A public body cannot cancel an entire recruitment process due to limited irregularities if it is possible to segregate tainted from untainted candidates. Wholesale cancellation without cogent reasons or when segregation is feasible constitutes arbitrary state action and violates the right to fair and equal public employment.

C.A.V. Order

1. All these writ petitions have a common issue, and therefore, they are being heard and decided together.

2. The W.P.S. No. 969/2023 has been filed by the petitioners against the impugned information dated 12-01-2023 published in a daily newspaper, whereby the recruitment/selection process on the 114 posts of Watchman with the respondent department has been cancelled after about 05 years of written examination. They prayed the following reliefs in the writ petition:-

“10.1 That the Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for the entire records pertaining to the case of the petitioners.

10.2 That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and quash the impugned information dated 12.01.2023 published in view of the direction of the respondent No. 1 (Annexure P/1).

10.3 That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and direct the respondent authorities i.e Respondent No. 2 to declare the results of the written examination of the Watchman after quashing of the impugned order.

10.4 That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and direct the respondent authorities to take all consequential steps to make the appointments of the petitioners on the post of Watchman in the event of their selection after the declaration of results.

10.5 That, this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and restrain the Respondent No. 1 from issuing fresh advertisement for recruitment of Watchman as only the declaration of result and publication of select/merit list of candidates is to be finalized by the respondent authorities for the recruitment process for the year 2017.

10.6 Any other relief/reliefs which the Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may also kindly be granted.”

3. The W.P.S. No. 3788/2023 has been filed by the petitioner against the report of the Committee dated 28-02-2020, and also the opinion of the CFSL report, whereby the signature of the petitioner is found to be not matched with the signature of his answer sheet, and also the said cancellation of the recruitment process of 114 posts of Watchman with the department, and prayed for the following reliefs in the writ petition:-

“10.1 That the Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for the entire records pertaining to the case of the petitioners.

10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and quash the committee report dated 28.02.2020 and the opinion of CFSL Hyderabad (Annexure P/1).

10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and quash the impugned information dated 12.01.2023 published in view of the direction of the respondent No. 1 (Annexure P/2).

10.4 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and direct the respondent authorities i.e Respondent No. 2 to declare the results of the written examination of the Watchman after quashing of the impugned order.

10.5 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and direct the respondent authorities to take all consequential steps to make the appointments of the petitioners on the post of Watchman in the event of their selection after the declaration of results.

10.6 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue an appropriate writ/order/ direction and restrain the Respondent No. 1 from issuing fresh advertisement for recruitment of Watchman as only the declaration of result and publication of select/merit list of candidates is to be finalized by the respondent authorities for the recruitment process for the year 2017.

10.7 Any other relief/reliefs which the Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may also kindly