$~84 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision : 23.03.2026 + W.P.(C) 3706/2026 CHAUHAN ANIL BHOLA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Saroj Kumar Singh and Mr.

Saurabh Nath, Advocates versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Neeraj, SPC with Mr. Sanjay Pal, Mr. Ajay Pal(CRPF), Mr. Soumyadip Chakraborty, Advocates for Union of India CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA V. KAMESWAR RAO, J. (ORAL)

1. This petition has been filed with the following prayers: -

“a) give direction to the respondent to select the candidature of the petitioner as early as possible b) Any other order or relief which Hon'ble court may deem fit and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case in the interest of justice.”

2. The petitioner is a resident of Mumbai and had applied for the post of constable/GD in the Central Armed Police Force (‘CAPF’), SSF, and Rifleman in Assam Rifles Examination, 2024.

3. It is a conceded position that his candidature was rejected. It is only through his counsel that he got issued a legal notice dated 27.11.2024. The same was replied to on 11.09.2025 by the CISF Unit RCFL Mumbai.

4. In response to a query raised by this Court on delay in approaching this Court, as well as the reason for not invoking the jurisdiction of the competent court in Maharashtra, learned counsel for the petitioner has given twofold explanation. Firstly, it is submitted that the petitioner received response to the legal notice only on 11.09.2025. Secondly, that the initial notification was issued by the Staff Selection Commission, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, as such part of cause of action has arisen within the territorial jurisdiction of this Court.

5. Mr. Neeraj, Advocate, who appears for the respondents, informs the Court that the challenge in the present petition is to an examination of 2024. Even thereafter, a further notification of 2025 has been issued and the process has been concluded. In other words, it is contended that it is too late for the petitioner to approach this Court challenging his rejection pursuant to the notification for the 2024 examination.

6. We agree with the said submission of the learned counsel for the respondents. This we say so because the cause of action, is the rejection of his candidature, which is coincedingly from Mumbai, Maharashtra, and even the reply to the notice was issued by the CISF Unit at Mumbai. It follows the issuance of the notification, which was pan-India, will not give a cause of action to the petitioner to approach this Court. Even otherwise this Court is not forum convenience to entertain this petition. In any case, the respondents, while answering the legal notice issued on behalf of by the petitioner vide letter dated 11.09.2025, have stated as under: -

“2. In this regard, it is to inform that Shri Chauhan Anil Bhola (hereinafter referred to as me petitioner) had applied for Constable/GD in Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs), SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination 2024. He was issued Admit Card for Roll No. 7204010512 from CRPF Directorate, New Delhi (Nodal Agency) for attending PST/PET & DV/DME on 07.10.2024 at the Recruitment Center, CISF Unit RCFL Mumbai, Maharashtra (400074).

03. Accordingly, he appeared for PST/PET and DV/DME on 07.10.2024 at Recruitment Centre CISF Unit RCFL Mumbai. The petitioner qualified in PST/PET examination. Thereafter, during Document Verification (DV), the petitioner produced OBC Caste Certificate dated 14.12.2023 issued from Tehsildar Kasimabad, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh and as per his domicile certificate dated 06.03.2019, he is the resident of Jan Kalyan Samaj Seva Society, Islam Compound, Ghandi Nagar, Near Durga Mata Mandir, Kandivali (West) Mumbai, Maharashtra.

04. In this regard, it is pertinent to mention here that in accordance with laid down guidelines/instructions issued by SSC vide their notification dated 24.11.2023 vide Para 6 (6.2) and Para 20 (5) it clearly menti