In recruitment disputes, courts should avoid en masse cancellation of selection processes unless the entire system is fundamentally compromised. The legal duty is to segregate tainted candidates from honest ones to prevent innocent individuals from suffering the consequences of localized irregularities.

CAV Order

1. Petitioners, who are applicants in the recruitment process initiated by respondent State for appointment of Constables of different trades, have filed this writ petition pleading therein that at the time of conducting Physical Efficiency Test (for short ‘PET’), respondent No.4-agency deputed by the respondent State for conducting PET, had completed PET by adopting corrupt means, benefiting some candidates and thereby there was irregularity in the selection process. They also pleaded that written examination was also not conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Hence, prayed for following reliefs:-

10.1. The Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to quash & set aside the whole selection process thereby also quash the impugned Final select list dated 9/11/2025 for the post of Constable (GD). [ANNEXURE P/1]

10.2. The Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondent authority to initiate and conduct a fresh selection process in a proper and fair manner for recruitment on the post of Constable.

10.3. The Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue writ/ writs, directing a thorough independent investigation through CBI into the concerned matter and scam that has been done in the selection process for the post of Constable (GD).

10.4. The Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other relief which this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper in favour of the petitioner as per the facts & circumstance of the present case, in the ends of justice.”

2. Learned counsel for petitioners would submit that in the year 2023 respondent State had issued an advertisement for initiating recruitment proceedings for appointment on the post of Constable of different trades. Petitioners submitted application forms for their appointment as Constable and also participated in the selection process. First stage of selection process was PET. As the petitioners are residents of Bilaspur range, their PET was organized at Sakri, District Bilaspur. According to petitioners, in conduct of PET at Sakri Centre, mass irregularities have been committed by respondent No.3 and certain officials of the Selection Committee, by increasing distance in long jump and short-put; increasing height in high jump and by reducing the time to complete the race, which adversely affected result of PET. Petitioners and others have submitted representation pointing irregularities so submitted in conducting PET, but no heed was paid to the same. In District Rajnandgaon also similar allegations were made and further allegation of giving undue advantage to some of the candidates / aspirants were also levelled. Taking note of several representations made questioning selection process as adopted during PET, a letter was forwarded by respondent No.3 to the Superintendent of Police of all the districts within the State of Chhattisgarh seeking clarification/report on the allegations made in the representations. In the letter dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure P-8) written by the Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur-cum- Chairman, Constable Selection Committee Centre-1, Bilaspur, there is mention about commission of grave irregularities by respondent No.4. Thereafter also letters were issued elaborating irregularities which were found by the Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur and in letter dated 21.1.2025, roll numbers of 54 candidates, who were found involved in irregularities, have been mentioned whic