* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 21.10.2024 Pronounced on: 07.11.2024 + W.P.(C) 9453/2023 VIKKI KUMAR PASWAN .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Abhinay Sharma, Mr.

Pooran Chand Roy, Ms. Deeksha Prakash, Ms. Parul Khurana & Ms. Kirti Vyas, Advs. versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Umesh K. Burnwal, SPC with Mr. Amit Gupta, Mr. Harish Adhikari & Mr. Kunal Malik, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINDER KAUR SHALINDER KAUR, J.

1. By way of the present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner, who is aspiring to join the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) as a Navik (Domestic Branch) in pursuance to the selection process conducted in accordance with Notification No. 01/2023, has approached this court assailing the respondents’ decision to cancel his candidature.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 9453/2023 Page 1 of 10

2. A brief factual background, as emanating from the record, is that the petitioner is a resident of District Ballia in Uttar Pradesh and is a Scheduled Caste candidate who had graduated high school in the year 2017. Pursuant to the respondents issuing the Notification No