjudication, it would be appropriate to reproduce relevant conditions of appointment in the advertisement vide Annexure P/4. Various clauses in the advertisement provided thus:-
^^11- mijksDr lHkh inksa ds fy, vH;fFkZ;ksa dk e/; Áns'k jkT; ds jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa thfor iath;u gksuk vfuok;Z gksxkA**
^^v/;k;&1
1-4-5 vH;fFkZ;ksa dk e/; Áns'k jkT; ds jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa thfor iath;u gksuk vfuok;Z gSA**
^^v/;k;&2
2-1 ¼pkj½ mijksDr lHkh inksa ds fy, vH;fFkZ;ksa dk e/; Áns'k jkT; ds jkstxkj dk;kZy; esa thfor iath;u gksuk vfuok;Z gksxkA**
2-2 ¼rhu½ vkosnd }kjk xyr tkudkjh fn;s tkus dh fLFkfr esa mudk vkosnu i= fujLr fd;k tk ldsxkA
2-2 ¼rhu½ ;fn ckn esa ;g irk pyrk gS fd vkosnd }kjk xyr vFkok vlR; tkudkjh vFkok fdlh tkudkjh dks Nqik;k gS ,slh fLFkfr esa fdlh Hkh Lrj ij laLFkk Áeq[k@lacf/kr foHkkx ¼iqfyl eq[;ky;@bZdkbZ Áeq[k½ }kjk ijh{kk esa Áos'k@p;u@fu;qfDr fujLr dh tk ldsxhA
^^v/;k;&4
Lo&?kks"k.kk%&
eSa ?kks"k.kk djrk gwa fd esjs }kjk vkosnu esa nh xbZ leLr tkudkjh\ iw.kZr% lR; gSA ;fn esjs }kjk nh xbZ tkudkjh fdlh Hkh Lrj ij >wBh ;k ik=rk ekinaM dh vko';drkvksa vuqlkj larks"ktud ugha ikbZ tkrh gS rks esjh mEehnokjh jn~n dh tk ldrh gSaA**
vFkok
I hereby declare that all statements made in this ap
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