BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 21.01.2026 CORAM :

THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI and WMP.(MD)Nos.999 & 1000 of 2026 R.Rajesh Kannan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Under Secretary for Government of India, Staff Selection Commission Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department and Personnel and Training, Block No.12, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

2.Regional Director (Southern Region), Staff Selection Comission, 2^nd Floor, EVK.Sampath Building, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 006.

3.The Directorate General, CRPF (Recruitment Branch), East Block 07, Level-4, Sector 01, R.K.Puram, New Delhi-110 066.

4.Second in Command, (IRLA-6065) RANGE: BLR, CRPP, Presiding Officer of PET/PST Board, Rectt of CT/GF-2025, In CAPS, SSF and Assam Rifles, Rectt.Centre: GC, CRPF, Avadi. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records of the fourth respondent dated 26.08.2025 and 30.12.2025 relating to the petitioner Roll batch No.8207011997 with recruitment for the post of Constable (GD) in CRPF, quash the same as null and void and consequently direct the fourth respondent to conduct a fresh Physical Efficiency Test (PETP) for the petitioner for the post of Constable (GD) in CRPF in any date that may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.C.Jeganathan For Respondents : Mr.K.R.Laxman, Senior Central Government Standing Counsel

ORDER

The petitioner has applied for the post of Constable in CRPF, in the year 2025. He has cleared the written examination and has also been selected for the physical efficiency test. However, his candidature was rejected by the fourth respondent in the physical efficiency test that he has not completed the running race in 24 minutes. The petitioner has completed running race of five kilometers in 24 minutes and 21 seconds. Challenging the rejection order, the petitioner has preferred the present writ petition.

2.According to the petitioner, some other candidates, who were also rejected on similar grounds, have approached the Principal Seat of this Court, in WP.Nos.33420 of 2025 and etc., batch that the track has been filled up with the M-sand, due to the stagnation of rain water and therefore, it was slippery and it was not conducive for running. This ground has been accepted by this Court and by order dated 28.10.2025, this Court has directed the respondents to conduct fresh physical efficiency test for the candidates, who have approached the Court. The petitioner has also been rejected only on the ground that he has not been completed the 5 kilometers running race, within the stipulated time of 24 minutes. Therefore, in the strength of the order passed by this Court in WP.Nos.33420 of 2025 and etc., batch, the petitioner has approached this Court.

3.The learned Senior Central Government Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner challenges the rejection order in the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) conducted on 26.08.2025 and seeks a direction for conducting a fresh PET, relying upon the order of the Principal Seat dated 28.10.2025 in W.P.Nos.33420 of 2025 batch. However, in the common order dated 28.10.2025, this Court has directed to conduct fresh PET/PST only for those petitioners who had completed 13 laps (male) or 4 laps (female) during the recruitment held between 20.08.2025-03.09.2025. Pursuant to the said order, the Department conducted fresh PET on 22.12.2025 for all the eligible petitioners in that batch. Results have already been published, and appointment orders are scheduled to be issued in the forthcoming Rojgar Mela. The present petitioner has approached this Court after more than 4 months from the date of his disqualification, ie., 26.08.2025. He did not join the earlier batch of writ petitions, nor did he challenge the rejection contemporaneously. Entertaining such belated petiti